Annual grasses with narrow flat leaf-blades, and ample open or contracted panicles. Spikelets i-flow-ered, small, the rachilla prolonged beyond the flower into a bristle. Scales 3; the 2 outer empty, unequal, thin, membranous, keeled, acute; the third scale a little shorter, membranous, bearing a long slender awn inserted just below the shortly 2-toothed apex; palet a little shorter than the scale, 2-keeled, 2-toothed: Stamens 3. Styles distinct, short. Stigmas plumose. Grain narrow, free, included in the scale. Seed adherent to the pericarp. [Greek, signifying not mutilated, whole or entire; application uncertain.]

Two species, natives of Europe and western Asia. Type species: Agrostis Spica-venti L.

1. Apera Spica-Venti (L.) Beauv. Silky Bent-Grass. Windlestraw

Fig. 516

Agrostis Spica-venti L. Sp. PI. 61. I7S3-Apera Spica-venti Beauv. Agrost. 151. 1812.

Culms 1°-2° tall, erect, simple, slender, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths usually longer than the internodes, the upper one generally including the base of the panicle; ligule 1"-3" long; blades 1'-7' long, 1/2"-2" wide, scabrous; panicle 3'-9' in length, the branches erect or ascending, capillary, 1 1/2'-3' long; outer scales of the spikelet 1"-1 1/4" long, acute, smooth and shining; third scale hairy or nearly smooth, bearing a dorsal scabrous awn 3"-4" long; rudiment at the end of the rachilla less than 1/4" long.

In waste places and on ballast, Maine to southern New York and Pennsylvania. Adventive from Europe. Wind-bent, Wind-grass, Corn-grass. June-July.