15. Bromus Patulus M. & K. Spreading Brome-Grass

Fig. 676

Bromus patulus M. & K. in Roehl. Deutsch. Fl. 1: 684. 1823.

Culms 1°-1 1/2° tall. Sheaths softly pubescent; blades up to 6' long and about 2" broad, pubescent; panicle 5'-8' long, diffuse, somewhat drooping; spikelets drooping, on slender pedicels, lanceolate, 10"-12" long, about 2 1/2" broad, glabrous, the first scale 3-nerved, the second one 5-nerved, the flowering scales 9-nerved, 3 1/2."-4 1/2" long, emarginate at the apex, the awn 4"-5" long, usually twisted and divaricate at maturity, inserted below the apex of the scale.

Sparingly introduced into Massachusetts, South Dakota and Colorado. July and Aug.

16. Bromus Squarrosus L. Corn Brome

Fig. 677

Bromus squarrosus L. Sp. PI. 76. 1753.

Culms 8'-18' tall, erect, simple, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths shorter than the internodes, softly pubescent; ligule 1/2" long; blades 1'-5' long, 1 "-2" wide, softly pubescent; panicle 2'-6' in length, open, the branches ascending or drooping, often flexuous; spikelets nodding, 6-12-flow-ered, on slender pedicels; empty scales obtuse or acutish, the first 5-nerved, the second longer, 7-9-nerved; flowering scales 4 1/2"-5 1/2" long, obtuse, shining, minutely scabrous; awn inserted below the apex, about as long as the scale, bent at the base and divergent.

In ballast and waste places about the eastern seaports. Fugitive or adventive from Europe. July-Aug.

2S0 GRAMINEAE. Vol. I.

17. Bromus Brizaeformis Fisch. & Mey. Quakegrass Or Awnless Brome

Fig. 678

Bromus brizaeformis Fisch. & Mey. Ind. Sem. Hort. Petrop. 3': 30. 1836.

Culms 8'-2° tall, erect, simple, often slender, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths shorter than the internodes, the lower pubescent with soft villous hairs; ligule 1" long, erose-truncate; blades 1'-7' long, 1"-3" wide, pubescent; panicle 1 1/2'-8' in length, open, the branches ascending or often drooping, flexuous; spikelets few, 1/2'-1' long, laterally much compressed; empty scales very obtuse, often purplish, glabrous or minutely pubescent, the first 3-5-nerved, the second larger, 5-9-nerved; flowering scales 3"-4" long, very broad, obtuse, 9-nerved, shining, glabrous or sometimes minutely pubescent, un-awned.

Sparingly introduced from Massachusetts to Michigan, Delaware and Indiana; also from Montana to British Columbia, California and Colorado. Native of northern Europe and Asia. Briza-like brome. July-Aug.

18. Bromus Breviaristatus (Hook.) Buckl. Short-Awned Chess, Or Brome

Fig. 679

Ceratochloa breviaristata Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 253. 1840. B. breviaristatus Buckl. Proc. Acad. Phila. 1862: 98. 1862.

Culms 1°-4° tall, erect, simple, smooth or rough, sometimes pubescent below the panicle. Sheaths pubescent, at least the lower ones, which are often overlapping; ligule 1" long, truncate; blades 6'-1° long or more, 2"-6" wide, rough and often pubescent; panicle 4'-15' in length, its branches erect or ascending, the lower 2'-6' long; spikelets 5-10-flowered; empty scales acute, pubescent, the first 3-5-nerved, the second longer, 5-9-nerved; flowering scales compressed, keeled, 6"-7" long, acute, 7-9-nerved, appressed-pubescent; awn 2"-3" long.

In dry soil, Manitoba to British Columbia, south to Iowa, Arizona and California, and as an occasional escape from cultivation eastward. July-Aug.