1. Eragrostis Capillaris (L.) Nees. Lace-Grass. Tiny Love-Grass

Fig. 572

Poa capillaris L. Sp. PI. 68. 1753-Poa tenuis Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. 1: 156. 1817. Eragrostis capillaris Nees, Agrost. Bras. 505. 1829. E. tenuis Ell.; Steud. Syn. Gram. 273. 1855.

Culms 8-18' tall, erect, slender, sparingly branched at the base, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths short, overlapping and crowded at the base of the culm, glabrous or sparingly hairy, the upper enclosing the base of the panicle; ligule a ring of very short hairs; blades 3'-10' long, 1"-2" wide, long-acuminate, smooth beneath, scabrous above and sparingly hirsute near the base; panicle diffuse, 4'-15' in length, the branches capillary, spreading or ascending, 1 1/2'-s' long; spikelets ovate, 2-4-flowered, little flattened, \"-\V long; empty scales about equal, acute; flowering scales acute, the lower \" long, the lateral nerves obscure.

In dry places, New Hampshire to Kansas, south to Georgia and Texas. Aug.-Sept.

2. Eragrostis Hirsuta (Michx.) Nees. Stout Love-Grass

Fig. 573

Poa hirsuta Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 68. 1803. Eragrostis hirsuta Nees, Agrost. Bras. 508. 1829.

Culms densely tufted, rather stout, 2°-4 1/2° tall; sheaths, at least the lower ones, strongly papillose-hispid, each with a tuft of hairs at the apex; blades of the lower leaves l°-2° long, less than 5" wide, long-acuminate, flat; panicle 2o'-3° long, diffuse, its branches finally widely spreading; spikelets 3-5-flowered, 1V-2" long, the flowering scales 1"-1 1/4" long.

In dry fields, thickets and woodlands, Virginia (according to Kearney) to Florida and Texas. July-Sept.

3. Eragrostis Frankii Steud. Frank's Love-Grass

Fig. 574

Eragrostis Frankii Steud. Syn. PI. Gram. 273. 1855. E. erythrogona Nees; Steud. Syn. PI. Gram. 273. 1855.

Glabrous, culms 6'-15' tall, tufted, erect, or often decumbent at the base, branched, smooth. Sheaths loose, shorter than the internodes; ligule a ring of hairs; blades 2'-5' long, 1"-2" wide, smooth beneath, scabrous above; panicle 2'-6' in length, open, the branches ascending, the lower l'-1 1/2' long; spikelets ovate, 3-5-flowered, 1"-1 1/2" long; empty scales acute, the first shorter than the second; flowering scales acute, the lower 3/4" long, the lateral nerves obscure.

In moist places, Massachusetts to Minnesota, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kansas. Short-stalked Meadow-grass. Sept.-Oct.

4. Eragrostis Pilosa (L.) Beauv. Small Tufted Love-Grass

Fig. 575

Poa pilosa L. Sp. PI. 68. 1753.

Eragrostis pilosa Beauv. Agrost. 162. 1812.

Culms 6'-18' tall, tufted, erect, slender, branched, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths shorter than the in-ternodes, smooth, sometimes pilose at the throat; ligule a ring of short hairs; blades 1'-5' long, 1" wide or less, smooth beneath, scabrous above; panicle 2'-6' in length, the branches at first erect, finally widely spreading, 1'-1 1/2' long, often hairy in the axils; spikelets 5-12-flow-ered, 1 1 /2"-3" long, about 1/2" wide; lower scales acute, the first one-half as long as the second; flowering scales acute, the lower 3/4" long, thin, usually purplish, the lateral nerves faint or wanting.

Waste places or cultivated ground, Massachusetts to Michigan and Kansas, south to Florida and Texas. Naturalized from Europe. Also in the West Indies. Aug.-Sept.