5. Eragrostis Purshii Schrad. Pursh's Lovegrass

Fig. 576

?Poa caroliniana Spreng. Mant. Fl. Hal. 33. 1807. Eragrostis Purshii Schrad. Linnaea, 12: 451. 1838. E. caroliniana Scribn. Mem. Torr. Club 5: 49. 1895.

Culms 6'-18' tall, tufted, usually decumbent at the base and much branched, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths loose, shorter than the internodes, smooth and glabrous; ligule a ring of short hairs; blades 1 1/2-3 1/2' long, 1" wide or less, smooth beneath, rough above; panicle open, 3'-8' long, the branches spreading, 1'-2 1/2' long, naked in the axils; spikelets 5-15-flowered, dull purple or green, 1 1/2"-4" long, about 3/4" wide; empty scales acute, the lower about two-thirds as long as the upper, scabrous on the keel; flowering scales acute, firm, the lower ones 3/4" long, the lateral nerves prominent.

In dry places, Maine to Ontario and North Dakota, south to Florida and Texas. Southern Spear-grass. Aug.-Sept.

6. Eragrostis Eragrostis (L.) Karst. Low Love-Grass

Fig. 577

Poa Eragrostis L. Sp. PI. 68. 1753. Eragrostis poaeoides Beauv. Agrost. 162. 1812. Eragrostis minor Host, Fl. Austr. 1: 135. 1827. Eragrostis Eragrostis Karst. Deutsch. Fl. 389. 1880-83.

Culms seldom over 15' tall, tufted, usually decumbent and much branched, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths loose, shorter than the internodes, smooth, sometimes a little pubescent, sparingly pilose at the throat; ligule a ring of short hairs; blades 1'-2 1/2' long, 1/2"-2" wide, smooth beneath, rough above and somewhat pilose near the base; panicle 2'-4 1/2' in length, the branches spreading or ascending, 3/4'-1 1/2' long; spikelets 8-18-flowered, 3"-8" long, about 1" wide; empty scales acute, the first two-thirds as long as the second; flowering scales obtuse, 3/4" long, the lateral nerves prominent.

In waste places or cultivated ground, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. Locally naturalized from Europe. July-Sept.

7. Eragrostis Major Host. Strong-Scented Love-Grass

Fig. 578

E. major Host, Gram. Austr. 4: 14. pl. 24. 1809.

Eragrostis poaeoides var. megastachya A. Gray, Man. Ed. 5, 631. 1867.

Culms 6'-2° tall, erect, or decumbent at the base, usually branched, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths shorter than the internodes, smooth, sparingly pilose at the throat; ligule a ring of short hairs; blades 2'-7' long, 1"-3" wide, flat, smooth beneath, scabrous above; panicle 2'-6' in length, the branches spreading or ascending, 1-2' long; spikelets 8-35-flowered, 2i"-8" long, about 1 1/2" wide, very flat; empty scales acute, the first slightly shorter than the second; flowering scales obtuse, 1"-1 1/4" long, the lateral nerves prominent.

In waste and cultivated places nearly throughout the United States, and in Ontario. Naturalized from Europe. Unpleasantly scented, handsome. Candy-grass. Aug.-Sept.