1. Sporobolus Vaginaefldrus Torr. Sheathed Rush-Grass

Fig. 464

Vilfa vaginaeflora Torr.; A. Gray, Gram, and Cyp. No. 3.

1834 Sporobolus vaginaeflorus Torr.; Wood, Classbook, 775. 1861, Sporobolus minor Vasey; A. Gray, Man. Ed. 6, 646. 1890.

Culms 8'-18' tall, erect, slender, smooth or scabrous. Sheaths usually inflated, about half as long as the inter-nodes; ligule very short; blades 1" wide or less, smooth and glabrous beneath, scabrous and hairy near the base above, attenuate into a slender involute point, the lower elongated, the upper 1' - 3' long, setaceous; panicles 3/4'-2' in length, the terminal one exserted or sometimes partially included, strict, the branches 1/2' long or less, erect, the lateral ones enclosed in the sheaths; spikelets 1 3/4"-2 1/4" long, the outer scales unequal, acuminate, smooth, the lower one shorter; third scale scabrous, especially toward the apex, about as long as the second and equalling or slightly exceeded by the very acute palet.

In dry soil, southern Maine to South Dakota, south to Georgia and Texas. Southern poverty-grass. Aug.-Sept.

2. Sporobolus Neglectus Nash. Small Rush-Grass

Fig. 465

Sporobolus neglectus Nash, Bull. Torr. Club, 22: 464. 1895.

Culms 6'-12' tall, erect from a usually decumbent base, slender, often much branched, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths about half as long as the internodes, inflated; ligule very short; blades 1" wide or less at the base, smooth and glabrous beneath, scabrous and hairy near the base above, attenuate into a slender point, the lower elongated, the upper 1'-3' long, setaceous;terminal panicle 1'-2 1/2' in length, usually more or less included in the upper sheath, strict; lateral panicles enclosed in the sheaths; spikelets about 1 1/2" long, the outer scales acute, the lower one slightly shorter; third scale acute, glabrous, a little longer than the second and about equalling the acute palet.

In dry soil, New Brunswick to North Dakota, Virginia and Missouri. Aug.-Sept.

3. Sporobolus Clandestinus (Spreng.) Hitchc. Rough Rush-Grass

Fig. 466

Agrostis clandestina Spreng. Fl. Hal. Mant. 32. 1807. S. clandestinus Hitchc. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 150. 1908.

Culms 2°-5° tall, erect, simple, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths shorter than the internodes; liguie a mere ring, less than i" long, naked; blades 3'-15' long, 1"-2" wide at the base, attenuate into a long slender involute tip, smooth and glabrous beneath, scabrous above, or somewhat hairy at the base; panicle 2'-5' in length, linear, strict, its branches 1-2' long, appressed; spikelets 3"-4" long, the outer scales unequal, acute; third scale pubescent at the base, much longer than the second and greatly exceeded by the long-acuminate almost awned palet.

In dry soil, Connecticut to Missouri, south to Florida and Texas. Described and figured as S. asper in our first edition. Prairie-grass. Aug.-Sept.