keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

1040 POACEAE/ROSTRARIA
been reported from North America.” The common name RABBIT’S-FOOT GRASS “aptly describes
the feel of the young panicles” (Barkworth ined.). I
Polypogon viridis (Gouan) Breistr., (green), WATER BENT GRASS. Tufted, glabrous perennial; culms
bent at base or trailing, 15–45(–90) cm long; ligule 2–5(–7) mm long; inflorescence usually 4–
10(–12) cm long, 1–3 cm broad; spikelets 1.3–2(–2.5) mm long, awnless; disarticulation near base
of pedicel, the spikelets falling with a significant piece of the pedicel; glumes scabrous; lemma
ca. 1 mm long. Springs and in creek and river beds; Bell, Travis (BRIT), Bexar, and Limestone
(Turner et al. 2003) cos. in w part of East TX; mainly w 2/3 of TX; w U.S. from WA s to CA e to
WY, OK, and TX, also CT, NJ, SC, and VA. Apr–Jul. Native from s Europe to Pakistan. [Agrostis
semiverticillata (Forssk.) C. Chr., P. semiverticillatus (Forssk.) Hyl.] This species has often been
treated in the genus Agrostis (e.g., Gould 1975b; Powell 1994)—see discussion in generic synopsis
above. Hybridization between this species and P. monspeliensis has been reported (Tucker 1996),
with the hybrid known as P. �adscendens Guss. ex Bertol.; however, the hybrid is not known
from North America (Barkworth ined). I
ROSTRARIA Trin. JUNE GRASS
AAn Old World genus of ca. 10 species of annuals native to the Mediterranean, se Europe, and
w Asia, typically occurring in dry disturbed sites (Henderson & Schäfer 2003; Standley ined.).
“The genus is sometimes included in Koeleria, but it differs in its annual growth habit and
awned lemmas and paleas” (Standley ined.). However, some authorities do not consider the differences
worthy of generic recognition and maintain the annuals in Koeleria (e.g., Shinners
1956a; Allen 1992b; Watson & Dallwitz 1992; Wilken 1993a; Tucker 1996). (Latin: rostrum, beak,
and ari, much or very, in reference to the shape of the lemma apex in the type species—Standley
ined.) (subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae)
REFERENCES: Shinners 1956a; Brummitt 1978; Jonsell 1980; Allen et al. 1990; Tucker 1996; Henderson
& Schäfer 2003; Standley ined.
Rostraria cristata (L.) Tzvelev, (crested), ANNUAL KOELERIA, ANNUAL JUNE GRASS, CAT-TAIL GRASS.
Annual (5–)10–30(–50) cm tall, tufted; ligule membranous, ca. 1–2 mm long; leaves basal and
cauline; inflorescence a dense, uninterrupted, spike-like panicle usually 1.5–7(–12) cm long, glabrous
or nearly so; spikelets usually 4–6-flowered, 3–5(–7) mm long, disarticulating above
glumes; glumes unequal, the lower smaller; lemma with awn arising from between two minute
apical teeth; awn usually 1–3 mm long; anthers 3. Open, disturbed areas; Brazos (S. Hatch, TAES,
TAMU) and Washington (S. Jones, ASTC, TAMU) cos. in Post Oak Savannah, Walker Co. (Nesom
& Brown 1998, SHST) and Harris Co. (SBSC) near s margin of East TX; also reported from
Brazoria Co. in Gulf Prairies and Marshes (Turner et al. 2003), as a “rare waif in coastal areas
near Galveston” by Correll and Johnston (1970), and for Cameron Co. by Hitchcock (1951); scattered
in the U.S. in AL, AZ, CA, FL, LA, MD, NY, OR, PA, SC, and TX. May–Jun. Native of Europe.
[Festuca cristata L., Koeleria gerardii (Vill.) Shinners, Koeleria phleoides (Vill.) Pers.,
Lophochloa cristata (L.) Hyl.] The nomenclatural problems surrounding this taxon were discussed
by Shinners (1956a). I
SACCHARUM L. PLUME GRASS, SUGARCANE
Large, stout, reed-like perennials to several meters tall; leaves cauline, the blades elongate, flat;
ligule a ciliate membrane 0.5–6 mm long; inflorescence a large, dense, terminal panicle, often
conspicuously hairy; spikelets all alike, perfect, in pairs of 1 sessile and one pedicellate, 2-flowered,
the upper floret fertile, the lower floret sterile; disarticulation below the pedicellate spikelet
and in the inflorescence branch so that the sessile spikelet falls with associated pedicel and
section of the inflorescence branch; callus (= base of spikelet derived from rachilla) usually
with a tuft of long hairs, the hairs shorter than to longer than the spikelet; lemma of fertile floret