muehlenbergia

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A genus of grasses of the tribe Agrostideæ, known by its capillary awns, small spikelets, and grain tightly invested by the delicate glume. About 60 species are known, mostly of North America or the Andes, and a few in Asia. They are low grasses, sometimes forming a turf, with mainypanicled flowers. On account of the early deciduous Seed these grasses are called dropseed, especially M. diffusa (also called nimble-will). M. capillaris, an extremely delicate species, shares with various other grasses the name of hair-grass. The species have no marked agricultural worth.