542 
~. B, curtipedicellata Buckley, Culms 5 to 10 dm. high, tufted, from perennial 
rootstocks: spikelets numerous, subappressed on the rather rigid branches and sub- 
divisions, 7 to 10-flowered, 4 to 7mm. long; floral glume acute, slightly exceeding 
the hispid ciliate palet: grain oblong, nearly smooth, about 0.7 mm. long.—Low 
sandy land, central and western Texas. 
3. EB. refracta (Muhl.) Scribn. Culms 3 to6 dm. high, erect: leaves narrow, often 
involute: panicle very open: spikelets scattered along the subdivisions, flatly com- 
pressed, 8 to 20-flowered, 5 to 10 mm. long; floral glume one-fourth longer than the 
palet: grain oblong, slightly recticulate or nearly smooth. (Poa refracta Mubl, 
Eragrostis campestris Trin,)—Low sandy land, central Texas to Florida and South 
Carolina, 
4. BE. sessilispica Buckl. Culms erect or ascending, rather rigid, simple, 3 to 9 dm. 
high: leaves mostly from the base, 1 to 3 dm. long: panicle loose, rigid, more than 
one-half as long as the culm; branches alternate, horizontal, 1 to 2 dm. long, pubes- 
cent in the axils: spikelets 6 to 10 mm. long, 6 to 12-flowered; empty glumes acute, 
nearly equaling the lower florets; floral glume rigid, ovate, acute, glabrous. ( Lep- 
tochloa rigida Munro Mss, Diplachne rigida Vasey.)—Dry prairies and river valleys, 
central Texas to New Mexico and northward to Kansas. 
++ ++ Spikelets small, 3 to 9-flowered, on divergent pedicels many times their own length. 
5. HE. capillaris (L.) Nees. Culms 3 to 6 dm. high, erect or spreading: leaves nar- 
row, often pilose: panicle loose, capillary; branches scabrous: spikelets 2 to 4 mm. 
long, 2 to 4-flowered; floral glume broadly lance-ovate, smooth, nearly equaled by the 
palet: grain subglobose, 0.7 mm. long, finely rugose under a glass. (Poa capillaris 
L.)—Low prairies, Texas to Iowa and eastward. 
6. EB. pectinacea (Michx.) Steud. (MEADOW COMB GRass.) Culms 4 to8dm. high: 
sheaths somewhat pubescent: panicle very open; branches 2 dm. long or less, horizon- 
tal, hispidulous, pilose at the axils: spikelets 4 to 8-flowered, 3 to 6 mm. long; floral 
glume subacute, slightly exceeding the ciliate palet: grain oblong, smooth, 0.8mm. 
long. (Poa pectinacea Michx.)—Central Texas to Florida and northward. 
7. B. lugens Nees. Culms 3 to 6 dm. high: leaves attenuate, prominently pubes- 
cent at the ligule: panicle diffuse; branches smooth, subverticillate at the base, in 
twos, or single above: spikelets 3 to 6 mm. long, 5 to 9-flowered, rather turgid; 
floral glume broadly ovate, acute, slightly exceeding the smooth palet: grain oblong, 
about 1 mim. long.—Low prairies, Texas to Arizona and eastward to Florida. Var. 
MAJOR Vasey, of the same range, is larger (6 to 8 dm. high), with a large open 
spreading panicle. 
++ ++ ++ Spikelets large, 8 to 15-flowered, on pedicels nearly their own length. 
8. E. Neo-Mexicana Vasey. Culms 4 to 8 dm. high, usually branching near the 
base: leaves flat, 4 to 10 min. wide: panicle oblong, 2 to 4 dm. long, diffuse; branches 
1dm. long or less, hispid, ascending: spikelets 5 to 8 mm. long, 8 to 15-flowered ; 
floral glume hispidulous on the keel near the acute apex, one-fourth longer than the 
ciliate palet: grain oblong, truncate at each end, slightly grooved.—Mountain sides, 
western Texas to southern California. 
** Panicle comparatively small, somewhat contracted: annuals, branching and usually 
spreading or decumbent. 
+ Spikelets rather turgid on pedicels of various lengths. 
9. BE. Mexicana Link. Culms 3 to 6 dm. high: panicle oblong; branches smooth, 
single or somewhat verticillate, ascending, 1 dm. long or less: spikelets 4 to 10- 
flowered, 3 to 6 mm, long; empty glumes one-half as long as the contiguous florets; 
floral glume subacute, hispidulous on the keel, one-fourth longer than the hispidulous 
palet: grain oblong, oblique, nearly smooth under a glass, about 0.8 mm. long.—Low- 
land, western Texas to southern California, 
