HITCHCOCK AND CHASE—GRASSES OF THE WEST INDIES. 341 
Similar to H. amplezicaulis, olivaceous throughout (at least when dry), the 
panicles of numerous ascending, densely flowered branches, the lower distant. 
River banks and shallow water, Cuba (Almendares River) and Trinidad 
(Oropuche) to South America. Originally described from tropical America, 
no definite locality given. The type of Hymenachne patula is Liebmann 402 
from Bejucal, Cuba. 
41. SCUTACHNE Hitche. & Chase. 
Inflorescence paniculate; spikelets acuminate, attenuate at base; first glume 
membranaceous; second glume and sterile lemma leathery-indurate, the lemma 
inclosing a palea of like texture; fruit but slightly more indurate than the 
sterile lemma, mucronate, the summit of the palea not inclosed, densely pubes- 
zent on the margin. 
Culms leafy, the blades elongate; panicles terminal only, of several branches, 
1. S. dura. 
Culms nearly naked, the leaves reduced to the sheaths or nearly so, the basal 
leaves with blades; panicles terminal and axillary, simple. 
2. S. amphistemon. 
1. Scutachne dura (Griseb.) Hitche. & Chase, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 24: 
149, 1911. 
Panicum durum Griseb. Mem. Amer. Acad. n, ser. 8: 533. 1862, 
Alloteropsis dura Hitche, Contr. U. 8S. Nat. Herb. 12: 211. 1909. 
A glabrous ascending perennial, 4 to 7 cm. tall, with wiry simple culms, 
thick harsh blades, and panicles 6 to 10 cm. long, the long branches narrowly 
ascending, the hairy brown spikelets about 5 mm. long. 
Rocky hills, Cuba (Farallones, Valestina), Jamaica (Albion Mountain), and 
Santo Domingo (Salinas). Originally described from eastern Cuba, the type 
being Wright 1539. 
2. Scutachne amphistemon (Wright) Hitche. & Chase, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash- 
ington 24: 149, 1911. 
Panicum amphistemon Wright, Anal. Acad. Cienc. Habana 8: 207. 1871. 
Alloteropsis amphistemon Hitche. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 211. 1909. 
Culms tufted, slender, wiry, 25 to 40 cm. tall, the leaves clustered at the 
base, the flat blunt or rather abruptly pointed blades 10 to 15 cm. long, the 
panicles few-flowered. 
Rocky slopes, Province of Oriente, Cuba, whence originally described, the 
type being Wright 3464, from Mayarf Abajo; found also in Loma Mensura 
(Shafer 3807). 
42. ISACHNE R. Br. 
Inflorescence paniculate; spikelets small, subglobose; glumes subequal; lower 
floret perfect or staminate, its lemma and palea indurate and similar in form 
and texture to those of the upper floret; both fruits, plano-convex, nearly equal 
in size, usually remaining attached by the minute rachilla joint between them. 
Fertile floret appressed-pubescent. 
Blades linear_____ 1. I. leersioides. 
Blades ovate-clasping__ 8. I. polygonoides. 
Fertile floret glabrous. 
Panicle contracted, spikelike, not over 3 cm. long, the branches appressed 
or the lower sometimes ascending; plants low and spreading. 
2. I. pygmaea. 
