POACEAE 55 
1. Erianthus alopecuroides (L.) EIL. Stems 1.5-3 m. tall, the apex, the panicle-axis, 
and often also the nodes, pubescent with long silky appressed hairs. Leaf-sheaths gla- 
brous ; blades 1.5-7 dm. long, 5-25 mm. broad, hirsute above near the base: panicle 2-3. 
dm. long, 5-10 em. broad, oblong, its branches erect-ascending, the larger 4-11 em. long : 
spikelets rather crowded, about $ as long as the basal hairs and 4 again as long as the inter- 
nodes; 2 outer scales about 6 mm. long, pilose with hairs less than 1} timesas long as the 
scales; fourth scale 2-toothed at the apex, the teeth acuminate, the awn 12-16 mm. long, 
the included portion a tightly spiral column, the remainder loosely coiled. 
In damp soil, North Carolina, Kentucky and Missouri, to Georgia and Alabama. Fall.—A form» 
E. alopecuroides hirsütus Nash, differs from the species in having the sheaths, at least the lower ones, and 
the lower surface of the leaf-blades appressed-hirsute. In similar situations, Florida. 
2. Erlanthus Tracyi Nash. Stems 2-4 m. tall, the summit and nodes together with 
the paniele-axis and top of the otherwise glabrous sheaths appressed-pubescent with long 
silky hairs. Leaf-sheaths shorter than the internodes; blades 5 dm. long or more, 1.5-3 
em. broad, very rough, pilose above at the base: panicle 3-5 dm. long, 8-12 cm. wide, ob- 
long, its pubescent branches erect-ascending, the larger 1-1.5 dm. long : spikelets crowded, 
less than å as long as the basal hairs and 4 again as long as the internodes ; 2 outer scales 
5-6 mm. long, pilose with hairs twice as long as the scale ; fourth scale entire or somewhat 
2-toothed at the apex, the awn 1.5-2 cm. long, straight or slightly flexuous. 
In moist open places, Florida and Mississippi. Fall. 
S. Erianthus compáctus Nash. Stems 1-2 m. tall, the summit and nodes together 
with the panicle-axis and top of the otherwise glabrous sheaths appressed-pubescent with 
long silky hairs. Leaf-sheaths shorter than the internodes ; blades 1.5-7 dm. long, 6-12 
mm. wide, rough on both surfaces, more or less appressed-hirsute beneath, also above near 
the base: panicle 1-2 dm. long, 4-6 cm. wide, oblong, its branches erect-ascending, the 
larger 3-5 cm. long: spikelets crowded, about equalling the basal hairs, and usually over 
twice as long as the internodes ; 2 outer scales 5-6 mm. long, pilose with long hairs; fourth 
. scale slightly if at all toothed at the apex, the awn straight or slightly flexuous, 1-2 cm. long. 
In swamps, New Jersey to North Carolina and Tennessee. Fall. 
4. Erianthus saccharoides Michx. Stems 1.5-3 m. tall, the summit and nodes to- 
gether with the panicle-axis and top of the otherwise glabrous sheaths appressed-pubes- 
cent with long silky hairs. Leaf-sheaths shorter than the internodes ; blades 1.5-7 dm. long, 
6-25 mm. wide, usually rough and more or less hirsute on both surfaces : panicle 1.5-4 dm. 
long, 5-15 cm. wide, oblong, its branches ascending, the larger 7-15 cm. long: spikelets 
rather loosely disposed, about 3 as long as the basal hairs and a little exceeding the inter- 
nodes ; 2 outer scales 4-6 mm. long, pilose with long hairs; fourth scale slightly if at all 
toothed at the apex, the awn straight or slightly flexuous, 1.5-2.5 em. long. 
In moist soil, New Jersey to Florida and Louisiana. Summer and fall. 
5. Erianthus láxus Nash. Stems 2-3 m. tall, pubescent, especially at the nodes, 
with appressed hairs, those at the apex and on the panicle-axis long and copious. Leaf- 
sheaths, particularly the lower ones, densely hirsute, especially at the ends; blades 2-5 
dm. long, 6-12 mm. wide, hirsute on both surfaces, the upper surface becoming glabrous : 
pee 4-5 dm. long, 1 dm. wide or less, its elongated and ascending branches lax and 
exuous, the larger 2-2.5 dm. long : spikelets loosely disposed, 3 as long as the basal hairs 
and much exceeded by the internodes, especially by the lower ones; 2 outer scales 4-5 
mm. long, pilose with long hairs ; fourth scale entire or shortly 2-toothed at the apex, the 
awn straight or slightly flexuous, about 2 cm. long. 
In swamps, peninsular Florida. Fall. 
6. Erianthus brevibárbis Michx. Stems 1-1.5 m. tall, the nodes pubescent with 
readily deciduous hairs, the summit and panicle-axis glabrous.  Leaf-sheaths rough, the 
summit appressed-hirsute ; blades 1.5-4 dm. long, 6-10 mm. wide, rough: panicle 2-3 
dm. long, about 3 cm. wide, its branches erect, the larger 2-7 em. long : spikelets crowded, 
exceeding the basal hairs and a little less than twice as long as the internodes ; 2 outer 
scales 8-9 mm. long, sparingly pilose; fourth scale usually entire at the apex, the awn 
straight, 1.5-2.5 em. long. 
In moist soil, Delaware to North Carolina and Louisiana. Fall. 
7. Erianthus contórtus Ell. Stems 1-2 m. tall, the nodes often pubescent with 
readily deciduous hairs, the summit and panicle-axis glabrous, or sparingly appressed- 
pubescent.  Leaf-sheaths smooth or rough; blades 1.5-8 dm. long, 5-20 mm. wide, 
smoothish or rough : panicle 1.5-3 dm. long, 3-5 cm. wide, its branches erect, the larger 
4-7 cm. long: spikelets crowded, exceeding the basal hairs and about } again as long as 
the internodes ; 2 outer scales 7-7.5 mm. long, at first more or less pilose with long hairs ; 
fourth scale 2-toothed at the apex, the awn 1.5-2 cm. long, the included portion often a 
little spiral at the base, the remainder loosely spiral. 
In pine woods, Delaware to Florida and Mississippi. Fall. 
