22R 



erect and enveloped at tlie base by the short and somewhat 

 dilated leaf-sheaths and strong prophylla, the latter being remark- 

 ably developed in aborted branches of the 9 inflorescence. Lower 

 sheaths crowded and over-lapping, those above much shorter 

 than the internodes ; ligule a ciliate fringe of short hairs, the 

 hairs at the sides longer; leaves i-io cm. long, the uppermost 

 shortest and divergent, all pungent-pointed, conduplicate, scab- 

 rous on the prominent stris of the upper surface and a few scat- 

 tering hairs near the margins. Staminate spihes 3-6 cm. lone; 

 spikelets three to six, sessile on alternate notches of the slender 



^-3 cm. long, about 3 mm. wide, much compressed, 



4-5 mm. long, 



ten- to eighteen-flowered. 



Flowering glumes 



broadly lanceolate, acute, with a strong keel, which is scabrous 

 above, and a distinct lateral nerve on each side about half as lon^^ 



as the glume. 



Paleas somewhat shorter than the glumes, finely 

 scabrous on the prominent keels. Female spikes 2-3 cm. long, 



somewhat concave on one side near the 

 base, otherwise terete and very sharp-pointed, 

 often a little curved and spur- shaped ; spike- 

 lets one to three, alternate, 6-S mm. long, 

 deeply embedded in the rhachis to which 

 the glumes are firmly adnate for four-fifths 



...a 



or five-sixths of their length. St}'le spring- 



ing from one side of the top of the ovary, 

 often bent back near the base and projectin 



(r 



through the conical-tubular apex of the 



A portion of a 9 spike of 

 Joiivea siraminea, l^^ourn.? 

 showing- tlie tubular free 

 apex of the j^Iume*?, n. 



glumes. Grain about 6 mm. loner. 



I have referred this grass to Jonvca 

 straminca with a query because Fourn- 

 ler's description, drawn as it was from 



an immature female plant, renders a positive identification from 



this alone, nearly impossible. 



It appears* that the male and probably also female plants of 

 this grass were collected at Cape St Lucas, Lower California, by 

 Xantusin 1 859-^60. The first (No. 12 1 of the collection) was re- 

 ferred by Dr. Gray, in his account of Xantus' plants, to the present 



Of the probable female plant (No. 119) it is ■ 



D is tic hits 



*l>otanical Cjazette, xv. p. 109. 



