Some Monstrosities in Spikelets of Eragrostis and Setarla 



By W. J. Beai. 



In central Michigan we usually have a severe frost by Septem- 

 ber 5th-i5th, but in 1898, it was delayed until about October 7th. 

 This unusual delay of frost with warm weather and moisture 

 enough was favorable for late growth of some plants. 



On October 6th, I found a few plants of Eragrostis major Host, 

 a common weed among grasses, which had apparently, like most 

 others of its kind, made plans for closing its season of growth 

 early in September, maturing spikelets 6 mm. long with 12-18 

 florets well filled with grain, but before drying up and dying — the 

 weather was so fine — a new growth of the rachilla was made pro- 

 longing the axis to 17 mm. with 32 florets (Fig. 4), more than 

 double the original length (Fig. 3). This new growth was not 

 able to mature grain. 



The first growth was broad and faded ; the new was slender 

 and olive green, making a sharp contrast in appearance. 





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Fig. 1, 2. Chamaeraphis viridis. 3, 4. Eragrostis major. 



An increased number of florets has been recorded by others in 

 nordcum, Lolium, Avena and Catabrosa, but I have seen no ac- 

 count of this in Eragrostis major. From countries with warmer 



(85) 



