Parr 2, 1912] POACEAE 149 
3. Valota Hitchcockii Chase, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 24: 110. 1911. 
Panicum tenerrimum I,. Dewey, in Coult. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 2: 503. 1894. Not P. éenerri- 
mum Kunth, 1829. 
Stems tufted, 2-5 dm. tall, slender, glabrous, the lower nodes often pubescent; leaf-sheaths 
glabrous or sparingly hirsute; blades up to 6 cm. long, 2-3 mm. wide, flat, glabrous beneath, 
usually shortly pubescent on the upper surface and with a few long hairs near the base, with 
a narrow white cartilaginous margin; panicle commonly of 3-5 racemes, rarely fewer, the 
racemes 2-3 cm. long, erect; spikelets usually in pairs, sometimes single, on rather long pedicels, 
2.5-3 mm. long, lanceolate, the first scale minute, triangular, the second and third scales 
densely pubescent, especially on the margins, with long purple hairs, the second 3-nerved, 
about equaling the fruiting scale, the third 5-nerved, a little longer than the second, the fruiting 
scale yellowish-brown, about 2.25 mm. long, a little shorter than the second scale, elliptic, 
acuminate. 
TYPE LOCALITY: On dry prairie soil, San Antonio, Texas. 
DISTRIBUTION: Central and western Texas and adjacent Mexico. 
ILLUSTRATION: Bull. U. S. Dep. Agr. Agrost. 17: f. 343. 
4, Valota Pittieri (Hack.) Chase, Proc. Biol. Soc. 
Wash. 19: 188. 1906. 
Panicum Pittiert Hack. Oesterr. Bot. Zeits. 51: 367. 1901. 
Stems up to 1 m. tall, glabrous, leafy, the nodes black; leaf-sheaths papillose-hispid; 
blades 7-10 cm. long, 7-10 mm. wide, papillose-hirsute; inflorescence 1-1.5 dm. long, of 8-12 
slender ascending racemes, 7-12 cm. long; spikelets usually in pairs, sometimes single, about 
3 mm. long, exclusive of the hairs, lanceolate, the first scale rudimentary, the second and third 
scales pubescent with long hairs, especially on the margins, the 3-nerved second about three 
fourths as long as the fruiting scale, the 5-nerved third about equaling it, the fruiting scale 
brown, about 3 mm. long, lanceolate, acuminate. 
TYPE LOCALITY: Rio Tirili, near San José, Costa Rica. 
DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the type locality. 
DOUBTFUL SPECIES 
Panicum obtectum J. Pres!, in Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1: 301. 1830. Fournier refers this to 
Tricholaena (to which he also refers Valota insularis Chase), citing a specimen collected in 
San Luis de Potosi by Virlet. Until this specimen can be seen, this reference must remain 
doubtful. 
44. SYNTHERISMA Walt. Fl. Car. 76. 1788. 
Digitaria Haller, Stirp. Hetv. 2: 244, 1768, Not Digitaria Heister,.1763. 
Gramerium Desv. Opusc. 61. 1831 . ; 
Sanguinaria Bubani, Fl. Pyren. 4: "256. 1901. Not Sanguinaria L,. 1753. 
Annual grasses with flat leaf-blades and an inflorescence of slender spike-like racemes 
which are disposed in whorls, or scattered but approximate, at the summit of the stem. Spike- 
lets articulated to the pedicel below the scales, 1-flowered, lanceolate or elliptic, solitary, or in 
2’s or 3’s, nearly sessile or on short pedicels, arranged in two rows on one side of a 3-angled 
rachis which usually has the lateral angles winged. Scales 3 or 4; first scale minute or wanting; 
second and third scales glabrous, or pubescent with short hairs, the second equaling or shorter 
than the third; fourth or fruiting scale lanceolate or elliptic, acute, white, yellowish, greenish, 
or brown, papillose, becoming somewhat indurated but not rigid, the white hyaline margins 
not inrolled, enclosing a palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles 
distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain subelliptic, in cross-section plano-convex or somewhat 
concavo-convex. 
Type species, Syntherisma praecox Walt. 
Fruiting scale deep-brown ; first scale wanting, or rarely present as an inconspicuous rudiment. 
Rachis of the racemes with the angles wingless. 
Second and third scales pubescent with appressed glandular- tipped hairs. 
Racemes usually short, 2-10 cm. long; spikeletslessthan 2mm. long. 1. S. jiliforme. 
Racemes usually more than 10 cm. iong, rarely shorter; spikelets 
2.25 mm. long or more. 
