160 NORTH AMERICAN FLORA LVOLUME 17 
9. Eriochloa distachya H.B.K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 1: 95. 1815. 
Stems 4-7 dm. long, pubescent at the nodes; leaf-sheaths strongly striate, glabrous or 
softly pubescent; blades 4-8 cm. long, 4-6 mm. wide, glabrous beneath, softly pubescent on 
the upper surface; racemes 1-3, 1-2 cm. long, the rachis hirsute; spikelets ovate to elliptic- 
lanceolate, acute, about 3 mm. long, on short pedicels which bear numerous long terminal 
hairs half as long as the spikelets or equaling them, the first scale wanting, the second and 
third scales pubescent with long hairs, the fruiting scale about four fifths as long as the 
spikelet, finely transversely rugose, pubescent at the apex. 
TYPE LOCALITY: Orinoco River, between Santa Barbara and Esmeralda, Venezuela. 
DISTRIBUTION: Guatemala to Costa Rica; also in Venezuela. 
ILLUSTRATIONS: H.B.K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. p/. 30; Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 24: 124, f. 4 
10. Eriochloa Lemmoni Vasey & Scribn. Bot. Gaz.9:185. 1884. 
An annual plant with the stem and especially the foliage softly pubescent. Stems 4-8 
dm. tall, sometimes branched; leaf-blades up to 1.5 dm. long and 1.5 cm. wide; inflorescence 
4-10 cm. long; racemes erect, 1.5—3 cm. long, the rachis densely pubescent with spreading 
hairs, the pedicels hispid above; spikelets 4-6 mm. long, obtuse or acutish, the first scale 
wanting, the second and third scales about equal in length, appressed-hirsute, the hairs increas- 
ing in length toward the glabrous apex, the fruiting scale about four fifths as long as the spikelet, 
obtuse, papillose-roughened, puberulent at the apex, not shining. 
TYPE LOCALITY: Arizona. 
DISTRIBUTION: Arizona and northern Mexico. 
ILLUSTRATIONS: Bull. U. S. Dep. Agr. Agrost. 7: f 36; Beal, Grasses N. Am. 2: f 25, 
11. Eriochloa Nelsoni Scribn. & Sm. Bull. U. S. Dep. Agr. 
Agrost. 4:12. 1897. 
Leaves and portions of the stem softly pubescent. Stems up to 1 m. tall, branched; 
blades up to 2 dm. long and 1.5 cm. wide; inflorescence 1—1.5 dm. long, the axis densely pubes- 
cent with spreading hairs; racemes spreading or ascending, 2-3 cm. long, the rachis pubes- 
cent with short and long hairs, the pedicels with a terminal tuft of numerous stiff hairs equaling 
or exceeding the spikelet; spikelets 5-7 mm. long, acutish or obtuse, elliptic, the first scale 
wanting, the second and third scales appressed-hirsute, except at the apex, the fruiting 
scale smooth and shining. 
TYPE LOCALITY: Hills east of Cuicatlan, Oaxaca. 
DISTRIBUTION : Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Morelos. 
50. BRACHIARIA Griseb. in Ledeb. Fl. Ross. 4: 469. 1853. 
Annual or perennial grasses with flat leaf-blades and an inflorescence composed of several 
to many I-sided racemes. Spikelets articulated to the pedicel below the scales, 1- or 2-flowered, 
singly disposed, rarely in pairs, in 2 rows, with the back of the fruiting scale turned away from 
the rachis. Scales 4; outer 3 membranous, the first shorter than the spikelet, the second and 
third about equal in length, the latter enclosing a palet and sometimes also a staminate flower;. 
fourth or fruiting scale indurated in fruit, the margins inrolled, papillose-rugose or smooth, 
enclosing a palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas 
plumose. 
Type species, Panicum eruciforme Sibth. & Sm. 
Spikelets 4mm. long, the veins of the outer scales united by cross-véinlets; 
rachis of the racemes not setiferous. ,_ 1. B. plantaginea. 
Spikelets 2.5-3 mm. long, the veins of the outer scales free; rachis of the 
racemes setiferous. 2. B. Meziana. 
1. Brachiaria plantaginea (Link) Hitche. Contr. U. S. Nat. 
Herb. 12: 212. 1909. 
Panicum plantagineum Link, Hort. Berol. 1: 206. 1827. 
Panicum Leandri Trin. Ic. pl. 335. 1834. 
Paspalum platyphyllum Griseb. Cat. Pl. Cub. 230. 1866. 
Panicum platyphyllum Munro; Vasey, Bull. U. S. Dep. Agr. Bot. 8: 25. 1889. 
Brachiaria platyphylla Nash, in Small, Fl. SE. U.S. 81. 1903. 
