122 FLORA. 



2. Chloris elegans H. B. K. Culms 1.5-9 dm. tall, finally branched. 

 Sheaths compressed, keeled ; leaves usually less than i dm. long, sometimes 

 longer, 2-6 mm. wide, smooth beneath, generally very rough above ; inflorescence 

 silvery -white, often tinged with purple, consisting of 3-12 erect spikes 2-8 cm. 

 long; spikelets, exclusive of the awns, about 4 mm. long, usually 2-flowered, the 

 third scale with the midnerve abruptly contracted a short distance below the awn, 

 the awn 5-10 mm. long. Sandy soil, Kans. (according to Hitchcock) to Ariz., 

 south to Mex. 



57. GYMNOPOGON Beauv. 



Perennial grasses with flat and usually short rigid leaves, and numerous slender 

 alternate spikes. Spikelets I -flowered, almost sessile, the rachilla extended and 

 bearing a small scale which is usually awned. Scales 3 or 4; the 2 lower empty, 

 unequal, narrow, acute; third broader, fertile, 3-nerved, slightly 2-toothed at the 

 apex, bearing an erect awn; the fourth empty, small, awned; palet 2-keeled. 

 Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain linear, free, enclosed in 

 the rigid scale. [Greek, naked-beard, referring to the prolongation of the rachilla.] 

 Six known species, all but one of them natives of America. 



Spikes bearing spikelets their whole length ; awn longer than flowering scale. 



1. G. ambignus. 

 Spikes bearing spikelets above the middle ; awn shorter than flowering scale. 



2. G. brevifolius. 



1. Gymnopogon ambiguus (Michx.) B.S.P. BROAD-LEAVED GYMNOPOGON. 

 (I. F. f. 408.) Culms 3-4.5 dm. tall, erect, or decumbent at the base, simple or 

 sometimes sparingly branched. Sheaths short, with a villous ring at the summit, 

 crowded at the base of the culm; leaves 2.5-10 cm. long. 4-12 mm. wide, lanceo- 

 late, acute, cordate at the base, spreading, smooth or a little scabrous above ; spikes 

 slender, spikelet-bearing throughout their entire length, at first erect, the lower 1-2 

 dm. long, at length widely spreading; spikelets, exclusive of awns, 4-5 mm. long; 

 first scale shorter than the second ; third scale exceeded by the second, the callus 

 at the base hairy, the awn 4-6 mm. long. In dry sandy soil, southern N. J. to 

 Kans., south to Fla. and Tex. Aug. -Oct. 



2. Gymnopogon brevifolius Trin. SHORT-LEAVED GYMNOPOGON. (I. F. f. 

 409.) Culms 36 dm. long, from a decumbent base, simple, slender. Sheaths 

 sometimes crowded near the middle of the culm; leaves 2.5-5 cm - l n g 2 ~8 mm - 

 wide, usually spreading, lanceolate, acute, cordate at the base; spikes very slender, 

 spikelet-bearing above the middle, the lower 1.5 dm. long, at first erect, finally 

 widely spreading; spikelets, exclusive of the awns, 3 mm. long; first scale shorter 

 than the second; third scale equalling or exceeded by the second, short-awned, 

 sparingly villous or glabrous, the callus hairy. In dry soil, N. J. to Fla., west to 

 Miss. Aug. -Oct. 



58. SCHEDONNARDUS Steud. 



An annual grass with branching culms, narrow leaves and slender spikes 

 arranged along a common axis. Spikelets I -flowered, sessile and alternate on the 

 rachis. Scales 3; the 2 lower empty, narrow, membranous, acuminate; the flow- 

 ering scale longer, of similar texture; palet narrow, shorter. Stamens 3. Styles 

 distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain linear, free, enclosed in the rigid scale. 

 [Greek, in allusion to the resemblance of this grass to the genus Nardus.~\ A 

 monotypic genus of central N. Am. 



i. Schedonnardus paniculatus (Nutt.) Trelease. SCHEDONNARDUS. (I. F. 

 f. 410.) Culms 2-4.5 dm. ta ^ erect, slender, rigid, branching at the base, 

 scabrous. Sheaths crowded at the base of the culm, compressed, smooth and 

 glabrous; leaves 2.5-5 cm - l n g' 2 mm - wide or less, flat, usually erect ; spikes 

 numerous, rigid, widely spreading, alternate, the lower 510 cm. long, the axis 

 and branches triangular; spikelets 2.5-3 mm. long, sessile and appressed, alter- 

 nate; scales hispid on the keel, the second longer than the first and exceeded by 

 the acute third one. Manitoba and Assiniboia, south to 111., Tex. and N. Mex. 

 July-Sept. 



