68 FLORA. 



cm. long, slender, loose; awn 12-16 mm. long, the portion included in the outer 

 scales tightly spiral, bent at point of exsertion, and thence loosely spiral. In damp 

 soil, N. J. to Ky. and Mo., south to Ga. and Ala. Sept. 



2. Erianthus saccharoides Michx. PLUME-GRASS. (I. F. f. 212.) Culms 

 robust, erect, 1.4-3 m - ta ^ tne summit and the axis of the panicle densely pubescent, 

 with appressed long rigid silky hairs. Sheaths densely pubescent at the throat; 

 leaves 0.6-2.5 cm. wide; panicle lax, broadly oblong, 1.25-3.75 dm. long, 5-10 cm 

 wide, its branches spreading, 5-10 cm. long, internodes about 4 mm. long; outer 

 scales of the spikelet a little exceeding the pedicel and about one-half as long as the 

 basal hairs; awn 2-2.5 cm. long, scabrous. In moist sandy soil, S. E. Va. to Fla. 

 and La. Aug. -Sept. 



3. Erianthus compactus Nash. CONTRACTED PLUME-GRASS. (I. F. f. 213.) 

 Culms 1-3 m. tall, the summit and axis of the panicle densely pubescent with ap- 

 pressed long rigid silky hairs. Sheaths glabrous, or pubescent at the top; leaves 

 6-12 mm. wide; panicle narrowly oblong, 1-1.5 dm. l n g about 3.75 cm. wide; 

 branches erect, 2.5-5 cm. long; internodes about 2 mm. long; outer scales of the 

 spikelet exceeding the pedicels and about equalling the basal hairs; awn 1-2 cm. 

 long, scabrous. In moist soil, N. J. to N. C. and Tenn. Aug. -Sept. 



4. Erianthus brevibarbis Michx. SHORT-BEARDED PLUME-GRASS. (I. F. f. 

 214.) Culms stout, erect, 1-2 m. tall, nodes naked or scantily barbed, the summit 

 and axis of the panicle smooth or scabrous. Sheaths glabrous; leaves rough, 3- 

 4.5 dm. long, 6-10 mm. wide, acuminate; panicle linear-oblong, 2-2.5 dm. in 

 length, 2.5-3.75 cm. wide, branches erect, 512.5 cm. long, internodes about 5 mm. 

 long; outer scales of the spikelet about 8 mm. long, twice the length of the pedicel 

 and equalling or twice as long as the basal hairs, lanceolate, long-acuminate; inner 

 scales shorter; awn 1.8-2.5 cm. long, straight, scabrous. In moist soil, Del. to N. 

 C. and La. Autumn. 



3. MANISURIS L. 



Mostly tall perennials, with running rootstocks. narrow flat leaves and cylindri- 

 cal jointed spikes, terminal and from the upper axils. Spikelets in pairs at each 

 node of the excavated rachis, one sessile and perfect, the other with a pedicel and 

 either staminate or empty. Scales of the perfect spikelet 4, the outermost thick 

 and coriaceous, covering, together with the pedicel of the sterile spikelet, the exca- 

 vation in the rachis; second scale chartaceous; third and fourth hyaline, the latter 

 subtending a palet and perfect flower. Stamens three. Styles distinct. Grain 

 free. [Greek, in allusion to the tail-like spikes.] About 25 species, widely dis- 

 tributed in tropical and temperate countries. 



Culms from a creeping rootstock, round; sheaths round, narrow. i. M. cylindrica. 



Culms tufted, no rootstocks, much flattened, at least below ; sheaths much compressed, 



broad, keeled. 2. M. rugosa. 



1. Manisuris cylindrica (Mx.) Kuntze. CREEPING MANSURIS. Culms 3-10 

 dm. tall, slender; leaves 3 dm. or less long, 1-3 mm. wide; racemes 1-2 dm. long; 

 sessile spikelets 4.5-5 mm. long, about equalling the internodes, the first scale 

 more or less pitted in longitudinal lines, or rarely unpitted, the the pits often con- 

 taining a subulate hair; pedicellate spikelets reduced to I or 2 scales, the pedicel 

 linear, shorter than the sessile spikelet and curved around its margin. In sandy 

 soil, Ga. and Fla. to Tex.; also in Mo., Ark. and Ind. Terr. June-Aug. 



2. Manisuris rugosa (Nutt.) Kuntze. WRINKLED MANISURIS. (I. F. f. 215.) 

 Culms 6-12 dm. tall, compressed, much branched above. Sheaths compressed; 

 leaves flat, 1.5-6 dm. long, 2-6 mm. wide; spikes partially included in the sheath 

 or more or less exserted, 3-5 cm. long; outermost scale of the spikelets about 4 

 mm. long, strongly transverse-rugose. In wet soil along the coast, Del. to Fla., 

 west to Tex. June-Sept. 



4. ANDROPOGON L. , 



Perennial grasses with usually long narrow leaves, and terminal and axillary 

 racemes. Spikelets in pairs at each node of the jointed hairy rachis, one sessile 

 and perfect, the other with a pedicel and either staminate, empty or reduced to a 



