142 proceedings: philosophical society . 



less depends both upon the physical and chemical condition of the sub- 

 stratum. In the regions studied, however, the physical texture and the 

 water content seem to be of secondary importance. 



Notes of travel in Central America: A. S. Hitchcock. 



Having visited the Canal Zone as members of the Smithsonian Bio- 

 logical Survey, Mr. Hitchcock and his son, made a two months' side 

 trip to Central America. Collections were made in Costa Rica at 

 Port Limon, San Jose and Puntarenas, in Nicaragua at San Juan del 

 Sur, Corinto, Masaya and Jinotepe, in Honduras at Amapala, in Sal- 

 vador at La Uni6n, Acajutla, Santa Ana and San Salvador, in Guatemala 

 at Guatemala City, Volcano Agua, and Port Barrios. 



The botanical results of the trip were very satisfactory, consisting of 

 760 numbers of grasses, and many photographs illustrating the habit 

 of growth of the larger species. The collections in the National Her- 

 barium from Central America, with the exception of Costa Rica, were 

 meagre, especially from Nicaragua and Salvador. There appear to be 

 several new species in the collections and also many species that have 

 been rare in herbaria but have proven to be abundant in this region. 

 Among the rare species may be mentioned: Bouteloua pringlei, from 

 Salvador, only known heretofore from Guerrero, Mexico; B. americana, 

 known only from the West Indies; B. disticha, common on the Pacific 

 slope, of Central America; Uniola pittieri, common on sandy beaches 

 from Puntarenas to Panama; Jouvea straminea, abundant at Corinto 

 and Acajutla. In a recent monograph upon the genus Panicum in 

 North America all our knowledge of this group was brought together 

 but many species of the southern portion of this region were very im- 

 perfectly known. In the subdivision of the genus, known as Parvi- 

 glumia, many collections during the past season from various localities 

 have shown certain species such as Panicum virgultorum and P. par- 

 viglume to be widely distributed and not uncommon. The genus Lasi- 

 acis, allied to Panicum of which it was formerly considered a section, 

 has presented many difficulties because herbarium specimens have 

 shown only the panicles and a few leaves. The plants however are large, 

 usually much branched and woody. Notes and photographs taken from 

 the living specimens show that there are good characters based upon 

 habit, method of branching and the appearance of the young shoots. 

 The species of this group are numerous and well-marked and it is hoped 

 that the distinctive characters observed in the field may be coordinated 

 with those observed in herbarium specimens and thus lead to a satis- 

 factory revision of the genus. One outlying member, L. procerrima 

 (Panicum procerrimum) , known only from the type collection in Costa 

 Rica, was found to be wide spread, though not abundant, from southern 

 Mexico to Panama. It is remarkable that this species, growing to the 

 height of 5 to 8 feet, and having a panicle as much as two feet broad, 

 should have been so little-known. These collections made in Panama 

 and Central America together with those made the preceding year in 

 Mexico give a fair knowledge of the grass flora of these regions. 



W. W. Stockberger, Corresponding Secretary. 



