186 



Chase Notes on Genera of Paniceae. I. 



Gram. 497), and Trinius (1834. Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. VI. 3 2 : 121). 

 Bentham (1881. Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. 19 : 39) transfers it to Auihaenantht 

 stating: " From these [N. Am. Anthaenantia] I can not separategenerically 

 the South American Leptocoryphiuin Nees, which be 

 sides some slight specific characters only differs from 

 the North American species in the second glume being 

 constantly, instead of occasionally only, empty." Hems- 

 ley (1885. Biol. Cent. Am. Bot. 3 : 483) follows Bentham ; 

 Founder (1881. Mex. PI. 2: 13) upholds Lcplocoryphiuni, 



Description. Spikelets in narrow panicles, lanceolate; 

 first glume obsolete; second glume and sterile lemma 

 3 and 5 nerved, the internerves, which are not broad 

 and infolded (or plaited) as in Anthaennlia, each with 

 a row of long coarse hairs arising from tubercles (the 

 tubercles sometimes obscure), the second glume shorter 

 than the sterile lemma which equals the fruit and 

 which is empty; fertile lemma slightly cartilaginous- 

 indurated, minutely papillose (the papillae finer than 

 in any of the other genera), chestnut with a white, 

 delicately hyaline, summit, lacerate and often sparingly 

 ciliate, a narrow hyaline margin extending down the 

 sides to about the middle ; on the back near the base 

 is a small impressed area thin and white ; palea with summit and margins 

 like those of the lemma, not enclosed above, the 2 nerves obscurely visible ; 

 grain oblong-elliptic, in section plano-convex. 



As shown by the fruit this seems to be, as Nees considered it, most nearly 

 allied to Valotn (Trichachne Nees) from which he separated it chiefly on 

 the absence of the first glume. The inflorescence is like that of Anthae- 

 nantia, which it resembles also in lacking the first glume, but differs from 

 in lacking the neuter palea or staminate flower and in the convex, not 

 boat-shaped, lemma with a broad hyaline summit. It differs from both 

 Valota and Anthaenantia in the fruit open at maturity. (A large number 

 of specimens were examined and none in or past bloom were found closed.) 

 Since this species fits so poorly in any other genus it seems wisest to main 

 tain the one Nees established for it. Nees' single other species of Leplo- 

 coryphium \ve have not seen. 



GENUS VALOTA ADANS. 1763. FAM. PL. 2:495. 



Gramen. Avenae. Sloan, t. 14. f. 2. Couronne de la gaine des feuilles : 

 Membrane mediocre. Fleurs: Panicule etagee. Calice : Ovoide, sans 

 aretes, a 3 bales velues. Corolle: Sans aretes. 



The reference to Sloane serves to identify the genus, which the very in 

 sufficient description would not do, and fixes its identity with Andropugon 

 insutare L. 



Andropogon insulare L. 1759. Pugill. Jam. 30; and Sp. PI. Ed. 2. 1763. 

 2 : 1480. In the Pugillus no citation is given ; in the Species Plantarum 



