HITCHCOCK AND CHASE GRASSES OF THE WEST INDIES. 367 



9. Aristida scabra (H. B. K.) Kunth, Rev, Gram. 1: 62. 1829. 



Streptachne scabra H. B. K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 1: 124. pi. JfO. 1816. 



Streptachne cubensis A. Kich. in Sagra, Hist. Cuba 11: 311. 1850. 



Culms densely tufted, compressed, wiry, 0.5 to 1 meter tall ; leaves numerous, 

 the blades mostly not over 2 mm. wide, involute; panicle usually about one- 

 third the height of the plant, the few slender branches spreading at maturity, 

 the short-pediceled appressed spikelets about 3 cm. long including the curved 

 awn ; lateral awns minute. 



Open dry or stony ground, Florida, Bahamas (New Providence and Inagua), 

 and western Cuba. Originally described from Mexico ; S. cubensis described 

 from Cuba. Two Bahama specimens, Curtiss 75 and Nash d Taylor 926, have 

 more clustered spikelets with strongly curved awns as in Streptachne floridana 

 Chapm.,* described from Key West, a form known only from the type collection, 

 having ascending panicle branches, crowded spikelets, and conspicuously 

 curved awns, probably not specifically distinct from A. scabra. 



65. MUHLENBERGIA Schreb. 



Spikelets paniculate ; lemma bearing a long delicate awn. 



1. Muhlenbergia capillaris (Laiu.) Trin. Gram. Unifl. 191. 1824. 



Stipa capillaris Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1 : 158. 1791. 



A densely tufted perennial with slender more or less twisted and flexuous 

 simple culms 40 to 70 cm. tall, and numerous long fine involute blades, com- 

 monly overtopping the large purplish panicles, the numerous capillary fascicled 

 branches bearing small delicately awned spikelets on long capillary pedicels. 



Rocky soil, Massachusetts to Texas, eastern Mexico, and the northern islands 

 of the West Indies. Originally described from Carolina. 



Bahamas (Andros, New Providence), Cuba, and Porto Rico (junction of 

 Rio Arecibo and Rio Limou). 



66. PHLEUM L. 



Spikelets strongly compressed; glumes abruptly mucronate, stiffly ciliate on 

 the keel, exceeding the awnless floret. 



1. Phleum pratense L. Sp. PI. 59. 1753. Timothy. 



A tufted perennial 0.5 to 1 meter tall with flat blades and a dense cylindrical 

 head 5 to 10 cm. long, about 8 mm. thick. 



Commonly cultivated as a meadow grass in temperate regions. Originally de- 

 scribed from Europe. Established on the summit of Blue Mountain Peak, 

 around the " cabin." 



67. SPOROBOLTJS R. Br. 



Spikelets in spikelike or open panicles, awnless; glumes shorter than the 

 floret ; palea readily splitting ; pericarp of the caryopsis loose, the seed readily 

 falling therefrom. 



riants annual 1- S. muralis. 



Plants perennial. 



Creeping rhizomes present. 



Culms rarely over 40 cm. tall 6. S. virginicus. 



Culms commonly 70 cm. or more tall 7. S. littoralis. 



Fl. South. U. S. 554. 1860. 

 47877 17 8 



