GRASS FA^llLY 



117 



palea. and sometimes a-staminate flower; fertile lemma plano-convex, smooth and shining, 

 abruptly pointed, the margins inrolled below, flat above, the apex of the palea not in- 

 closed. Coarse often succulent annuals or sometimes perennials with compressed sheaths, 

 linear flat blades, and rather compact panicles composed of short densely flowered racemes 

 along the main axis. [Greek, hedgehog-grass.] 



Species about 15 in the warm regions of both hemispheres. Type species, Panicnm cnisgalli L. 



Spikelets long-awned. 1. E. cnisgalli. 



Spikelets awnless or short-awned (the awn usually not longer than the spikelet). 



Branches more or less compound; glumes firm in texture, strongly hispid; spikelets about 4 mm. long. 



la. E. criisgalli zelayensis. 

 Branches simple; glumes rather soft, sparingly hispid; spikelets about 3 mm. long. 



2. E. colonum. 



1. Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beaiiv. 

 Harnyard Grass. Fig. 243. 



Paiucmn cnisgalli L. Sp. PI. 56. 1753. 



Echinochloa crusgalli Beauv. Ess. Agrost. S3, 161. 1812. 



Culms stout, rather succulent, branching from the 

 base or erect, usually 30-100 cm. tall, sometimes 

 larger; leaves glabrous; panicle dense, 10-25 cm. 

 long, consisting of several erect or spreading, or 

 even drooping racemes ; spikelets green or purple, 

 about 3 mm. long, exclusive of awns, densely and vj^ 

 irregularly crowded in 3 or 4 rows ; awns usually 

 longer than the spikelet. 



Fields and cultivated soil, especially along irrigating ditches. 

 Common in eastern and southern United States and in the 

 warmer parts of both hemispheres. Introduced and not com- 

 mon on the Pacific Slope. Aug.-Sept. Type locality, Euro- 

 pean. 



la. Echinochloa crusgalli zelayensis 



(H. B. K.) Hitchc. 



Mexican Barnyard Grass. Fig". 244. 



Oplismcniis celavensis H. B. K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 1: 108. 



1816. 

 Echinochloa zelayensis Schult. Mant. 2: 269. 1824. 

 Echinochloa crusgalli zelayensis Hitchc. Contr. U. S. Nat. 



Herb. 22: 147. 1920. 



Culms erect, 30-100 cm. tall; panicles 10-20 cm. 

 long, the spikes mostly appressed, sometimes spread- 

 ing, more or less compound, 2-5 cm. long ; spikelets 

 about 4 mm. long, acuminate or short-awned. Re- 

 sembling E. cnisgalli, but the spikelets short-awned 

 or awnless. 



Moist places, especially along irrigating ditches, infrequent 

 within our range, common in Mexico and southward in South 

 America. Aug.-Sept. Type locality: Zelaya. Mexico. 



2. Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link. 

 Small Barnyard Grass. Fig. 245. 



Panicnm colonum L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 870. 1759. 

 Echinochloa colonum Link, Hort. Berol. 2: 209. 1833. 



Culms erect, spreading or prostrate, 30-60 cm. tall ; 

 leaves smooth ; panicle of 5-10 dense racemes, 1.5-2.5 cm. 

 long, rather distant, racemose along the axis ; spikelets 

 about 3 mm. long ; glumes and sterile lemma pubescent, 

 mucronate-pointed only. 



Introduced from the Old World into the warmer parts of 

 America. Occasional in moist places in southern California. Type 

 locality: Jamaica. 



