8 



ARISTIDA PURPUREA LAXIFLORA var. nov. 



A lax, tufted form 3 to 6 dm. high, with open, few-flowered panicles. Panicle 

 branches mostly solitary, flexuous, capillary, 1 to 3 flowered. Spikelets as 

 in the species. 



Type specimen collected in Texas, no locality. No. 12 J. Reverchon, May, 1881 ; 

 No. 13 Reverchon, same date, is identical with No. 12. A specimen from 

 Texas, no locality, collected by G. C. Nealley, in 1887, is referred here and 

 also a specimen collected at Tucson, Arizona, by J. W. Tourney, in 1893. 



This variety is very closely related to var. crquiramea, and is only distinguished 

 by its very lax, open, few flowered panicles. 



ARISTIDA PURPUREA CAPILLARIFOLIA var. nov. 



A pale glaucous form about 4 dm. high, with lax, few-flowered panicles and 

 numerous involute basal and culm leaves 2 to 3 dm. long. First glume 6 

 mm. long, the second about 14 mm. long, mucronate and slightly exceeding 

 the scabrous flowering glume. Awns 3 to 4 cm. long. 



Type specimen collected in Texas by G. C. Nealley. No locality given. 



Aristida reverchoni Vasey, Bui. Torr. Bot. Club, 13:52. 1886. 



A densely tufted glabrous perennial, 3 to 5 dm. high, with numerous wiry, 

 radical leaves 7 to 15 cm. long, and narrow spike-like panicles 10 to 15 cm. 

 long. Sheaths short; ligule a short ciliate ring; leaf -blades involute, 

 curved. Panicles purplish, the branches in pairs, uueqiial, the lower ones 

 2 cm. long, all appressed. First glume about 8 mm. long, the second 12 

 mm. long, about equaling the glabrous flowering glume. Awns about 2 

 cm. long, nearly e(iuai. 



General distribution.— Texas to Arizona. 



Specimens examined— Te.ras.- Rocky hills, Crockett County, 1237 J. Rever- 

 chon, May; Comanche Peak, 154 Reverchon, 1882; no locality, G. C. 

 Nealley, 1887, 18 Reverchon, 1885; Limpia Canyon, 146 G. C. Nealley, 

 September, 1892; El Paso, G. R. Vasey, 1881; Kerrville, J. G, Smith, Jime 

 21, 1897. New Mp.xico : Mangos, O. Metcalfe, September 2, 1897. Arizona: 

 Fort Hnachuca, T. E. Wilcox, September, 1894. 



This species, although closely related to other species in this group, and 

 especially to Aristida longiseta fendleriana, is readily distinguished by its 

 narrow spike like panicle and relatively longer first glume. 



Aristida reverchoni angusta Vasey, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3:46. 1892. 



A form distinguished from the species by its much narrower panicles, a charac- 

 ter doubtless due entirely to habitat. 



Specimens examined.— Tea-os; Comanche Peak, 10 J. Reverchon, Septem- 

 ber, 1881 (type) ; San Angelo, J. G. Smith, July 12, 1897; no locality, G. C. 

 Nealley, 1889. 



Aristida curtiseta Buckl. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862:92. 1862. 



It is impossible to identify this species, as the specimen on which Buckley 

 based his description is a form in which the spikelets are aborted by a 

 species of Ustilago. It is probably Ari.stida pmyurea Nutt., or some 

 closely related form. Buckley's type is in the herbarium of the Philadel- 

 phia Academy of Natural Sciences. 



Elmer D. Merrill, 

 Assistant in Charge of Collections. 

 Approved : 



James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



Washington, D.C., 3Iay 3, 1901. 



