Brachyetytrvni CKAMlNEAli Milium 



40. Brachyelytrum Beauv. SMf'S (Tuan Ying Ts'ao Shu; 

 Short-glumed-grass Genus) 



Perennials with narrow few-fid. panicles: spikelets narrow, 1-fld.; the rachilla 

 prolonged behind the palea into a slender naked bristle: glumes minute, unequal; the 

 first sometimes obsolete ; the second linear or aristate; lemma firm, 5-nerved, terminat- 

 ing in a long straight awn. 2 species, 1 in eastern North America, the other in eastern 

 Asia. (Greek: brachus, short, and elutron, husk, alluding to the short glumes.) 



1. Brachyelytrum japonicum (Hack.) Matsum. (Mak.F.844). Culms 50-100 cm. high; 

 fls. VII; fr. VIII. Eastern Asia; locally in An., Che. Moist or shady woods. 

 Fig. 425. 



41. Muhlenbergia Schreb. Muhly S^M (Shu Mao Shu; 

 Large Mouse-grass Genus) 



Perennials with scaly rootstocks and contracted panicles: spikelets small, without 

 prolonged rachilla: glumes shorter than the floret, thin, 1-nerved or nerveless; lemma 

 membranaceous, 3-nerved, longer than the glumes, terminating in a very slender awn, 

 About 100 species, mostly American; 3 in China. (After Dr. Henry Muhlenberg. 

 1753-1815, a distinguished American botanist.) 



1. Muhlenbergia japonica Steud. (Hitch. 433). Culms 30-90 cm. high; fls. VIII; fr. 

 IX; glumes minute. Northern, India to Japan; locally in An., Che., Ki., Ku, 

 Shady or moist ground. Fig. 426. 



42. Sporobolus R. Br. Dropseed UMMM (Shu Wei Su Shu) 

 Perennials or annuals with contracted panicles (ours): spikelets 1-fld., awnless, 

 without prolonged rachilla: glumes shorter than the spikelet; lemma membranaceous. 

 1-nerved, equal to or longer than the unequal glumes; palea equaling the lemma, or 

 a little shorter, finally splitting between the two strong nerves: fr. a utricle; pericarp 

 loosely enclosing the seed, often thin and evanescent. About 100 species, mostly 

 American; 5 in China. (Greek: spora, seed, and ballein, to cast forth, alluding to the 

 free seeds.) 



Key to the Species 



Second glume about half as long as the floret: panicle 15-40 cm. long.. 1. S. elongatus 



Second glume equaling or a little shorter than the floret. 



Perennial : panicle 3-8 cm. long 2. 5. virginicus 



Annual: panicle 1.5-3.5 cm. long 3. S. pUiferus 



1. Sporobolus elongatus R. Br. MMM (Shu Wei Shu; Rat-tail Grass) (R.Br.P.170). 

 Culms 30-100 cm. high; fls. VIII; fr. IX. Warm regions; locally in Che., Ki., Ku. 

 Waste roadsides and fields. Fig. 427. 



2. Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth (Hitch. 418). Culms 15-30 cm. high; fls. VIII; 

 fr. IX; perennial, with strong rhizomes. Pantropics; locally in Che. Sandy shores. 



3. Sporobolus piliferus (Trin.) Kunth (H.F. 7:251). Culms 8-15 cm. high; annual. 

 India to Korea, Japan and the Philippines; locally in Che., Ki. Damp ground or 

 rocky hills. 



43. Milium Linn. Millet Grass M^M (Shu Ts'ao Shu) 

 Perennials (ours) with flat blades and open panicles: spikelets 1-fld., dorsally 



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