[7] 



154 



glumes, entire mucronate, (not awned,) in the entire straight lower 

 palea of the perfect flower, and in the third or aristiform flower 

 being much exserted. 



Bouteloua racemosa, Lagasca.l Culm erect, simple; spikes nu- 

 merous (20 — 40,), reflexed, 3 flowers; lower glume linear subulate; 

 upper one linear-lanceolate, scabrous, entire, nearly as long as the 

 spikelets; lower palea of the perfect flower unequally tricuspidate, 

 pubescent; abortive flower reduced to a slender awn which is nearly 

 as long as the perfect flower, furnished at the base with 2 short 

 and inconspicuous bristles. Valley of the Gila, rare. This plant 

 agress pretty well with Kunth's description of B. (Eutriana,) race- 

 mosa, except in the pubescent lower palea, and the minute bristles 

 at the base of the neuter flower. Whether it be the plant of La- 

 gasca or not is very difficult to determine from his brief character. 

 It certainly is very different from B. racemosa of the United States, 

 which has a large 3-awned neuter flower, and if distinct from La- 

 gasca's, must receive another name. That of B. curtipendula 

 would be appropriate. 



Chondrosium eriopodum, n. sp. Culm simple, pubescent below; 

 spikes 4 — 6, racemose, appressed, on short woolly peduncles; spike- 

 lets 2-flowered; flowers distichous,; glumes very unequal, glabrous, 

 linear-lanceolate, mucronate, entire; lower palea of the perfect 

 flower glabrous, bifid at the apex, with a short bristle between the 

 teeth; neuter flower pedicellate, with 3 slender awns. This is one 

 of the species of "Grama" so useful as a fodder-grass in New 

 Mexico. It is abundant along the Del Norte, and in the region be- 

 tween that river and waters of the Gila. The culm is slender, 

 a foot or more in height. Leaves are very narrow, 2 — 3 inches 

 long, with glabrous sheaths; sheath almost wanting. Spikes about 

 three-fourths of an inch long. 



Chondrosium fceneum, n. sp. Leaves glabrous; spikes 2 — 3, ob- 

 long, falcate, spreading; rachis nearly half the length of the spikes; 

 upper glume nearly as long at the perfect flower, with two rows of 

 piliferous glands on the back; lower palea deeply 3-rleft, the seg- 

 ments lanceolate and mucronate, hairy on the margin; neuter flower 

 of two truncate emarginate valves, with a 2-valved rudiment of a 

 third flower, and 3 short stout awns. Uplands bordering the valley 

 of the Del Norte. This is another of the grasses called Grama in 

 New Mexico, and is the best kind, being almost as good fodder as 

 oats. It is nearly allied to Atheropogen [Chondrosium^) oligosta- 

 chyum of Nuttall. 



Chondrosium polystachyum, Benth. hot. Sulph. p. 56. Uplands 

 bordering the Gila. The smallest kind of "Grama" found on the 

 journey. It is about 6 inches high, very slender. The spikes are 

 narrowly linear, and almost half an inch long, erect, on short 

 brownish peduncles. The other characters agree minutely with 

 Mr. Bentham's admirable detailed description in the work quoted 

 above. 



Leptochloa filiformis, Roem and Schults. Valley of the Gila. 

 Scarcely distinct from L. mucronata of the United States. 



Sesleria? dactyloides, JVutt. Upper part of the Arkansas. This 



