OPEN li:tters. 29 



the species will soon be reported from other miniug towns in the 

 Sierra foot-hills, particularly as it is adapted for ready dispersion. 

 It is of diftuse or nearly prostrate habit, glandular-pubescent 

 throughout, with rather slender, rigid stems, breaking up into joints 

 after fruiting. The flowers are small and red. The ganiophyllous 

 calyx is narrowly cylindrical (suggestive of Frankenia), fifteen-nerved, 

 six lines long, and bracteate; the calyx teeth are acute and cuspidate; 

 stamens five. 



The material in the writer's possession was recently determined 

 by Dr. B. L. Robinson, who had in hand at the time the prepara- 

 tion of the manuscript of the Caryophyllacere for the Synoptical 

 Flora.— W. L. J. 



OPEN LETTERS. 

 The Genus Avena on the Pacific Coast. 



U. S. Department of AgricultuPvE, Division of Botany, \ 

 Washington, D. C, December 2, 1896. j 



Your letter of November 23, and also the package of Aveuas^ 

 which you have kindly forwarded, have been received. 



The specimens were all correctly named except one, labeled Avena 

 fatua, which proves to be A. barbata. This species is distinguished 

 from A. fatua by the long, thin, and slender points of the glumes, 

 especially of the floral glumes, and by the softer pubescence on the 

 floral glume. I have examined specimens of A. barbata from 

 Fresno, San Jose, and San Bernardino, California, and Suavies 

 Island, Oregon. Bastard oat, Avena fatua glabrescens Coss. (A. hy- 

 hrida Petermann), not represented in your collection, has been 

 usually referred to A. fatua. It has the habit and glumes of this 

 species, but its floral glume is naked except for a few short hairs at 

 the base, and sometimes a thin pubescence along the margin, I have 

 examined specimens of this variety from San Bernardino and San 

 Jose, California; Croy, Oregon; and Pullman, Washington. A. 

 fatua appears to be most abundant and widely distributed. It is the 

 only one, so far as I know, that is found east of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, Very truly yours, Lyster H, Dewey, Assistant. 



