POACEAE. 19 



axil a much enlarged and inflated papery palet which exceeds in length the 

 fourth scale; first scale short, the second one about as long as the spikelet; 

 fourth scale indurated in fruit. 



1. S. Mans (Ell.) Nash. Glabrous: stems erect, 3-S dm. tall, sometimes creep- 

 ing at the base: leaf-blades 7-13 cm. long, 2-6 mm. wide, acuminate, usually 

 erect: panicle 7-20 cm. long, its branches few, generally spreading: spikelets 

 about 2 mm. long. — Everglades. 



17. LASIACIS A. Ilitchc. Shrubs with erect or reclining stems and 

 branches, and flat leaf -blades. Spikelets very thick, often globular, paniculate, 

 obliquely articulated to the pedicels. Scales 4^ the 3 outer papery, shining, 

 many-nerved, usually woolly at the apex, the first one less than i as long as the 

 spikelet: fourth or fruiting scales bony-indurated, woolly at the apex, enclosing 

 a palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. 



1. L. divaricata (L.) A. Ilitchc. Stems 2-3 m. tall, reclining: leaves crowded 

 and numerous; sheaths overlapping, ciliate on the margin; blades spreading or 

 ascending, glabrous, acuminate, the larger ones 8-10 cm. long, 13-35 mm. wide: 

 panicle 1 dm. long or less: spikelets 4-5 mm. long, the first scale very broad, 

 clasping the base of the spikelet. — Hammocks. — F. K. {Bah., Cuha, Ant.) — 

 Small-caxe. 



18. SACCIOLEPIS Nash. Diffuse or reclining plants with contracted 

 dense panicles. Spikelets numerous. Scales 4, the 3 outer membranous; 2 

 outer scales empty, the first scale small and narrow, the third scale enclosing 

 a palet and staminate flower, the fourth scale chartaceous, finally indurated, 

 about one-half as long as the second scale, enclosing a palet of similar texture 

 and a perfect flower. 



1. S. striata (Lam.) Nash. Stems usually rooting at the lower nodes, finally 

 dichotomously branched, 3-20 dm. long: leaf -sheaths papillose-hirsute, at least 

 the lower ones; blades lanceolate, long-acuminate, sometimes hirsute on one or 

 both surfaces, 4-20 cm. long, 4-22 mm. wide: panicle 6-30 cm. long, 1.5-2 cm. 

 wide: spikelets 4-5 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate. — Everglades. — {Cuha.) 



19. CHAETOCHLOA Scribn. Erect or diffuse plants with dense terminal 

 cylindric spike-like or narrowly thyrsoid panicles. Spikelets with 1, or a 

 cluster of 2-several sterile barbed bristle-like persistent branches. Three outer 

 scales membranous, the fourth scale usually shorter than the spikelet, char- 

 taceous, glabrous, shining, finally indurated. — Foxtail. Foxtail-grass. 



Inflorescence with the spikelets racemosely arranged : bristles 5-16 at the base of each 



spikelet, involucrate. 1. G. imbcrbis. 



Inflorescence with the spikelets in clusters or on branches : 

 bristles 1-3 at the base of each spikelet, not involucrate. 

 Second scale of the spikelet as long as the flowering scale 



or very nearly so. 2. C. magna. 



Second scale manifestlv shorter than the flowering scale. 



Spikelets 3 mm. long or more. 3. C. macrosperma. 



Spikelets less than 3 mm. long. 4. C. corrugata. 



I.e. imberbis (Poir.) Scribn. Stems 3-7 dm. tall, slender: leaf-blades 1-3 dm. 

 long, 3-7 mm. wide, the upper surface often with a few long hairs at the base: 

 racemes 2-5 cm. long, nearly 1 cm. in diameter, exclusive of the bristles, the 

 rachis pubescent: bristles 5-10 mm. long: spikelets ovoid, acute, 2-2.5 mm. 

 long, the flowering scale acute, striate, finely trans\-erse-rugose. — Everglades. — 

 F. K. {Ber., Bah., Cuba, Ant.) 



2. C. magna (Griseb.) Scribn. Stems stout, 1-4 m. tall, branching at the 

 base: leaf -sheaths glabrous, compressed; blades 3-6 dm. long, 1-3 cm. wide, 



