l8 9 x J Briefer Articles. 2j 



2} 2 lines long, and the palet about \\ lines; sometimes a 

 small, weak, threadlike sterile pedicel present, sometimes 

 wanting - : immediately below the flower is the rachis, which is 

 linear and about two-thirds as long as the spikelet. — Collected 

 in Texas, by G. C. Nealley, in 1800. Related to B. 

 racemosa, but differs in its smaller size and smaller, one 

 flowered spikes. 



ANDROPOGON MACROURUS, var. punulus, n. var. — Peren- 

 nial dwarf, tufted; culms 6 to 10 inches high, branching from 

 the base, and terminating in a cymose panicle; leaves 3 to <> 

 inches long, longer than the internodes, smooth, the sheaths 

 enclosing the lateral flowering branches, sparingly hairy at 

 the throat; branches numerous at the upper sheaths, each sub- 

 divided, the sheathing bract rather longer than the pair of 

 terminal spikes, which are 1 to 1^ inches long, and with 10 

 to l w 2 spikelets; pedicel slightly hairy below the bract. -^A 

 remarkable variety, collected in Western Texas by G. C. 

 Nealley. 



Department of 



C. 



BRIEFER ARTICLES. 

 Aetinella (Hymenoxis) Texaua, n. sp. — A small slender annual 



5 to 15 cm. high, branching at base; leaves mostly radical, 3-nerved, 

 oblong and tapering at base, entire or few-toothed; those of the stem 

 narrower and toothed, becoming linear and entire above: heads small 

 (4 to 6 mm. high): involucral bracts in 2 series; the outer ones about 8, 

 rigid and keeled, united at base: rays minute, not projecting beyond 

 the bracts; achenes pyramidal, 1 mm. long: pappus of 5 oval paleae 

 with aristate acuminations very conspicuous in mature heads. Col- 

 lected by F. W. Thurow, near Hockley, Texas, 1889 and 1890; also 

 mounted on a sheet with A. odorata (No. 742) of Palmer's 1879-80 

 collection from S. W. Texas. This little plant is evidently an Aetin- 

 ella, although it differs widely from any known North American form. 

 The minute rays, not noticeable to the naked eye, and hence easily 

 overlooked, under the lens suggest a relationship to the rayless species 

 of South America. As presented by Dr. Gray in the Synoptical Flora, 

 there is nothing to keep our species out of the section Hymenoxis. 

 The involucre is very similar to that of A. Rusbyi* but in other re- 

 spects the plant is very different. The achenes and pappus are very 



