178 GRAMINEAE. 
50. CHLORIS Sw. Prodr. 25. 1788. 
Mostly perennial grasses with flat leaves and spicate inflorescence, the spikes solitary, 
few, or numerous and verticillate or approximate. Spikelets 1-flowered, arranged in two 
rows on one side of the rachis. Scales 4; the 2 lower empty, unequal, keeled, acute; third 
and fourth usually awned, the former subtending a perfect flower; palet folded and 2-keeled. 
Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, enclosed in the scale. [Greek, 
greenish-yellow, referring to the color of the herbage. ] 
About forty species, mostly natives of warm and tropical regions. Besides the following some 
1o others occur in the southern United States. 
1. Chloris verticillata Nutt. Prairie 
Chloris. (Fig. 407.) 
Chloris verticillata Nutt. Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. (II.) 
5: 150. 1833-37. 
Culms 6/18’ tall, erect, or decumbent and root- 
ing at the lower nodes, smooth, glabrous. Sheaths 
shorter than the internodes, smooth, or roughish at 
the summit; ligule a ring of short hairs; leaves 1/—3/ 
long, 1/’-2’’ wide, obtuse, often apiculate, scabrous; 
spikes slender, usually spreading, 2’-4%4’ long, in 
one or two whorls, or the upper ones approximate; 
spikelets, exclusive of the awns, about 114’ long, 
the first scale about one-half the length of the sec- 
ond; the third 1/” long, obtuse, ciliate on the 
nerves, especially on the lateral ones, bearing just 
below the apex a scabrous awn about 21%’ long; 
fourth scale as long as or shorter than the third, 
awned near the usually truncate apex. 
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On prairies, Kansas to Texas. May-July. 
XN 
51. GYMNOPOGON Beauv. Agrost. 41. fl. 9. 7.3. 1812. 
Perennial grasses with flat and usually short rigid leaves, and numerous slender altet- 
nate spikes. Spikelets 1-flowered, almost sessile, the rachilla extended and bearing a small 
scale which is usually awned. Scales 3 or 4; the 2 lower empty, unequal, narrow, acute; 
third broader, fertile, 3-nerved, slightly 2-toothed at the apex, bearing an erect awn; the 
fourth empty, small, awned; palet 2-keeled. Stamens3. Stylesdistinct. Stigmas plumose. 
Grain linear, free, enclosed in the rigid scale. [Greek, naked-beard, referring to the pro- 
longation of the rachilla. ] 
Six known species, all but one of them natives of America. 
Spikes bearing spikelets their whole length; awn longer than flowering scale. 1. G. ambiguus. 
Spikes bearing spikelets above the middle; awn shorter than flowering scale. 2. G. brevifolius. 
1. Gymnopogon ambiguus (Michx.) B.S.P.  Broad-leaved Gymnopogon. 
(Fig. 408.) SS 
Anironicon ambiguus Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 58. : ; 
Gyhanboron racemosus Beauv. Agrost. 164. 1812. 
oe euce ae ambiguus B.S.P. Prel. Cat. N. Y. 69. 
Culms 12/-18’ tall, erect, or decumbent at the 
base, simple or sometimes sparingly branched, 
smooth and glabrous. Sheaths short, glabrous, 
excepting a villous ring at the summit, crowded at 
the base of the culm; ligule very short; leaves 1/— 
4’ long, 2’’-6’’ wide, lanceolate, acute, cordate at 
the base, spreading, smooth or a little scabrous 
above; spikes slender, spikelet-bearing throughout 
their entire length, at first erect, the lower 4/—8’ 
long, at length widely spreading; spikelets, exclu- 
sive of awns, 2’’-214’’ long; first scale shorter than 
the second; third scale exceeded by the second, the 
callus at the base hairy, the awn 2/’-3’’ long. 
In dry sandy soil, southern New Jersey to Missouri, 
south to Florida and Texas. Aug.-—Oct. 
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