Piper: The two eastern species of Melica 385 



Elliott, Sketch Bot. S. C. and Ga. 154. 1821, recognizes M. 

 glabra Michx. and quotes M. mictica Walt, as a synonym. He 

 further adds : 



''I have from Columbia a variety with the leaves pubescent, 

 the flower evidently smaller, the valves more acute, less mem- 

 branous at the summit, and handsomely spotted with purple. It 

 is probably the M. altissima Walt, but it has scarcely character 

 enough for a distinct species." 



Muhlenberg m 18 17, Gram. Descr., in treating the eastern 



Melicas, distinguishes two species — naming both as new — as 

 follows : 



XXir. MELICA. 

 Cal. 2-valvis 2-florus. Rudimentum fioris inter flosculos. 



1. MELICA SPECIOSA. 



Culmo tripedall — quadripedali erecto, nodis glabris. 



Foliis linear! -lanceolatis nervosis, subtus pubescentibus. 

 Ligula bifida. 



Vagina nervosa subpubescente. 



Panicula secunda. 



Rarais 



Cor. 2-valvis nervosa imberbis, valvula interiore margine pubescente, exteriore glatra. 



Stam 3. 



Pist. 2, plumosa. 



Semen. 



Radix %. 



Habitat in montibus Pennsylvaniae, floret Junio. 



Specimen e Virginia culmo inferne purpureo, habet. 



Cal. 2-valvis corollae aequalis, valvulis ovatis aciitis 5-ner\'iis 2-floris. 



Cor. 2-valvis exterior ovata acuta muUinervia, interior obtusa margine pubescens. 



Neuter f!os 2-valvis obtusus, liermapliroditis brevier. 



2. MELICA RACEMOSA. 



Culmo erecto glabro nodoso basi amethystine, foliate. 

 Foliis linearibus nervosis scabris. 

 Ligula abbreviata pilifera subbifida. 

 Vagina scabra. 



Panicula simplici contracta s. racemo 6-flor. terminali, flosculis nutantibus, racbi 



angulata. 

 Ramis s. pedunculis umjforis solitariis brevibus. 

 Cal. gluma 2-valvIs, valvula una obtusa^ altera acuta glabra, corolla longior, 2-flora et 



rudimento tertii. 

 Cor. gluma 2-valvis, exteriore nervosa majore acuta glabra, altera margine pubescente 



obtusa. 

 Stam. 3, alba. 

 Pist. 2, alba. 

 Semen ovale flavescens nitidum. 



Radix :y. 



Habitat in Carolina, Georgia, nobiscum floret medio Maio. 

 Habitus Melicae nutnntis. sed distincta soecies. 



licula secunda. 



mis paniculae solitariis patulis trifloris, flosculis pedicellatis, pedicello pubescente. 



, 2-valvis, valvulis ovato-lanceolatis striatis obttisis 2-floris cum rudimento tertii. 



M 



has the sheaths pubescent, the other merely scabrous.., 



We 



