80 



PANICACE^. 



B. Spikelets 1-4, on very short branches that are sunken in 

 the cavities of the thickened rachis. Some or all of the 

 floAvers perfect 33 



C. Plants monoecious; S]3ikelets in panicles 34 



21. (1). Reimaria Fliigge, Gram. Monogr. 213 (1810), in part. 

 Spikelets acuminate, subsessile, appressed, alternately on two 

 sides of a triangular rachis, with one j^erfect terminal flower. 

 Empty glumes usually one, sometimes another small one, acute, 

 membranous, 5-9-nerved; floral glume firm, a little shorter; palea 

 still shorter. Stamens 2. Styles distinct. Grain oblong, obcom- 

 pressed, enclosed by glume and palea, but not adherent. Culms 

 ascending, diffusely branching at the base. Spikes few, simple, 

 finally reflexed. 



There are four species, all belonging to tropical America. Our 

 species much resembles Paspahim disticum L. var. vaginatum. 



There are several species of Paspaluni which have only a single 

 lower empty glume, but Reimaria has the spikelets moi'e acuminate 

 and more closely appressed to the rachis than in any Paspalum ; 

 and the stamens are only two. 



1. R. oligostachya Munro. Benth. Jour. Linn. Soc. 19 : 34 

 (1881). 



Smooth throughout, 20-40 cm. high. Sheaths slightly in- 

 flated ; blade narrow, acuminate, 

 6-10 cm. long, often involute. 

 Spikes 2-4, on short peduncles, 

 exserted or more or less in- 

 cluded, 4-7 cm. long. Con- 

 tiguous spikelets of the same 

 row with a little space between 

 them, elliptical-lanceolate, 4-5 

 mm. long; first glume minute 

 or slender and half as long as 

 tlie spikelet, often absent, 

 second elliptical, ovate, acute, 

 9-nerved, floral glume firmer and palea firmer and .sliorter, much 



Fig. 21. — Reimaria oligostachya. A, 

 spikelet ; a, b, florets. (Scril)ner.) 



