224 POACE.^. 



with a very short blunt callus. Empty glumes 2, persistent, equal 

 or the outer u little shorter, convex on the back, floral glume broad, 

 shorter or longer than the other glumes, membranous, becoming 

 hard, obtuse, truncate, usually producing a caducous awn, which is 

 more or less bent near the base; palea 2-keeled. Stamens 3. Lodi- 

 cules 2, conspicuous. Styles short or long, distinct. Grain oblong 

 or ovate, enclosed by the hardened floral glume and palea, but not 

 adherent. 



Tufted perennial grasses ; leaf- blades broad and flat or narrow 

 and involute. Panicle terminal, lax. 



There are about 2-4 species, mostly found in the temperate and 

 subtropical regions of the northern hemisphere. The genus differs 

 from Stipa in having a shorter awn, but little twisted or tortuose, 

 a broader floret, the callus shorter and broader and obtuse. It is 

 certainly very convenient, so far as our species are concei'ned, to 

 leave Eriocoma as a genus; then Orxjzopsis can be more clearly 

 defined and separated from Sti2)a. 



Bentham observes tliat it is nearly allied to Milmm. Tlie 

 genus divides readily into three sections, regarded by some as dis- 

 tinct genera, but Trinius and Bentham and others agree in uniting 

 them. 



1. Pij)tatherwn (Beauv., as a genus), often included in Miliimi^ 

 with awned glumes. The obliquity of the fruiting glume is much 

 less marked than in the typical species of Oryzoims. 



2. Euoryzo}m8 includes Caryocliloa Spreng., Pvptochcetinm 

 Presl and Nassella Desv., th« rachilla bearing a ring of hairs under 

 the floral glume. 



.3. Eriocoma Nutt., Fendhria (Steud.), differs from Enoryzoims 

 in the long silky hairs clothing the fruiting glumes. 



A. Leaf-blades Ijroad, flat, no rudimentary blades, ligule cil- 

 iate 1 



B. Leaf-blades long, involute, petiolate, evergreen, upper 



blades rudimentary. 2, 3 



0. Leaf-blades very narrow, involute (a) 



a. Floret clothed with dense white conspicuous liairs, 

 panicle open, rays diverging, awn 2 cm. long. ... 4 



