AQROSTIDE^. 305 



much like the second empty glume ; palea as long as its glume, split 

 in the back by the enlarged grain, which is broad oval and 0.6 mm. 

 long. 



New York, Beal 61; Michigan, Clark 1292, 1293; Illinois, 

 Patterson for U. S. Dept. Agricul. 354; Texas, NeaUey; New 

 Mexico, Jones 4161, 4126; Montana, Anderson 69; AVyoming, 

 Buff urn C. 13; Washington, Suksdorf 1019; Lower California, 

 Palmer 65; Mexico (Chihuahua), Pringle 419, also collected by 

 the author at Chicago, 111., 1869. 



In sandy soil. New England to Michigan, British America and 

 Oregon to Mexico. 



Var. flexuosus Thurb. Vasey, Wheeler's U. S. Geol. Surv. 6: 282 

 <1878). 



Panicle often elliptical or lanceolate in outline, rachis very 

 slender and flexuose, the exserted portion 20-40 cm. long, besides 

 the part included by the long sheath, which is 10-30 cm. loug; rays 

 very slender, spikelets darker; second empty glume 2.5 mm. long, 

 floral glume 2 mm. long. 



Mexico (Chihuahua), Pri7igle 815; New Mexico, Jones. 



New Mexico, Arizona. 



V^ar. strictus Scribn. Bull. Torr. Club, 9:103 (1882). 



Culms erect, robust, 10-20 cm. high. Panicle light-colored, 

 enclosed below by the sheath of the upper leaf, erect, densely flow- 

 ered, spikelike, 40-50 cm. long; second glumes 2.3 mm. long. 



Banks of the Rillita, near Camp Lowell, Arizona; collected 

 by Pringle. 



This species and some of the varieties in Mexico and the warmer 

 dry regions north of there contribute a little to the support of 

 herds roaming over the plains. In quality it ranks as poor. 



41. S. Wrightii Munro, MS. Bull. Torr. Club, 9:103 (1882). 



An erect robust perennial, branching below from creej)ing 

 rootstocks; culms solid as in Maize, 90-140 cm. high. Sheaths 

 mostly longer than the internodes; ligule a mere ring producing 

 hairs 3 mm. long; blades involute, scabrous above, smooth below, 

 those of the culm 6-7 in number, and some of them 50-80 cm. long, 

 including the long slender point, 5 mm. wide at the l)ase, the up^^er 



