308 POACE^. 



or ascending. Spikelets linear-lanceolate, 2.5-3 mm. long, the 

 awn 1-6 mm. long (rarely unawned). thinly clothed with soft 

 short hairs, empty glumes subequal, longer than the floret, ellij^tical, 

 thin, soft, nerves obscure; floret pubescent, linear, about 2 mm. long. 



Mexico (Chihuahua), Pringle 391. 



This grows on cool mountain-slopes, scattered in slight clumps; 

 a beautiful grass, soft, velvety, with purple panicles and of average 

 •quality for grazing purposes. 



3. E. distichophylla (Presl) Vasey, Cat. Gr. U. S. 45 (1885). 

 Podoscemum disticltophyllum Presl, Eeliq. H«nk. 1:231 (1830). 

 Muhlenhergia distichopTiylla Munro. Vasey, Cat. Gram. U. S. 45 

 (1885), not Kunth. E. Emersleyi Vasey, Contrib. U. S. Nat. 

 Herb. 3: G6 (1892). 



A stout erect perennial, 1-2 metres high, culms and sheaths 

 more or less compressed, the former hard and solid or with no 

 hollow. Ligule thin, 5-15 mm. long; blades hard, scabrous, con- 

 duplicate below, above variously folded, 30-60 cm. long, 3-5 mm. 

 wide, with long narrow points. Panicle contracted, lanceolate, 

 or slightly spreading, purplish or plumbous, 15-30-60 cm. long; 

 rays scattered, numerous, appressed, branching, flower-bearing 

 along the U2)per three-fourths, the longest 8-10 cm. long. Spike- 

 lets on pedicels, which are 1-3 mm. long ; empty glumes thin, sub- 

 equal, oval, obtuse or acute, scabrid on the back, 1-3-nerved, 2-2.7 

 mm. long; floral glume obscurely 1-nerved, as long as the empty 

 glumes or a little longer or shorter ; floral glume shortly pilose on the 

 margins below, oval, or with an obscure nerve on each side, apex 

 split, the awn 5-10 mm. long; palea oval when spread, as long as 

 its glume. Nearly allied to E. grandis (Vasey) . 



Arizona, U. S. Dept. Agricul. 379; Mexico, Parry & Palmer 

 920, 928, Pringle 2356. 



Arizona, Mexico. 



Var. mutica Scribn. 



Empty glumes a trifle longer than the floral glume ; floral glume 

 obscurely 3-nerved, 1.5 mm. long, awnless or with a mucro; palea 

 oval, obtuse or as long as its glume. 



