394 POACE^. 



d. Spikes numerous, erect, racemose; spikeiets de- 

 ciduous as a whole, empty glumes 2, iuliated. . 91 

 a. Two to three perfect flowers in each spikelet. . . .(e) 

 e. Spikes digitate, rarely somewhat scattered, spike- 

 lets crowded 92 



e. Spikes remote, paniculate, sj^ikelets remote. ... 93 

 e. Spikes numerous, erect, racemose; spikeiets decid- 

 uous as a whole, empty glumes 2, inflated; exotic 

 plants have more than 1 flower to the spikelet, our 

 variety has only one 91 



B. Plants dioecious, rarely monoecious, the two sorts of 



spikeiets very unlike (m) 



m. Staminate spikeiets 2-3-flowered 94 



m. Staminate spikeiets 1-flowered 95 



C. Plants monoecious, spikeiets 1-2 in each spike, accom- 

 panied by 1-4 awnlike rudiments, 2-flowered, resembling 

 some species of Boideloua 96 



82. (168). MiCROCHLOA R. Br. Prod. 1:208 (1810). 



Spikeiets 1-flowered, awnless, sessile in two rows on one side of 

 a simple slender spike, therachilla articulate above the outer glumes, 

 and not produced beyond the floret. Empty glumes 2, linear, 

 membranous, nearly equal, persistent, the lower flat with a promi- 

 nent nerve, the second keeled; floral glume shorter, broader, hya- 

 line; palea nearly as long, narrow, with approximate keels, often 

 ciliate. Stamens 3 (or 2 ?). Styles distinct. Grain smooth, 

 enclosed, but not adherent. Slender tufted grasses, with firm nar- 

 now convolute leaf-blades. The very thin and reduced floral 

 glume and palea connect it with Andropogoneae. but the articula- 

 tion of the spikelet is above, not below, the outer glumes. 



Three species are known in tropical and subtropical regions of 

 the eastern and western hemispheres. 



1. M. setacea R. Br. 1. c. 



A slender tufted perennial, 10-18 cm. high. Leaf- blades fili- 

 form, ciliate at the throat, the uj^per 1 cm. long, more or less. 

 Spike 3-8 cm. long, very slender, with the rachis curved towards 

 the spikeiets. Spikeiets about 2.5 mm. long, appressed to the 



