C1ILOPJDE.E. 441 



Acad. Roy. Brux. 9: (II) 232 (1842); Steud. Syii. Gram. 218 

 (1855), male plaut. 



Diffuse, 4-10 cm. high. Sheaths compressed ; ligule very short; 

 blades 1.5-2.5 cm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, apex abruptly acute. Sjiikes 

 of staminate flowers 1-1.5 cm. loug. Spikelets linear, 3 mm, long, 

 first glume 1 mm. loug. second 2 mm. long. Anthers linear, 1.7 

 mm. long. Second glume of the jnstiHate spikelet 3 mm. long, 

 sterile rudiment of a stipe 1.4 mm. long, the three awns 4-5 mm. 

 long, the lateral ones with a broad expansion on one side near the 

 base. 



Mexico, Pal)ner G15. 



9G. Pentarrhaphis H. B. K. Nov. Gen. 1:177, /. 60 (1815). 

 Stromhoduni^ Willd. Steud. Nom. Ed. 2, 2:647 (1841). 



Monoecious; spikelets 2-flowered, 1-2 in each fasciclelike spike, 

 accompanied by 1-4 shorter awnlike rudiments, the first flower 

 pistillate, the second pistillate or staminat^\: rachilla produced into 

 a short bristle. The two empty glumes 1 -nerved, the second the 

 larger, usually 2-toothed, with an awn between the teeth; floral 

 glume 5-7-toothed, the middle and marginal teeth extending into 

 long divergent awns; palea strongly 2-nerved, 2-toothed. Stamens 

 3. Styles distinct. Grain oblong, free. Low, slender, tufted grasses 

 with flat blades. Spikes very short, secund along the flexuose 

 rachis, articulate with the very short pedicels, falling off entire. 



They resemble ^-Egopogon in the disposition and appearance of 

 the clusters of spikelets and their deciduous character. It is nearly 

 allied to Melanocenchrus. ¥rom BoNfelona, section Triatltera, this 

 genus may be distinguished by its 2-flowered sjiikelets and simple, 

 bristlelike prolongation of the rachilla. 



There are three species; two and probably the third are Mexican. 



1. P. Fournierana (Yasey), Hack. & Scribn. Bull. Torr. Club, 

 17: 232 (1890). Bouteloua Fournierana Vasey ined. 



Culms crowded, 18-25 cm. high, from creeping rootstocks, nodes 

 villous. Leaves hairy, ligule a ring of short hairs; blades of sterile 

 shoots 3-7 cm. long, about 1 mm. wide, those of the culm 15-30 

 cm. long. Spikes 3-6, rachis comjiressed. Spikelets 2 in each 

 cluster, sessile, about 5 mm. long, not including the short awns, 



