FESTUCE^. 485 



stacliya polymorpha Beau v. Agrost. 74 (1812). Poa Broiunei 

 Kimth, Rev. Gram. 1:112 (1829). 



A very variable plant in stature and aspect, usually above 30 cm. 

 high. Ligule sometimes with a few cilia; blades flat or involute, 

 glabrous, 8-15 cm. loug, 1.5-2 cm. wide. Panicle sometimes sim- 

 ple and dense or spikelike and interrupted, 10-15 cm. long, some- 

 times 30 cm. long, with short spreading rays bearing a few scattered 

 or clustered spikelets. Spikelets sessile or very nearly so, flat, 10- 

 40-flowered. 0.5-15 mm. long, rachilla very tardily articulate; 

 empty glumes 1-nerved, about 1.5 mm. long; floral glume broadly 

 ovate, acute, 1.6 mm. long, nerves 3, prominent and strictly par- 

 allel when the glume is spread; palea incurved, the keels usually mi- 

 nutely ciliate, about 1.5 mm. loug. Stamens 3. or rarely 2. Grain 

 ovoid, compressed, 0.5 mm. long. Perhaps only a variety. 



Florida, Garher ; also found in Australia; widely spread in 

 India. 



17. E. Neo-Mexicana Yascy ined. (?) 



X diffuse or erect annual, branching near the base, 60-90 cm. 

 higli. Sheaths smooth, bearded at the throat; ligule a ciliate ring; 

 blades flat or involute, scabrous, 12-20-30 cm. long, 2-4-6 mm. 

 wide. Panicle often included at the base, light lead-color, ovoid to 

 linear, 15-25-35 cm. long, rays rigid, mostly single, naked for a 

 fifth part of the length, branches numerous, appressed. Spikelets 

 pedicellate, tinged with red, slightly flattened, linear or linear- 

 lanceolate, 5-8-14-flowered, 5-9 mm. long; empty glumes thin, 1- 

 nerved, first 1-1.3 mm. long, second ovate-acute, 1.5 mm. long; 

 floral glume smooth, thin, oval, broadly ovate or deltoid-oval, obtuse 

 or abruptly acute when spread, the nerves all prominent, 1.5-1.7 

 mm. long; palea incurved, linear before spreading, obtuse, ciliate 

 on the keels, 1.3-1.5 mm. long. Grain broadly oval, slightly 

 grooved, 0.7-1 mm. long. 



Mexico, Parry £ Palmer 936, Pringle 416, Palmer 237, 367. 



IS. E. Orcuttiana Vasey, Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. 1:269 

 (1893). 



Apparently annual ; culms 60-90 cm. high, branching slightly 

 below, smooth. Sheaths shorter thau the iuternodes, smooth; lig- 



