FESTUCE.E. 608 



the culm 7-8 in number, scabrous, sheaths shorter than tlie inter- 

 nodes ; ligule very short ; bhides invohite, very long, some of them 

 usually extending to the top of the panicle, long-pointed, 4-8 mm. 

 wide. Panicle spreading, about 30 cm. long, rays mostly in twos, 

 flexuose, 15-30 cm. long, bearing capillary branches, tlie spikelets 

 on the outer half. Spikelets scabrid, oval, 10-12 nnii. long, 5-6- 

 flowered, joint of rachilla 1.2 mm. long; empty glumes lanceolate, 

 first about 3.5 mm. long, 1-nerved, second 5-6 mm. long, 3-nerved; 

 floral glume 6-7 mm. long, linear, mucronate, 5-nerved; palea 

 acute, as long as its glume. Anthers 3.7 mm. long. Ovary glabrous. 



Mexico, Priugle 3945, mountains at an altitude of 8500 feet. 



Var. elliptica n. var. 



Culms glabrous. Sterile shoots rather numerous, their sheaths 

 mostly split to the base; leaves of the culm 2-3 in number, blades a 

 little wider than those of the sterile shoots. Panicle much exserted, 

 simple, thin, 14-18 cm. long, scabrid, the longest ray 5-8 cm. long, 

 bearing 4-6 spikelets on the outer half. Spikelets 10-17 mm. long, 

 6-10 flowered, hispidulous; first empty glume awl-shaped, 4 mm. 

 long; floral glume 7-9 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate, palea linear, 

 minutely 2-toothed, as long as its glume. Anthers 2.7 mm. 

 long. 



Mexico (Chihuahua), Pringle 1438; distributed as i^. ovina L., 

 var. ? 



Moist canyons of the Sierra IMadre. 



24. F. altaica Trin. Ledeb. Fl. Alt. 1:109 (1829). F. subu- 

 lata Vasey, Grass. Pacif. Slope 2: 92 (1893), not Bong. 



An erect tufted perennial, 60-90 cm. high. Sheaths nearly 

 smooth; ligule very short, symmetrical; blades of sterile shoots 15- 

 30 cm. long, usually deciduous at the sheath, those of the culm 7-12 

 cm. long, involute. Panicle open, 10-17 cm. long, rays mostly in 

 pairs, flexuose, flower-bearing above the middle. Spikelets brown, 

 3-5-flowered, 12-14 mm. long, first empty glume narrowly ovate, 

 hispid on the keel, 6 mm. long, second broader, 3-nerved, 8 mm. 

 long; floral glume lanceolate, scabrous, 5-nerved, 10-12 mm. long; 

 palea a little shorter than its glume. Ovary glabrous. 



Alaska, Turner 1186 in 1880 forU. S. Dept. Agricul. 



