POACEAE 55 



1. Erianthus alopecuroides ( L. ) Ell. Stems 1.5-3 m. tall, the apex, the panicle-axis, 

 and often also the nodes, pubescent .with long silky appressed hairs. Leaf-sheaths gla- 

 brous ; blades 1.5-7 dm. long, 5-25 mm. broad, hirsute above near the base : panicle 2-3 

 dm. long, 5-10 cm. broad, oblong, its branches erect-ascending, the larger 4-11 cm. long : 

 spikelets rather crowded, about f as long as the basal hairs and again as long as the inter- 

 nodes ; 2 outer scales about 6 mm. long, pilose with hairs less than H times as long as the 

 scales ; fourth scale 2-toothed at the apex, the teeth acuminate, the awn 12-16 mm. long, 

 the included portion a tightly spiral column, the remainder loosely coiled. 



In damp soil, North Carolina, Kentucky and Missouri, to Georgia and Alabama. Fall. A form* 

 E. alopecuroides hirsfitus Nash, differs from the species in having the sheaths, at least the lower ones, and 

 the lower surface of the leaf-blades appressed-hirsute. In similar situations, Florida. 



2. Erianthus Tracyi Nash. Stems 2-4 m. tall, the summit and nodes together with 

 the panicle-axis and top of the otherwise glabrous sheaths appressed-pubescent with long- 

 silky hairs. Leaf-sheaths shorter than the internodes ; blades 5 dm. long or more, 1.5-3 

 cm. broad, very rough, pilose above at the base : panicle 3-5 dm. long, 8-12 cm. wide, ob- 

 long, its pubescent branches erect-ascending, the larger 1-1.5 dm. long : spikelets crowded, 

 less than as long as the basal hairs and again as long as the internodes ; 2 outer scales 

 5-6 mm. long, pilose with hairs twice as long as the scale ; fourth scale entire or somewhat 

 2-toothed at the apex, the awn 1.5-2 cm. long, straight or slightly flexuous. 



In moist open places, Florida and Mississippi. Fall. 



3. Erianthus compactus Nash. Stems 1-2 m. tall, the summit and nodes together 

 with the panicle-axis and top of the otherwise glabrous sheaths appressed-pubescent with 

 long silky hairs. Leaf -sheaths shorter than the internodes ; blades 1.5-7 dm. long, 6-12 

 mm. wide, rough on both surfaces, more or less appressed-hirsute beneath, also above near 

 the base : panicle 1-2 dm. long, 4-6 cm. wide, oblong, its branches erect-ascending, the 

 larger 3-5 cm. long : spikelets crowded, about equalling the basal hairs, and usually over 

 twice as long as the internodes ; 2 outer scales 5-6 mm. long, pilose with long hairs; fourth 

 scale slightly if at all toothed at the apex, the awn straight or slightly flexuous, 1-2 cm. long. 



In swamps, New Jersey to North Carolina and Tennessee. Fall. 



4. Erianthus saccharoides Michx. Stems 1.5-3 m. tall, the summit and nodes to- 

 gether with the panicle-axis and top of the otherwise glabrous sheaths appressed-pubes- 

 cent with long silky hairs. Leaf -sheaths shorter than the internodes ; blades 1.5-7 dm. long, 

 6-25 mm. wide, usually rough and more or less hirsute on both surfaces : panicle 1.5-4 dm. 

 long, 5-15 cm. wide, oblong, its branches ascending, the larger 7-15 cm. long : spikelets 

 rather loosely disposed, about f as long as the basal hairs and a little exceeding the inter- 

 nodes ; 2 outer scales 4-6 mm. long, pilose with long hairs ; fourth scale slightly if at all 

 toothed at the apex, the awn straight or slightly flexuous, 1.5-2.5 cm. long. 



In moist soil, New Jersey to Florida and Louisiana. Summer and fall. 



5. Erianthus laxus Nash. Stems 2-3 m. tall, pubescent, especially at the nodes, 

 with appressed hairs, those at the apex and on the panicle-axis long and copious. Leaf- 

 sheaths, particularly the lower ones, densely hirsute, especially at the ends ; blades 2-5> 

 dm. long, 6-12 mm. wide, hirsute on both surfaces, the upper surface becoming glabrous : 

 panicle 4-5 dm. long, 1 dm. wide or less, its elongated and ascending branches lax and 

 flexuous, the larger 2-2.5 dm. long : spikelets loosely disposed, as long as the basal hairs 

 and much exceeded by the internodes, especially by the lower ones ; 2 outer scales 4-5 

 mm. long, pilose with long hairs ; fourth scale entire or shortly 2-toothed at the apex, the 

 awn straight or slightly flexuous, about 2 cm. long. 



In swamps, peninsular Florida. Fall. 



6. Erianthus brevibarbis Michx. Stems 1-1.5 m. tall, the nodes pubescent with 

 readily deciduous hairs, the summit and panicle-axis glabrous. Leaf-sheaths rough, the 

 summit appressed-hirsute ; blades 1.5-4 dm. long, 6-10 mm. wide, rough : panicle 2-3 

 dm. long, about 3 cm. wide, its branches erect, the larger 2-7 cm. long 1 : spikelets crowded, 

 exceeding the basal hairs and a little less than twice as long as the internodes ; 2 outer 

 scales 8-9 mm. long, sparingly pilose ; fourth scale .usually entire at the apex, the awn 

 straight, 1.5-2.5 cm. long. 



In moist soil, Delaware to North Carolina and Louisiana. Fall. 



7. Erianthus cont<5rtus Ell. Stems 1-2 m. tall, the nodes often pubescent with 

 readily deciduous hairs, the summit and panicle-axis glabrous, or sparingly appressed- 

 pubescent. Leaf -sheaths smooth or rough ; blades 1.5-8 dm. long, 5-20 mm. wide, 

 smoothish or rough : panicle 1.5-3 dm. long, 3-5 cm. wide, its branches erect, the larger 

 4-7 cm. long : spikelets crowded, exceeding the basal hairs and about J again as long as 

 the internodes ; 2 outer scales 7-7.5 mm. long, at first more or less pilose with long hairs ; 

 fourth scale 2-toothed at the apex, the awn 1.5-2 cm. long, the included portion often a 

 little spiral at the base, the remainder loosely spiral. 



In pine woods, Delaware to Florida and Mississippi. Fall. 



