POACEAE 105 



33. SACCIOLEPIS Nash. 



Perennials with fiat leaf -blades and contracted dense panicles. Spikelets numerous. 

 Scales 4, the 3 outer membranous ; 2 outer scales empty, the first scale small and narrow, 

 the second one large and broad, 11-nerved, saccate and gibbous at the base, the third scale 

 enclosing a palet and staminate flower, the fourth scale chartaceous, finally indurated, about 

 2 as long as the second scale, enclosing a palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. 

 Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. 



1. Sacciolepis gfbba (Ell. ) Nash. Stems erect or ascending, usually rooting at the 

 lower nodes, finally dichotomously branched, 3-20 dm. long : leaf-sheaths papillose-hirsute, 

 at least the lower ones ; blades lanceolate, spreading or ascending, long-acuminate, some- 

 times hirsute on one or both surfaces, 4-20 cm. long, 4-22 mm. wide : panicle contracted, 

 6-30 cm. long, 1.5-2 cm. wide : spikelets 4-5 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate. [Panicum 

 c/ibbum Ell.] 



In swamps and low grounds, Virginia to Tennessee, Missouri, Florida and Louisiana, chiefly 

 along the coast. Also in Cuba. Summer and fall. 



34. STEINCHISMA Raf. 



Perennial tufted grasses, with erect stems, flat leaf-blades and loose open panicles. 

 Spikelets 1 -flowered, the 3 outer scales membranous, the third scale bearing in its axil a 

 much enlarged and inflated papery palet which exceeds in length the fourth scale ; first 

 scale short, the second one about as long as the spikelet ; fourth scale indurated in fruit 

 and enclosing a palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. Styles long, united only at 

 the base. Stigmas plumose. 



1. Steinchisma hians ( Ell. ) Nash. Glabrous. Stems erect, 3-8 dm. tall, sometimes 

 creeping at the base : leaf-blades 7-13 cm. long, 2-6 mm. wide, acuminate, usually erect : 

 panicle 7-20 cm. long, its branches few, generally spreading : spikelets about 2 mm. long. 

 [Panicum hians Ell.] 



In moist ground, North Carolina to Missouri, Florida and Texas. Summer and fall. 



35. CHABTOCHLOA Scribn. 



Annual or perennial grasses, with usually flat, sometimes complanate, leaf-blades and 

 dense terminal cylindric spike-like or narrowly thyrsoid panicles. Spikelets with one or 

 a cluster of 2-several sterile barbed bristle-like persistent branches. Scales 4, the 3 outer 

 membranous, the first often very short and together with the larger second one empty, the 

 third scale frequently longer than the second, empty, or rarely enclosing a palet and also 

 sometimes a staminate flower, the fourth scale usually shorter than the spikelet, charta- 

 ceous, glabrous, shining, often transversely rugose, finally indurated, obtuse, enclosing 

 a shorter palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles distinct, 

 elongated. Stigmas plumose. \_Setaria Beau v., not Achar.] FOXTAIL. FOXTAIL GRASS. 



Inflorescence with the spikelets racemosely arranged : bristles 5-16 at the base of 



each spikelet, involucrate. 



Annual ; bristles tawny orange. 1. C. glauca. 



Perennial, from branching rootstocks : bristles green, yellowish green or 



purple. 

 Inflorescence stout: bristles usually exceeding twice the length of the 



spikelet. 

 Rootstocks slender : leaf-blades elongated. 



Second scale of the spikelet 5-7-nerved : leaf-blades sometimes with 



a few scattered hairs near the base on the upper surface. 2. C. imberbis. 



Second scale of the spikelet 3-nerved : leaf-blades glabrous. 3. C. versicolor. 



Rootstocks stout : leaf-blades short, thick and firm, grayish green. 4. C. occidentalis. 



Inflorescence slender : bristles once or twice as long as the spikelet. 



Leaf-blades linear-lanceolate, short. 5. C. purpurascens. 



Leaf-blades linear, elongated. 6. C. gracttis. 



Inflorescence with the spikelets in clusters or on branches : bristles 1-3 at the base 



of each spikelet, not involucrate. 



Bristles downwardly barbed. 7. C. verticillata. 



Bristles upwardly barbed. 



a. Second scale of the spikelet as long as the flowering scale or very nearly so. 

 * Panicle thick, dense, its branches crowded. 



Flowering scale dull, papery when mature, often finely transversely 



rugose : plants usually less than 1.5 m. tall. 



Panicle usually 1 cm. thicker less : bristles commonly green : spike- 

 lets about 2mm. long. 8. C. mridis. 



