82 TRIANDKIA. MONOGYWIA. 



upon setaceous spikes disposed in a panicle.— 

 Calix 2-valve(l, S-ftaweied, one of the flowers 

 in the for-m of an aboitive pedicellate seta, 

 valves iigi<i, subuhite, and unecpial. e;?'o\vin,a: to 

 tlip impressed angular i-achis. Corolla^ ' ima- 

 phrodite, 2 valved, outer valve terminated by 

 a long and straight awn. JVeiitral rudiment 

 pedicellate, of one minute valve going out into 

 an awn. Seed linear-oblong, internally marked 

 with a longitudinal furrow. 



Allied to the genus Lepfurus^ of Mr. R. Brown; differ- 

 ing-, however, much in habt, and coiisiderably in charac» 

 ter, but destitute of all affinity with Andropogon. 



Species. 1. A. Leptwoides. Rooi perennial. Culm 18 

 inciies to 2 ftei, decumbent at \he bas-.^, upwards assur- 

 gent and erect, ifatV, with shoi-t and nvnnerous articula- 

 tions. Leaves short, (1 ai d a luilflo 2 inches hnig-) ovate- 

 lanceolate, very acute, smooth, flat, rig-idly spreading", 

 and uisiichuUy approximate, perceptibly nerved on the 

 under side, and exquisitely striate, near half an inch 

 broad; siieaths bea.ded externally at the summit, stipula 

 obliterated. Panicle subverticillate; spikes or racemes 

 numerous (20 lo oO) simple, se'aceous, and very long-, (4 

 to 6 inches;) racliis angular, f-cai)r(jus. Flowers inier- 

 rupler!, approximating tow ardsthe extr.nuties, appressed 

 to the lacliis. Calix 2-valved, 2-flo\vered, (one of the flow- 

 ers always imperfect and neutral,) growing to the rachis, 

 persistent, valves unequal in length, very narrow, cari- 

 nate, rigid and pungentiy subulate, each with a single 

 nerve; the inner vnlve shorter, appressed to superficial 

 depressions in the rachis; racliis and calix purplish. Co- 

 rolla hermaphrodite, 2-valved, dorsal valve linear lanceo- 

 late, obtusely carinate, 3-nerved, terminated by a slender, 

 straight, scabrous awn, nearly 3 times its own length, a 

 little villous on tiie margin, and at the base; inner valve 

 flat, membranaceous, 2-nerved, acute. Neutral rudimei^t 

 pedicellate, very minute, 1-valved, with an awn somewhat 

 longer than the pedicell. Stamens o, exserted. Styles 2; 

 9'igma plumose. Seed naked, liner.r-oblong, with a de- 

 pressed furrow on the inner side, and an obtusely angular 

 ridge on the other. 



On the banKs of the Potomac, near Harper's Ferry, 

 Virginia, and in the pine barrens of Carolina and Georgia. 



This plant is in many respects very closely allied to 



