POACEAE. 19 



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. 



1. S. Mans (Ell.) Nash. Glabrous: stems erect, 3-8 dm. tall, sometimes creep- 

 ing 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. Everglades. 



17. LASIACIS A. Hitchc. Shrubs with erect or reclining stems and 

 branches, and flat leaf -blades. Spikelets very thick, often globular, paniculate, 

 obliquely articulated to the pedicels. Scales 4, the 3 outer papery, shining, 

 many-nerved, usually woolly at the apex, the first one less than* \ as long as the 

 spikelet : fourth or fruiting scales bony-indurated, woolly at the apex, enclosing 

 a palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. 



1. L. divaricata (L.) A. Hitchc. Stems 2-3 m. tall, reclining: leaves crowded 

 and numerous; sheaths overlapping, ciliate on the margin; blades spreading or 

 ascending, glabrous, acuminate, the larger ones 8-10 cm. long, 13-35 mm. wide: 

 panicle 1 dm. long or less: spikelets 4-5 mm. long, the first scale very broad, 

 clasping the base of the spikelet. Hammocks. F. K. (Bah., Cuba, Ant.) 

 SMALL- CANE. 



18. SACCIOLEPIS Nash. Diffuse or reclining plants with contracted 

 dense panicles. Spikelets numerous. Scales 4, the 3 outer membranous; 2 

 outer scales empty, the first scale small and narrow, the third scale enclosing 

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

 about one-half as long as the second scale, enclosing a palet of similar texture 

 and a perfect flower. 



1. S. striata (Lam.) Nash. Stems usually rooting at the lower nodes, finally 

 dichotomously branched, 3-20 dm. long: leaf -sheaths papillose-hirsute, at least 

 the lower ones; blades lanceolate, long-acuminate, sometimes hirsute on one or 

 both surfaces, 4-20 cm. long, 4-22 mm. wide: panicle 6-30 cm. long, 1.5-2 cm. 

 wide: spikelets 4-5 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate. Everglades. (Cuba.) 



19. CHAETOCHLOA Scribn. Erect or diffuse plants with dense terminal 

 cylindric spike-like or narrowly thyrsoid panicles. Spikelets with 1, or a 

 cluster of 2-several sterile barbed bristle-like persistent branches. Three outer 

 scales membranous, the fourth scale usually shorter than the spikelet, char- 

 taceous, glabrous, shining, finally indurated. FOXTAIL. FOXTAIL-GRASS. 



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



spikelet, involucrate. 1. C. imberbis. 



Inflorescence with the spikelets in clusters or on branches : 

 bristles 1-3 at the base of each spikelet, not involucrate. 

 Second scale of the spikelet s long as the flowering scale 



or very nearly so. 2. C. magna. 



Second scale manifestly shorter than the flowering scale. 



Spikelets 3 mm. long or more. 3. C. macrosperma. 



Spikelets less than 3 mm. long. 4. C. corrugata. 



1. C. imberbis (Poir.) Scribn. Stems 3-7 dm. tall, slender: leaf -blades 1-3 dm. 

 long, 3-7 mm. wide, the upper surface often with a few long hairs at the base: 

 racemes 2-5 cm. long, nearly 1 cm. in diameter, exclusive of the bristles, the 

 rachis pubescent: bristles 5-10 mm. long: spikelets ovoid, acute, 2-2.5 mm. 

 long, the flowering scale acute, striate, finely transverse-rugose. Everglades. 

 F. K. (Ber., Bah., Cuba, Ant.) 



2. C. magna (Griseb.) Scribn. Stems stout, 1-4 m. tall, branching at the 

 base: leaf -sheaths glabrous, compressed; blades 3-6 dm. long, 1-3 cm. wide, 



