100 



GRAMINEAE. 

 3. MANISURIS L. Mant. 2: 164. 



1771. 



1 779-1 



[ROTTBOEI.I.IA L. f- Dissert. Nova Gram. Gen. 23. 



Mostly tall perennials, with running rootstocks, narrow flat leaves and cylindrical jointed 



spikes terminal and from the upper axils. Spikelets in pairs at each node of the excavated 



rachfs on^sessile and perfect, the other with a pedicel and either atammate or empty. Scales 



The perfect spikelet 4, the outermost thick and coriaceous, covering, together with the 



pedicel^f the sterile spikelet, the excavation in the rachis ; second scale chartaceous ; third 



and fourth hyaline, the latter subtending a palet and perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles 



distinct. Grain free. [Greek, in allusion to the tail-like spikes.] 



About 25 species, widely distributed in tropical and temperate countries. 



i. Manisuris rugosa (Nutt.) Kuntze. 

 Wrinkled Manisuris. (Fig. 215.) 



Rottboellia rugosa Xutt. Gen. i: 84. 1818. 

 Manisuris rugosa Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 780. 1891. 



Manisuris rugosa Chapmani Scribn. Mem. Torr. 

 Club, 5: 28. 1894. 



Smooth and glabrous, culms erect, 2-4 tall, 

 compressed, much branched above, branches 

 spreading. Sheaths compressed; leaves flat, 

 acuminate, 6'-2 long, i"-3" wide ; spikes par- 

 tially included in the sheath or more or less ex- 

 serted, i%'-2%' long; outermost scale of the 

 spikelets oblong-ovate to ovate, about 2" long, 

 strongly transversely rugose, the wrinkles con- 

 tinuous or interrupted. 



In wet soil along the coast, Delaware to Florida, 

 west to Louisiana and Texas. June-Sept. 



4. ANDROPOGON I,. Sp. PI. 1045. 1753. 



Perennial grasses with usually long narrow leaves, and terminal and axillary spikes, 

 Spikelets in pairs at each node of the jointed hairy rachis, one sessile and perfect, the other 

 with a pedicel and cither staminate, empty or reduced to a single scale. Perfect spikelet 

 consisting of 4 scales, the outermost coriaceous, the second keeled and acute, the two inner 

 hyaline, the fourth more or less awned and subtending a palet and perfect flower. Stamens 

 1-3. Grain free. [Greek, in allusion to the bearded rachis.] 



About 150 species, widely distributed in tropical and temperate regions. 

 some 1 2 others occur in the southern and western parts of North America. 



Besides the following, 



InterncxU-s of the rachis clavate -thickened: 



Attenuate at base; spikes solitary, distant. i. A. scoparius. 



Hroad at base; spikes in pairs or digitate, occasionally panicled. 

 Hairs as long as the pedicel or longer. 



Spikes in pairs; outer scales of sessile spikelet about 2^" long. 2. A. argyraeus. 

 Spikes 2-5 together; outer scales of sessile spikelet about 4" long. 



3. A. Hall ii. 



^ than one-half the length of the pedicel. 4. A. furcatus. 



InterncKles .if the rachis not davate-thickened, slender, more or less flexuous. 



Sj>ikes protruding from the side <>f the inflated spathe, never on long-exserted peduncles. 

 Branches of the culm short, distant, forming a loose elongated inflorescence. 



5. A. I'irffinicus. 

 Branches of the culm elongated, forming at summit a compact bushy inflorescence. 



6. A. glomeratus. 

 Ices terminal cm finally long-exserted peduncles; spathe narrow; upper sheaths elongated 



.iml miii-li inflated, imbricated; upper nodes densely bearded. 7. A. Elliottii. 



Internodes of the rachis much thickened on the margins, the intervening portion thin and translu- 

 cent; nodes of the culm not bearded. 8. A. Torreyanus. 



