42 Chlorideae 



articulated on very short pedicels below the glumes. 

 Glumes 3 ; the outer 2 empty keeled very unequal, 

 the third subtending a perfect flower, keeled, equaling or 

 shorter than the second. Palea often larger than its glume, 

 2-nerved. Stamens 3. Styles filiform, elongated ; stig- 

 mas filiform, papillose or shortly plumose. Grain free. 



1. S. glabra Muhl. Culms simple, stout, 6-15 dm. high; 

 sheaths glabrous, the lower ones crowded; leaves 5-7 dm. long, 

 1-1.5 cm. wide, usually flat, tapering to a long involute tip, 

 smooth; panicles 2-4 dm. long, strict; spikes 5-15 cm. long; 

 spikelets crowded, 10-14 mm. long; empty glumes glabrous or 

 sparingly scabrous on the keel, the first 6-8 mm., the second 

 10-14 mm. long; flowering glume 8-10 mm. long; palea slightly 

 exceeding the glume. 



Occasional in the salt marshes along the coast. Wilmington. 



2. S. foliosa Trin. Culms erect, 6-8 dm. high, stout; sheaths 

 smooth, crowded at least above ; leaves 2-3 dm. long, about 1 cm. 

 wide, smooth, tapering to a long involute tip; panicle 10-15 cm. 

 long, nearly cylindric; spikes 2-5 cm. long, appressed ; spikelets 

 crowded, 12-14 mm. long, glabrous or the empty glumes usually 

 stoutly ciliate on the keels ; the first empty glume narrow, 7-8 

 mm., the second 12-14 mm. long; flowering glume 10-12 mm. 

 long, slightly shorter than the palea. 



This has been found at San Diego and may occur within our limits. It is 

 easily recognized by its dense spike-like inflorescence and leafy culms. 



25. LEPTOCHLOA Beauv. 



Mostly rather tall annual grasses with flat leaves and 

 numerous spikes forming a simple panicle. Spikelets 

 2-many-flowered, flattened, alternating in 2 rows on one 

 side of the rachis. Glumes 4-many, the 2 lower empty, 

 keeled, 8-nerved. Palea 2-nerved. Stamens 3. Styles 

 distinct. Grain free, enclosed in the scale and palea. 



1. L. mucronata (Michx.)- Kunth. Culms 3-9 dm. high, 

 erect, branched, smooth; sheaths shorter than the internodes, 

 smooth; ligule short, lacerate-toothed ; leaves 5-18 cm. long, 

 2-6 mm. wide, scabrous; spikes numerous, slender, rigid, ascend- 



