72 PANICAC'E.K 



2-toothod, Staiiieiis 3. Stylos disiiiict, stisrniiissplimioso. Grain 

 obloii<r, enclosed by tlio gliinu's, the (.'liistiTs of spikolets iit leugth 

 dociduous by ji joint. 



Ditruse or tufted, slondor fjfnissos witb flat, narrow blades. Tlio 

 clusters of s])ikelets finally droopinji:, not unfrequently containing 

 spikelets, 1-3 of which arc slender, sterile or neuter mixed with 

 tlic fertile. 



The genus has at first sight much the aspect of tlie Asiatic 

 M<'l(fNiifr)icIiris, or of some of the veiy sh<)rt-s|tik('d species of 

 JJoNfi'/diia, but the real atlinity a])])ears lo be with llihiriii. 



Siiecies ;>. found in Arizona, 'i'exas. ^lexico. and Soiilli America. 



1. M. cenchroides II. .S: U. Willd. Sp. PI. 4 : Si»i» (isoc). 



Culms :2()-10 cm. high, more or less reddish throughout. 

 Shoatlis slightly rough, not keeled ; liguie :> mm. long, bilid ; 

 blades 1-8 em. lojig. Spikes 5-8 em. long, sj)ikelets in threes, 

 terminal. ])erl\''t, the 2 latenil neuter, llmpty glumes ('([ual, 

 y-2.r) mm. lonii'. l-newod, each with an awn its own len'''th be- 

 tween the shorter teeth ; floi'al glunm one-tliird loini-ei-. .'{-awned ; 

 the lateral awns eijualling those of the outer glumes : the terminal 

 awn twice as long ; palca with 2 sliort awns between the lobes. 

 (ihunes aiul ])alea of the neuter flowers smaller, otherwise much 

 like the fertih'. 



Mexico, Parri/ and Palnwr for U. S. Dept. Agricul. 



I'cxas and ^IcnIco. 



y. m. geminiflorus 11. & li. Nov. Gen. ct Sp l:i;53, t. 43 

 (18ir,). 



A slender grass. 10 'JO cm. high, moi'c or less tinged with red. 

 Cuhns geniculate. Spikes seeund. ;)--(> cm. long. Spikelets In 

 threes, tlu; 'I lateral neutei'; empty glumes of the perfei t llower 1.7 

 em. long. 1 -nerved, cuiu'iform. cuspidati^ belweeii the broad, 

 roundeil lobes of the margiual(> apex: floral glume nearly twice as 

 long, 3-nerved, laleral awns short, central awn about twice as long 

 as ilu' glume; palea ('(pialling tlie lloral glume, with '2 very short 

 .•;cla', empty glumes of the neuter spikelets ' alf as I ,ng as the fer- 

 tile; lloi'al cbunes oval. ;t-nerved. miicronate, or with a very short 

 awn; palea obovate, bicuspidate. Antlu'rs l.^mm. long. 



