AOUOSTIDK.K. 207 



in pnirsnr threes in ii l-sidcd ])iini(;le. the lowiT on short bent capil- 

 hirv pedieels, wl)ieh hroiik at iniitnrity; llowers of the h)\ver spikelet 

 sniidl. ot' the u[)per perfect; empty ^duine.s (»f luircr xpikrlrf e(|u;d, 

 lividine, 1-nerved or not. tnuu^iite, (>.:5 nun. Ion;;, floret ohtuse; lh»r:il 

 jjlunie tluii. ;j-nerve(l. nnir^diiid nerverf serruhite-eiliiite. 4-5 mm. 

 long, often term iiiiitini; in sliort stout awns, eenti-al nei've extend- 

 ing into an awn 10-15 mm. long; palea lanceolate, its two awns 

 about 0.5 mm. long; uppvr f(i>ikfli't with emj)ty glumes 1-nerved, 

 truncate. 0.:> mm. long; iirst outer ghune beai'ing a bristle-like 

 awn about 'X mm. long; lloret about 1 mm. long. Stamens ;> in 

 number, anthers oval, 0.:5 mm. long. (Jrain linear-lanceolate, 

 round on the back, ;>.:> mm. long: embryo oblong, 1 mm. long. 



Mexico, 7)VV/r;-/ Too, /loiirt/rdH XW,), /'riiit/Jf 1 ::i'.i, -^.Hil. The 

 hitter distributed as Jlrdi-Jii/eli/fnitn /'ri/if/Ii'i \'asey. 



51. (li:5a). BeALIA Scribn. Hack. Truedrasses, 10-1(1800). 



8pikelet3 l-tlowered, loosely paniculate; raehilla articulate above 

 the lower glumes, not extended above the llower; lloral glume with 

 a minute callus, bearded at the base. Emi)ty glumes 2, ])ersistent. 

 mendjranous softly hairy, slightly une<iual, round on the back. 

 1-nerved or nerveless; lloral glume a little shorter than the empty 

 glume, soft, pubescent, 3-nerved, 2-lobed, a slender awn between 

 the lobes, oi\ly loosely enclosing the grain; jialea pubescent, round 

 on the back, delicately 2-nerved. Stamens :?. Styles distinct: 

 stigmas racemose. Grain oval, oidy very loosely, if at all, enclosed 

 by glume and i)alea. 



There are two or more species fonnd in Mexico. 



1. B. Mexicana Scribn. 1. c. 



An elegant tufted perennial, 20-40 cm. high, densely bi'anched 

 at the base, usually light green mow or h'ss tinged with red. 

 Sheaths short, mostly distended, iliose of the culm 2 in num- 

 ber; ligule acute, 2-3 mm. long; blades Hat. conduplicate, 1-4 

 cm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide. Lower panicles partly enclosed, 

 tbe upper much exserted. simple, thin, linear to ovoid. :l-8 cm. 

 long; rays single, sparingly branched, the longest 1-3 cni. long. 

 flower-bearing on the outer two-thirds. Spikelets on pedicels 1-;) 

 mm. long ; e.npty glumes linear, subacute. 4-5 mm. long. 



