A(JH()STir)E.E. 278 



long, 3-5 mm. broml. Sterilo nulimonts of spikelets numerous, 

 ciliate, empty glumw ciliiitc, bristlos about as long as the tlorets; 

 floral glume oval, ^ mm. long, the awn 2-20 mm. long; palea 

 nearly as long as its ghime. 



Mexico, l*rin(jic A{'A)i\\ also found in Panama. 



Dry sliaded ledges. 



55. (120.) Heleochloa llo^^t, Gram. 1:2.3, .'. QO, iiO (1801). 

 Crypsis Lam. Tubl. Encyd. 1: 100 (1701), not Ait. I'vrlwa Pour. 

 Chlor. Narb. ex Kunth, Knum. PI. 1: 22 in Syn. (iSUa). Wtizo- 

 cephalvs Boiss, Diagn. (I.) 5:08 (1S44); i;{:4;j (185;3). 



Spikelets with one perfect llower crowded in a spiko or dense 

 spikelike panicle which is sometimes partially included in the 

 enlarged sheath of the upper leaf, racihilla subarticulate above the 

 lower persistent glumes and not extended beyond the llower. The 

 2 empty glumes slightly unequal, membranous, acute, coiulu plicate, 

 awnless, with a keel more or less ciliate: floral glume similar, per- 

 haps a little longer; palea shorter, hyaline, emarginate or 2-lobed, 

 very delicately 2-nerved. or keeled. Stamens :{. Styles distinct. 

 Grain oblong, loos ly included, but not adherent. When soaked 

 in water fne ovary swells and the seed escapes, much as in 



Tufted perennials, usually low with spreading bases. Spikelike 

 panicle ovoid or usually oblong or cylindrical. 



There are 7-8 si)ecies found in the vicinity of the ^rediterranean 

 Sea and in Central Asia. 



Kunth referred them to a section of Cn/psis. but the resem- 

 blance is superflcial. The axis of inflorescence in Crj/psis is a flat 

 disk; in Ifelenrhha it is a more or less elongated ra(!liis. In Cnip- 

 siH the empty glumes are above the articulation and fall off with the 

 spikelet, and the glumes are quite those of OryzciP without any two- 

 nerved palea; in Heleochloa the emi)ty glumes persist below the 

 articulation, and the glumes and palea are entirely those of Phleoi- 

 dea?. Beauvoisgave the same name Heleochloa to a supposed genus, 

 apparently made up of a Sporohohis and a Phhum. 



a. Spikes mostly exserted \ 



b. Spikes with bases included -> 



