:J()6 POAfE.E. 



leaf 20-30 cm. long. Panicle with the base enclosed, laneeolato^^ 

 t{(»-45 cm. long; rays very numerous, mostly single, or some in half- 

 wliurls of 3--5, the longest 8-10 cm. long, Hower-bearinj^ for nearly 

 their entire length. Spikelets light lead-color tinged with red; 

 empty glumes very thin, ovate-lanceolate, tirst 1 mm. or less long, 

 second 1-nerved, 1.5 mm. long; floral glume a little longer and 

 wider, otherwise like the second glume; i)alea with a groove on the 

 back between the nerves, notched at the tip, wider and a little 

 shorter than its glume. 



^e\v Mexico, Vasei/ ior IT. S. Dept. Agricul. ; Arizona, PriiKjIe. 



New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. 



This grows along watercourses, principally forming great 

 clumjjs nearly contiguous, four to six feet high, on which stock browse 

 down to within a foot or two of the ground. Though the leaves 

 are tough, they seem to be acceptable to animals. It is to this 

 species mostly that the Mexicans apply the name of Zacaton. The 

 name is also given to other tall grasses. 



(51. (127). Epicampes Presl, IJeliq. Hsenk. 1 : 235, /. 30 (1830). 

 CrypsmnaYowYW. Jieuth. Journ. Linn. Soc. 19:87 (1881). 



Spikelets with one perfect tlower, collected in a long and narrow 

 or spikelike panicle (diffuse in E. Bourgiei), rachilla articulate 

 above the persistent lower glumes, but not extended above the floret. 

 Empty glumes more or less unequal, membranous, convex or almost 

 keeled, delicately 1-3-nerved; floral glume usually about the length 

 of the empty glumes, 3-uerved. obtuse or emarginate, with or with- 

 out a slender dorsal awn a little below the apex; palea hyaline, 

 about as long as its glume, 2-nerved or 2-keeled. Stamens 3. 

 Styles distinct, short. Grain narrow, included, but not ndherent. 

 The panicles of our species are usually of a light lead-colored hue. 



There are about IG species peculiar to California, Mexico, and 

 western South America. 



Some species seem nearest to Citma, others to Muhlenberyiay 

 others to Sporoholns and all near to Ayrostis. It seems to connect 

 Muhlenhergia and Sporobolus, with Ayrodis. The chief general 

 feature is the long narrow dense panicle with very numerous rather 

 snudl spikelets, the awn of the floral glume, when it exists, much 



