394 POACE.E. 



d. Spikes uumerous, erect, racemose; spikelets de- 

 ciduous as a whole, empty glumes 2, iiiHated. . 91 

 a. Two to three perfect flowers in each spikelct. . . .(e) 

 e. Spikes digitate, rarely somewhat scattered, spike- 

 lets crowded U'i 



e. Spikes remote, paniculate, spikelets remote. . . .03 

 e. Spikes numerous, erect, racemose; spikelets decid- 

 uous as a whole, empty glumes '2, inflated ; exotic 

 plants have more than 1 flower to the sjiikelet, our 

 variety has only one 91 



B. Plants dia3cious, rarely monoecious, the two sorts of 



spikelets very unlike (m) 



m. Staminate si)ikelets 3-3-flowered 94 



m. Staminate spikelets 1-flowered 95 



C. Plants monrocious, spikelets 1-'^ in each spike, accom- 

 panied by 1-4 awnlike rudiments, 3-flowered, resembling 

 some species of Boufehua 96 



82. (1G8). MiCROCHLOA 11. Br. Prod. 1:208 (1810). 



Spikelets 1-flowered, awnless, sessile in two rows on one side of 

 a simple slender spike, the rachilla articulate above the outer glumes, 

 and not produced beyond the floret. Empty glumes 2, linear, 

 membranous, nearly equal, persistent, the lower flat Avith a promi- 

 nent nerve, the second keeled ; floral glume shorter, broader, hya- 

 line; palea nearly as long, narrow, with approximate keels, often 

 ciliate. Stamens 3 (or 2 ?). Styles distinct. Grain smooth, 

 enclosed, but not adherent. Slender tufted grasses, with firm nar- 

 now convoiu'e leaf-blades. The very thin and reduced floral 

 glume and palea connect it with Andropogonea\ but the articula- 

 tion of thy spikelet is above, not below, the outer glumes. 



Tliree species are known in tropical and subtropical regions of 

 the eastern and western hemispheres. 



1. M. setacea B. Br. 1. c. 



A slender tufted perennial, 10-18 cm. high. Leaf-blades fili- 

 form, ciliate at the throat, the upper 1 cm. long, more or less. 

 Spike 3-8 cm. long, very slender, with the rachis curved towards 

 tlie spikelets. Si)ikelets about 2.5 mm. long, appressed to the 



