("lILomDE.K. 441 



Acad. IJoy. Briix. 9: (II) 2:52 (184'^); Steiul. Syii. Cram. 218 

 (1855), iiialo plant. 



DilTuso, 4-10 cm. high. Sheaths compressed ; lifjule very short; 

 blades 1.5-2.5 cm. long, 1.5 mm. \vi(k'. ajjcx uljruptly acute. Sjdkes 

 of staminate tluwers 1-1.5 cm. long. Spikelets linear, .'} mm. long, 

 first glume 1 mm. long, second 2 nmi. long. Anthers linear, 1.7 

 mm. long, .iecond glume of the j)istilh!le spikeU't o mm. U)ng, 

 sterile rudiment of a stipe 1.4 mm. long, the tiiree awns 4-5 mm. 

 long, the lateral ones with a broad expansion on one side near the 

 base. 



Mexico, Pahner G15. 



THi. Pentarrhaphis II. li. K. Nov. rJen. 1 : Kr. /. (50 (1815). 

 SI rom/m/ tints Willd. Steud. Xom. Ed. 3. 2:04: (1841). 



Mono'cious; sj)ikelets 2-llowered, 1-2 in each fasciclelike spike, 

 accompanied by 1-4 shorter awidike rudiments, the first llower 

 pistillate, the second ]iistillate or staminat-: rachilla produced into 

 a sliort bristle. The two empty glumes 1 -nerved, the second the 

 larger, usually 2-toothe(l, with an awn between the teeth: floral 

 glume 5-:-toothed, the middle and nmrginal teeth exteiuling into 

 long divergent awns: palea strongly 2-uerved, 2-tootiied. Stamens 

 '>). Styles distinct. (J rain oblong, free. Low, slender, tufted grasses 

 with Hat blades. Spikes very short, secuml along the flexuose 

 rachis, articulate with the very short pedicels, falling oil' entire. 



They resemble .Egopotjoti in the disposition and a])pearance of 

 the clusters of spikelets and their deciduous character. It is nearly 

 allied to Mehitiofoichnts. Vrom Btiiife/otta. section Triathem, this 

 genus may be distinguished by its 2-flowered spikelets and simple, 

 bristlelike prolongation of the rachilla. 



There are three species; two and probably the third are ^lexicau. 



1. P. Fournierana (Vasey), Hack. & Scribn. Hull. Torr. Club, 

 17: 232 (1890). JJoiifcIoiia Fitvrniemna Vasey ined. 



Culms crowded, 18-25 cm. high, from creeping rootstocks, nodes 

 villous. Leaves hairy, ligule a ring of short hairs; blades of sterile 

 shoots 3-7 cm. long, about 1 mm. wide, those of the culm 15-30 

 cm. long. Si)ikes 3-0, rachis compressed. Si)ikelets 2 in each 

 cluster, sessile, about 5 mm. long, not including the short awns, 



