136 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [FEBRUARY 
The systematic position of Munroa seems naturally to be within 
FESTUCEAE, but it is difficult to place it near any of the genera so 
as to demonstrate its nearest affinity. Most frequently Munroa is 
placed next to Monanthochloe, a genus to which it certainly shows 
no affinities whatsoever. The peculiarity of the genus seems to 
depend upon the dimorphism of the spikelets, and to some extent 
upon the profuse development of shoots, especially vegetative, in the 
axils of leaves near the apex of the culm, a structure which is exceed- 
ingly common in teratological cases, but which is normal and con- 
stant in Munroa squarrosa. 
There may exist some analogous cases, and normally so, among 
the other members of the order in this country, but so far as known 
to the writer no investigations have been published dealing with such 
morphological peculiarities. 
BROOKLAND, D. C. 
