HITCHCOCK AND CHASE — NORTH AMERICAN GRASSES. 5 



3. Ichnanthus nemorosus (Swartz) Doell. 



Fdnicum nemorosum Swartz, Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ. 22. 1788. " Jamaica, 

 Domingo." The type has been examined in the Swartz Herbarium at Stock- 

 holm. It is from Jamaica. 



Milium nemorosum Moeneh, Meth. PI. Suppl. 67. 1802. Based on Panicum 

 nemorosum Swartz. 



Ichnanthus nemorosus Doell in Mart. Fl. Bras. 2r: 289. 1877. Based on 

 Panicum nemorosum Swartz. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Culms spreading and creeping, rooting at the nodes, much branched, pubes- 

 cent or glabrescent, the nodes pubescent, the fertile shoots decumbent or 

 rising to the height of 10 to 20 cm. ; sheaths shorter than the internodes. 

 pubescent or glabrescent, villous on the margin and collar ; blades ovate- 

 lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, 3 to 7 cm. long, 1 to 2 cm. wide, clasping at 

 the usually asymmetric base, somewhat abruptly narrowed toward the apex, 

 thin, sparsely hispid and scaberulous on both surfaces or glabrescent; panicles 

 terminal and axillary, 1 to 4 cm. long, ovate or often narrow, the few branches 

 weakly spreading or appressed, usually not over 2 cm. long, the axes angled 

 and scabrous, villous at the base of the branches ; spikelets 2.5 to 3 mm. long, 

 glabrous, the pedicels short, 1 to 2 mm. long or less ; first glume a little shorter 

 than the second and about as long as the sterile lemma, broad and somewhat 

 clasping at the base, 5-nerved, the lateral nerves contiguous, acuminate or 

 attenuate-pointed, the keel scaberulous above ; second glume and sterile lemma 

 5-nerved, the lateral nerves distant, the glume scaberulous on the keel, acu- 

 minate or attenuate-pointed, sometimes with a few hairs near the margin, the 

 lemma smooth on the keel, acute or somewhat rounded at apex, the sterile 

 palea well developed, nearly as long as the lemma ; fertile lemma lanceolate, 

 2 mm. long, acutish, yellow-brown at maturity, the scar at base about 0.3 mm. 

 long, bearing no wing below, the margins somewhat inrolled, distant. 



This species resembles I. pollens, but is more delicate, has thinner blades, 

 and is usually more prostrate; the spikelets are shorter and more obtuse. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Shady banks and rich woods, West Indies, Mexico, and Central America. 

 San Luis Potosi : Las Canoas, Pringle 3827. 

 Veracruz: Misantla, Purpus 6217. Jalapa, Hitchcock 6649. 

 Guatemala : Guatemala City, Hitchcock 9047. Cubilquitz, Tiirckheim 4038. 

 Costa Rica : La Palma, Tonduz 12509, 12515. La Esmeralda, Tonduz 1346. 



Santa Rosa du Copey, Tonduz 11889. San Jose, Hitchcock 8479. 

 Panama: El Boquete, Hitchcock S268, 8276, 8318, 8329. Chiriqui Volcano, 



Hitchcock 8195, 8205. 

 Cuba: Habana, Le6n 3635. Sierra de Anafe, YSilson 11538 {Ledn 2873). Banao 



Hills, Santa Clara, Leon 3997. La Perla, Oriente, Ledn 3908. Retiro, 



Wright 3881. Mogote de Mono, Wright 3882. Arroyo Hondo, Wright 3858. 

 Santo Domingo : Without locality, Poiteau. 

 Jamaica: Gordon Town, Harris 11476; Hart 923. Ramble, Amer. Gr. Nat. 



Herb. 582. Troy, Hitchcock 9798. Catherines Peak, Hitchcock 9741. Cas- 



tleton, Harris 11296. Clyde River, Harris 11447. 

 Porto Rico : Cayey, Sintenis 2406. 



