19 



Fig. 8. Erianthus compactus Nash. DENSELY-FLOWERED PLUME- 

 GRASS.— a, A spikelet; 6, first glume; c, second glume; d, third glume; e, 

 fourth or flowering glume; /, lodicules. Fig. 4 in Bui. 7 and fig. 304 in Bui. 17 

 illustrate other species of this genus. 



8. EEIANTHTJS, Michx. Flor. Bor. Am. 1 : 54. 1803. Spikelets in pairs, 

 one sessile, the other pedicellate, along the articulate and readily disjoint- 

 ing panicle-branches, both alike, hermaphrodite. Glumes 4, the outer ones 

 subequal, firm-membranaceous, the 1st flattened on the back and more or less 

 bicarinate and 2-toothed at the narrowed apex; the 2d somewhat rounded on 

 the back, sharply acuminate-pointed and more or less keeled above; the 3d 

 empty and usually hyaline, awnless; the 4th awned and inclosing a hermaphro- 

 dite flower. Palea usually much shorter than its glume, nerveless; lodicules 

 cuneate, ciliate, or naked. Tall, reed-like perennials, with the spikelets in 

 many-jointed racemes, which are sessile along the main axis, forming an 

 ample terminal and usually woolly panicle. 



Species about 18, in the warmer regions of both hemispheres. 



