124 



GRAMINEAE. 



Vol. I. 



12. LEPTOLOMA Chase, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 19: 191. 1906. 



Perennial tufted grasses, with flat leaf-blades, and diffuse panicles, which break away 

 when mature and act as tumble-weeds. Spikelets i-flowered, solitary, or rarely in pairs. 

 Scales 4, or sometimes 3 by the abortion of the first minute scale; second scale 3-nerved; 

 third scale 5-7-nerved ; fourth scale elliptic, acute, indurated in fruit, the delicate and hyaline 

 margins flat, not inrolled, enclosing a palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. Grain 

 free, enclosed in the scale and palet. [Greek, from the delicate hyaline margins of the fruit- 

 ing scale.] 



Species 4 or 5 ; besides the following typical one 3 or 4 others occur in Australia. 



i. Leptoloma cognatum (Schultes) Chase. Diffuse Crab-grass. Fig. 284. 



Panicum nudum Walt. Fl. Car. 73. 1788? 



Panicum divergens Muhl. Gram. 120. 1817. Not 



H.B.K. 1815. 

 Panicum cognatum Schultes, Mant. 2 : 235. 1824. 

 Panicum autumnale Bosc; Spreng. Syst. 1: 320. 1825. 

 Leptoloma cognatum Chase, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 19: 



192. 1906. 



Culms erect or decumbent, i°-2° tall, generally 

 much branched at the base, slender. Sheaths 

 shorter than the internodes, the upper glabrous, 

 the lower sometimes densely pubescent; leaves 

 ij'~4' long, l"~3" wide, ascending, acuminate, 

 glabrous ; panicle s'~ 12 ' long, bearded in the axils, 

 the lower branches 4'-8' long, at first erect with 

 the lower portion included, in the upper sheath, 

 finally exserted and widely spreading at maturity; 

 spikelets lanceolate, about ii" long, acuminate, 

 glabrous or pubescent, on capillary pedicels of many 

 times their length ; first scale minute ; second and 

 third equal, acute, glabrous or sometimes villous, 

 the fourth lanceolate, ii" long. 



In dry soil, Illinois to Florida, Minnesota, Kansas 

 and Arizona. Recorded from New Hampshire. July- 

 Sept. 



13. ERIOCHLOA H.B.K. Nov. Gen. i: 94. 1815. 



[Helopus Trin. Fund. Agrost. 103. 1820.] 



Perennial grasses with flat leaves, and short-pedicelled spikelets borne in secund spikes, 

 which form a terminal panicle. Spikelets with an annular callus at the base and articulated 

 to the pedicel. Scales 3, the two outer membranous, acute, the inner one shorter, indurated, 

 and subtending a palet and a perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. 

 Grain free. [Greek, signifying wool-grass.] 



Species about 10, in tropical and temperate countries 

 Type species : Eriochloa distachya H.B.K. 



1. Eriochloa punctata (L.) W. Hamilton. 

 Dotted Millet. Fig. 285. 



Milium punctatum L. Amoen. Acad. 5: 392. 1759. 

 Eriochloa polystachya H.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1 : 95. pi. 31. 



1815. 

 Eriochloa punctata W. Hamilt. Prodr. PI. Ind. Occ. 5. 



1825. 



Culms erect or ascending, i°-3° tall, glabrous. 

 Sheaths glabrous or sometimes pubescent; ligule a 

 fringe of short white hairs; leaves 2'-ir/ long, 2"- 

 3" wide, acuminate, glabrous or pubescent; spikes 

 4-25, i'-2' long, sessile or nearly so; rachis pubes- 

 cent; spikelets about 2" long, ovate-lanceolate, 

 acuminate; outer scales pubescent with appressed 

 silky hairs, the first a little exceeding the second, 

 the third about 1" long, rounded at the apex and 

 bearing a pubescent awn about 4" long. 



Nebraska and Missouri to Mexico. Widely distributed 

 in tropical America. Everlasting-grass. 



