MANUAL OF THE GRASSES OF THE WEST INDIES 309 
the main branches sometimes 1 m long or more, bearing slender 
branchlets toward the pendent ends, or the branchlets fascicled on 
the main culm; young shoots usually pubescent; sheaths pubescent, 
especially on the margin and collar, the surface sometimes glabrate; 
ligule inconspicuous; blades lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, those of 
the main culm or of vigorous shoots as much as 20 cm long and 3 cm 
wide, those of the fertile branches usually 8 to 12 cm long and 1.5 cm 
wide, on the fascicled branchlets smaller, often falcate, velvety on 
both surfaces or puberulent to glabrate above; panicles on the main 
culm and larger branches usually 10 to 20 cm long, at maturity as wide 
or wider, rather compactly many-flowered; spikelets 4 to 5 mm long. 
Ravines, wood borders, and hedges, Mexico and West Indies to 
Argentina and Bolivia. Rather infrequent in Cuba, but there are 
numerous collections from the Greater Antilles, and the other islands 
except Trinidad, and at least one collection from Virgin Gorda, St. 
John, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Dominica, 
Montserrat, Martinique, St. Lucia, Grenada, and Tobago. 
Cusa: Soledad, Hitchcock 23325. Rincén to Banao, Shafer 12323. 
Sierra de Nipe, Hkman 10095, 10108. Papayo, Ekman 10318. Pinar 
de Bayamita, Sierra Maestra, Ekman 10324. San Blas, Jack 64438. 
El Rosario, Léon 14118. Lomas de Siguanca, Ekman 13878. 
Urban ” takes up Panicum maculatum Aubl. for this species. 
Aublet’s meager description” does not identify the plant. The 
synonym cited refers to an unpublished plate at Berlin which Urban 
states probably represents Lasiacis sorghoidea. The plate was 
based on a plant from Martinique. Aublet’s flora treats of the plants 
of French Guiana. 
11. Lasiacis ruscifolia (H. B. K.) Hitche., Biol. Soc. Wash. Proc. 24: 
145. 1911. 
Pamcum ruscifolium H. B. K., Nov. Gen. et Sp. 1: 101. 1815. 
Mexico. 
Panicum compactum Swartz, Adnot. Bot. 14. 1829. Jamaica. 
Lasiacis compacta Hitche., Bot. Gaz. 51: 302. 1911. 
More robust than any other species, freely branching, the shoots 
usually strongly dorsiventral; culms becoming several meters long, 
glabrous or rarely puberulent; sheaths sometimes hispidulous toward 
the apex, glabrous to villous on the margin, especially near the summit, 
the collar glabrous or villous; ligule inconspicuous; blades ovate- 
lanceolate or elliptic, sometimes lanceolate, the primary ones 10 to 
15 cm long, 3 to 6 cm wide, narrowed or often cordate-clasping at the 
asymmetric base, rather abruptly narrowed to an acuminate but not 
attenuate apex, puberulent or glabrous beneath, glabrous or scabrous 
above, the secondary blades similar or reduced : panicles 5 to 20 cm 
long, narrow and compact, rarely somewhat open, with spreading, 
implicate but rather closely flowered branches; spikelets 3 to 4 mm 
long, nearly globose at maturity. This species is variable as to 
pubescence. 
Climbing over bushes at low altitudes, Mexico to Peru; Cuba. 
Cupa: Sabanaso, Ekman 6535. Palo ‘Seco, Ekman 15318. Sancti 
Spiritus, Léon 905. Guantanamo, Léon 3778. Ensenada de Mora, 
Brition, Cowell, and Shafer 12979. Rioja, Ekman 4903. Santiago de 
72 Repert. Sp. Nov. Fedde 16: 149. 1919. 
7% Pl. Guian. 1:51. 177 
