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_ spreading spikes, each 4 to 6 inches long, mostly scattered on the axis, or two 
er ° ~ a, Fi foriw Py ry ae veel eek 
make it valuable for pasturage, especially in the arid distriets. | (Plate 
107.) : ae a See 
Chloris alba. 
An annual grass, growing in tufts, 2 to 24 feet high, smooth, the culms branching 
_and bent at the lower joints; the leaves are numerous ‘and rather broad, the upper 
sheaths dilated and at first inclosing the flower spikes, which are in a close cluster, 
eignt to fifteen in number and 2 to 3 inches long. The flowers are sessile and 
crowded in two rows on one side of the spikes. It isa common grass in the arid dis- 
tricts of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. It furnishes a large amount of foliage, 
and may prove useful in localities to which it is adapted. (Pilate 10%.) 
Diplachne dubia. 
A perennial grass of vigorous growth, growing 3 or 4 feet high, the culms rather 
stout and erect, with an abundance of foliage, the leaves being quite long and nar- 
row. The panicle is from 6 to 12 inches long, consisting of from 10 to 20 narrow, 
or three together. The spikelets are three to five-flowered, the empty glumes linear- 
lanceolate and acute. ‘The flowering eluines are oblong, obtuse, two-lobed, and smooth 
except on the margins. 
Its principal range is in the Southwest, from Texas to Arizona. It 
is a promising grass, and should receive the attention of agrienlturists. 
(Plate 109.) 
Melica. 
Spikelets two to many-flowered ; the flowers usnally convolute around each other, 
the upper one small and imperfect: the empty glumes are membranaceous and awn- ~ 
less, the lower one three to five-nerved, the upper five to nine-nerved, the lateral nerves < 
not reaching to the apex. The flowering glumes are of thicker texture, becoming ~ 
coriaceous, scarions near the apex, mostly rounded on the back, five to nine-nerved, 
the lateral nerves not reaching the apex, the central one sometimes ending in a short 
point or even in along awn; the palets shorter than their glumes, two-keeled and cil- 
iate on the keels. Of this genus we have ten or twelve species. 
Meiica diffusa. 
A perennial species, growing in rocky woods or ravines throughout the Rocky Mount- - 
ains in Colorado and New Mexico. It grows in loose tufts, the culms about 2 feet high, 
the lower leaves and sheaths soft hairy, the upper leaves narrow, 3 to 4 inches long 
and pointed. The panicle is 6 or 8 inches long, open, with rather few (6-8) branches, 
3 to 4 inches long, rather distant from each other, and somewhat spreading; the 
spikelets are large, 4 to 6 lines long, and three to five-flowered, the upper flower im- 
perfect. The empty glumes are quite unequal and much shorter than the spikelets. 
The flowering glumes are many-nerved below, with a broad scarious margin above. 
The palets are narrower and shorter than the flowering glumes and fringed on the 
keel. — 
This grass is relished by cattle, but as its preference is for shaded — : 
places it may not be adapted for general culture. . (Plate 110.) 
Melica bulbosa. 
This species is distinguished by its large bulbous roots, or, more properly, by the 
bulb-like enlargement of the base of the stem. It grows 2 to 3 feet high, the leaves 
narrow, scabrous, and becoming involute. The panicle is narrow, from 4 to 6 inches 
long, with short appressed branches. The spikelets are about half an inch long, with 
five to seven perfect flowers; the empty glumes are three to four lines long, or nearly 
