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NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
SCIENTIFIC SURVEY
OF
Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands
VOLUME V
Botany of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Pandanales to Thymeleales
INEW YORK.:
PUBLISHED B y THE ACADEMY~
1924
CONTENTS OF VOLUME V.
Title-page. . . ... ............................ I
Contents . . .. .. III
Dates of Publication of Parts . . . ... I
I'reface . .. 1-5
Descriptive Florao . .. .. .. . .. 7-620
Spermatophyta ..... .. . ..................... ........... 7-620
Angiospermae. ...................................... ........ 7-020
M onocotyledones............................................ . 8-217
Dicotyledones (Part) ............................... ..... . 217-620
Index to Olders, Families and Genera. ...... ... ............. (21-0626
DATrES OF PUBLICATION OF PARTS.
Part 1, pp. 1--15SS. August 10, 1923.
Part 2, pp. 159 316. January 10, 1021.
Part 3, pp. 317-17 1. J une 10, 1921.
Part 4, pp. 475-626. November S, 1924.
PREFACE.
By N. L. BRirroX.
Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands form a geographical, geo-
logical and biological province with many natural features in
common from west to east, only Anegada, the most eastern island,
diverging widely from the general type, through its recent soft
limestones and the accompanying specialized plant and animal
types.
The archipelago, with a total land area somewhat less than that
of the State of Connecticut, lies within the geographical area from
west longitude 670 56' (Mona) to west longitude 640 16' (Anegada)
and within the narrow belt of north latitude 170 40' (St. Croix) to
north latitude 180 33' (northern coast of Porto Rico) and 180 45'
(Anegada). This narrow latitudinal belt renders the illumination
of the whole area essentially uniform, as also the atmospheric
movements of tradewinds and cyclones, and the temperatures of
the waters enclosing the islands; the air temperatures at equal
altitudes are also essentially alike.
The old land mountain axis of Porto Rico extends brokenly
and reaching lower elevations eastward through the islands Culebra,
Vieques, St. Thomas, St. Jan and Tortola to Virgin Gorda. Dese-
cheo Island, in the Mona Passage, west of Porto Rico, is also in
this old land axis.
The newer, Tertiary, land and rock-series of Porto Rico, rep-
resented by the northern and southern coastal plains and their
accompanying hills, largely of limestone, are not represented,
however, in the Virgin Islands from St. Thomas to Virgin Gorda,
though occurring on Vieques, on Cayo Muertos, and on Mona.
St. Croix, which lies isolated well south of the main axis of the
archipelago, is included in the Virgin Islands in a broad sense only,
being geographically separated from the other islands, although
with much in common with them biologically.
The elements of greatest natural diversity within the area are
found (1) in the differing altitudes and accompanying differing
PREFACE
barometric phenomena; (2) in the differing rainfalls; (3) in the dif-
fering soils. All these profoundly influence the distribution of the
native plants and animals and also agricultural and horticultural
practices and possibilities.
1. ALTITUDES. On the mainland of Porto Rico the monadnocks
of the Luquillo Mountains and of the Cordillera Central rise to ele-
vations of about 1200 meters, much of the central part averaging
about 600 meters. St. Thomas rises to about 450 meters; St. Jan
is a little lower; Tortola reaches about 550 meters. Ascending
anywhere from sea level, the observer can not fail to notice de-
creasing temperatures and changes in the vegetation; reaching
about 600 meters, most of the lowland plants have been left behind,
and the flora of the high mountain summits is almost wholly com-
posed of characteristic species.
We designate as higher elevations, altitudes from about 900
meters to the mountain summits; as middle elevations, altitudes
from about 500 meters to about 900 meters; and as lower elevations,
lands of less than 500 meters altitude.
2. RAINFALL. The moist northeasterly tradewinds, almost con-
tinuous except during cyclonic disturbances, impinge upon the land
masses and precipitate their vapor in the form of showers of varying
intensity, from mere sprinkles to excessive cloud-bursts. The high
mountains of Porto Rico cause the greater part of the atmospheric
moisture to be precipitated over the northern and central districts,
so that by the time the winds reach the southern coast they are dry
or even drying, causing truly desert conditions to obtain in the
southwestern coastal areas. In the Virgin Islands and on Vieques
and Culebra, the much lower mountains do not bring about this
extreme diversity of rainfall, but it is, nevertheless, locally evident,
the higher parts of these islands being for the most part better
supplied with rain than the lower. It is the mountain masses
themselves, rather than their vegetation, that cause high rainfall,
no proof whatever of a forest covering having any effect being
ascertainable, but a forest covering is all important in conserving
the rain and regulating the flow of streams and of rivers; the present
denuded condition of most of the mountain area is detrimental
and unfortunate.
We designate as wet districts those in which the average annual
rainfall is over about 200 centimeters; as moist districts, those with
rainfall from about 100 to about 200 centimeters; as dry districts,
PREFACE
those with rainfall of less than 100 centimeters; the wettest districts
are in the higher Luquillo Mountains and in the higher western and
central Cordillera Central, where the rainfall may exceed 300 centi-
meters; the driest areas are in the extreme southwestern coastal
parts of Porto Rico, where the average fall is under 60 centimeters,
and where no rain may fall during very long periods. Reference
is made to the map of Porto Rico, showing the distribution of rain
published by Dr. Lobeck in "The Physiography of Porto Rico"
(Sci. Survey Porto Rico and V. I. 1: 303, fig. 1). As to Vieques
and the Virgin Islands their rainfall would bring them, for the
most part, within our areas regarded as moist, but locally as dry;
Desecheo Island, as its name implies, is evidently dry; Mona,
Culebra, Icacos and Anegada are probably dry.
This varied distribution of rainfall is evidently a fundamental
factor in the natural distribution of native plants, and this is
noticed by all observers, even the most casual. In passing from
north to south, over the central mountain axis of Porto Rico, the
change of vegetation is, locally, abrupt, trees and other plants of
the northern slopes giving place on the southern to different species,
and the natural vegetation of the northern moist districts, as
about San Juan and Arecibo, is seen to be almost wholly different
from that of the southern, as about Ponce and Guanica.
3. SOILS. The soils of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands are
varied; they have been derived from the rocks by erosion, and dis-
tributed for the most part by water. Some regions, such as the
plateau of Mona Island, parts of southern Porto Rico, mountain
slopes in Porto Rico and St. Thomas and elsewhere have scarcely any
soil, the vegetation springing directly from rock-crevices in which
the roots of plants are firmly embedded or between loose rocks;
from this condition we have soils of differing thickness, up to the
very deep and thick deposits of the Porto Rican alluvial coastal
plains. The soils also differ greatly in the amount of water they
contain, some being very wet, others nearly dry. Along the coasts
within the maritime influence, the soils contain varying amounts of
salt, as also along the borders of Lake Guanica. On limestone
hills and their slopes the soils are more or less calcareous, on eruptive
rock hills and mountains and in granite and shale regions they are
often predominantly clayey, and along rivers and especially on the
northern coastal plain of Porto Rico they are almost pure sand or
gravel, as also on coastal beaches and dunes.
PREFACE
All these soil features fundamentally govern the distribution of
plants. Some species can exist only mnder saline conditions; some
only on calcareous rocks; some only in sand; some only in marshes,
some only in water. But it may be remarked that some species
are far more cosmopolitan than others, being able to thrive under
various conditions.
A large number of kinds of plants exist naturally only in Porto
Rico and the Virgin Islands; these are termed endemic species.
They are scattered in distribution, not being restricted to wet,
dry, high, or low districts or to specific types of soil, though many
of them appear, from our present knowledge, to be very local in
distribution. All the endemic species are more or less closely
related to other species inhabiting other West Indian Islands,
indicating community of origin, and differentiation through iso-
lation. The cutting of the forests over the greater part of both
Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands has probably eliminated some
endemic species.
All plants may be grouped in four main categories, known as
Phyla or Subkingdoms, as follows:
PHYLUM 1. Spermatophyta, those which bear seeds, a seed
being different from all other vegetable structures by containing an
embryonic plantlet. All spermatophytes bear flowers of one kind
or another, and this phylum is also called Anthophyta, or flowering
plants and, to distinguish it from the three other phyla collectively,
Phancrogamia. Phyla 2, 3 and 4 taken together are called Cryp-
togamia; all of these are seedless.
PHYLUM 2. Pteridophyta, comprises ferns and fern allies; all
are flowerless and have two separate and distinct alternating
generations, the one represented by the fully developed plant
having root, stem and leaves, with vascular tissue and bearing
spores, a spore being a single vegetable cell capable of growing into
a new plant; the other, called the prothallium stage, is small, in-
conspicuous, grows from the spores, has no vascular tissue, is not
differentiated into root, stem and leaves, and bears the sexual
organs; from the female organ of the prothallium (archegonium)
the fully developed spore-bearing plant again arises; the male
organ, borne either on the same prothallium or on a different one,
is called an antheridium.
PHYLUM 3. Bryophyta, consists of mosses and their allies;
all are small flowerless plants with alternating sexual and non-
PREFACE 5
sexual (spore-bearing) generations, but the spore-bearing genera-
ation never becomes separated and independent; the sexual gener-
ation is commonly the more conspicuous and is, in most cases,
differentiated into stem and leaves, while the spore-bearing gener-
ation is never thus differentiated; their spores are borne in con-
ceptacles termed capsules, and from the spores the plant again
develops. Bryophytes consist almost wholly of cellular or non-
vascular tissue.
PHYLUM 4. Thallophyta, includes the algae, fungi and lichens;
all are flowerless and their methods of reproduction and propagation
are varied. They contain no vascular tissue (except a few large
algae) and the plant body is not differentiated into stem and leaves.
Many of them are of microscopic size.
DESCRIPTIVE FLORA.
Phylum 1. SPERMATOPHYTA.
SEED-BEARING PLANTS.
By N. L. BRITTON and PERCY WILSON.
Plants producing seeds which contain an embryo formed of one
or more rudimentary leaves cotyledonss), a stem (hypocotyl,
radicle), and a terminal bud (plumule), or these parts sometimes
undifferentiated before germination. Microspores (pollen-grains)
are borne in microsporanges (anther-sacs) on the apex or side of
a modified leaf (filament). The macrosporanges (ovules) are born
on the face of a flat or inrolled much modified leaf (carpel) and
contain one macrospore (embryo-sac); this develops the minute
female prothallium, an archegone of which is fertilized by means
of a tube (pollen-tube), a portion of the male prothallium sprouting
from the pollen-grain.
There are two classes which differ from each other as follows:
Ovules and seeds contained in a closed cavity (ovary);
stigmas 1 or more. Class 1. ANGIOSPERMAE.
Ovules and seeds borne on thle face of a scale; stigmas none. Class 2. GYMNOSPERLIAE.
Class 1. ANGIOSPERMAE.
Ovules (macrosporanges) enclosed in a cavity (the ovary)
formed by the infolding and uniting of the margins of a modified
rudimentary leaf (carpel), or of several such leaves joined together,
in which the seeds are ripened. The pollen-grains microsporess)
on alighting upon the summit of the carpel (stigma) germinate,
sending out a pollen-tube which penetrates its tissues and reaching
an ovule enters the orifice of the latter micropylee), and its tip
coming in contact with a germ-cell in the embryo-sac, fertilization
is effected. In a few cases the pollen-tube enters the ovule at the
chalaza, not at the micropyle.
There are two sub-classes, distinguished as follows:
Cotyledon one; stem endogenous. Sub-class 1. MONOCOTYLEDONES.
Cotyledons normally two; stem (with rare excep-
tions) exogenous. Sub-class 2. DICOTYLEDONES.
TYPHACEAE
Sub-class 1. MONOCOTYLEDONES.
Embryo with a single cotyledon and the first leaves of the
germinating plantlet alternate. Stem composed of a ground-mass
of soft tissue parenchymaa) in which bundles of wood-cells are
irregularly imbedded; no distinction into wood, pith and bark.
Leaves usually parallel-veined, mostly alternate and entire, com-
monly sheathing the stem at the base and often with no distinction
of blade and petiole. Flowers mostly 3-merous or 6-mcrous.
tCARPELS 1 OR MORE, DISTINCT (united, at least partially, in Vallisneriaceae and
others of the Naiadales, which are aquatic herbs, in Ilydrocharitales and in some palms
and Pandanales); parts of the usually imperfect flowers mostly unequal in number.
Inflorescence various, not a true spadix.
Leaves neither compound nor flabellate.
Flowers not in the axils of dry chaffy scales.
Endosperm mealy or fleshy; perianth of
bristles or chaffy scales, or wanting; flowers
monoecious, spicate or capitate. Order 1. PANDANALES.
Endosperm none, or very little.
Perianth rudimentary, of 4 small sepals in
Polamogeton, or none. Order 2. NAIADALES.
Perianth present.
Carpels distinct. Order 3. AI.ISMALES.
Carpels united. Order 4. HYDROCIIARITALES
Flowers in the axils of dry chaffy scales, arranged
in spike or spikelcts. Order 5. POALES.
Leaves pinnately or palmately compound, or flabel-
late; trees or shrubs. Order 6. ARECALES.
Inflorescence a fleshy spadix, with or without a spathe;
or plants minute, floating free, the flowers few or
solitary on the margin or back of the thallus. Order 7. ARALES.
tt CARPELS UNITED INTO A COMPOUND OVARY; parts of the usually complete flowers
mostly in 3's or 6's.
Seeds with endosperm.
Flowers regular, or nearly so (corolla irregular in Commnelina.)
Endosperm mealy; ovary mostly superior. Order S. XYRIDALES.
Endosperm fleshy or horny. Order 9. LILIALES.
Flowers very irregular; ovary inferior. Order 10. SCITAMINALES.
Seeds without endosperm, very numerous and minute;
ovary inferior; flowers very irregular. Order 11. ORCIIIDALES.
Order 1. PANDANALES.
Our native species aquatic or marsh plants, with narrow elongated
leaves and very small, imperfect and incomplete flowers in spikes or heads.
Perianth of bristles, or of chaffy scales. Ovary 1, 1-2-celled. Endosperm
mealy or fleshy.
The order takes its name from the tropical genus Pandanus, the so-
called Screw-Pine.
Family 1. TYPHACEAE J. St. Hil.
CAT-TAIL FAMILY.
Marsh or aquatic herbs, with perennial creeping rootstocks and erect
terete stems. Leaves alternate, linear or strap-shaped, sheathing at the
base, flat, slightly convex on the back. Flowers monoecious, densely
crowded in compact cylindric spike-like racemes. Staminate inflorescence
terminal, above the pistillate or contiguous to it, each raceme subtended by a
spathaceous fugaceous bract. Perianth of bristles. Staminate flowers with
1-7 stamens;filaments free or connate; anthers linear or oblong, 2-celled; pol-
len grains simple or compound. Pistillate flowers with a 1-celled ovary; ovule
ZANNICHIELLIACEAE
solitary, pendulous; style elongate; stigma linear or spatulate, unilateral.
Fruit minute, subsessile or long-stipitate. Seed subcylindric or narrowly
ellipsoid; albumen farinaceous; test membranaceous; embryo cylindric,
straight. The family comprises only the following genus.
1. TYPHA [Tourn.] L. Sp. P1. 971. 1753.
Characters of the family. [Name ancient.] About 9 species, widely dis-
tributed in temperate and tropical regions. Type species: Typha latifolia L.
1. Typha angustifolia L. Sp. Pl. 971. 1753.
Typha latifolia domingensis Pers. Syn. Pl. 2: 532. 1807.
Typha domingensis Pers.; Kunth. Ennm. 3: 92. 1841.
Typha angustifolia donzingensis Griseb. Fl. Br. WV. I. 512. 1864.
Typha domingiensis Kronf. Verh. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien. 39: 163. 1SS9.
Stems slender, 1-3 m. tall. Leaves narrowly linear, 6-10 dm. long, or longer,
3-20 mm. broad; racemes light- or dark-brown, the staminate and pistillate
portions usually separated, each 1-4 din. long; hairs accompanying the pistillate
flowers with or without club-shaped tips; pollen-grains simple; denuded rachis
of the pistillate raceme roughened by the short, rigid pedicels.
Along rivers and in marshes, Porto Rico; Vieques; St. Thomas; St. Croix; St. Jan;
Tortola:-Bermuda; liahamas; Jamaica; Cuba to Trinidad; southern United States to
Patagonia; Europe; Asia. ENEA. ENEAS. CAT-TAIL. Its leaves are used for thatching.
Pandanus utilis Bory, SCREW-PINE, native of Madagascar, of the related
family Pandanaceae, is sometimes planted for ornament and interest in Porto
Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is a large, often little branched, tree-like plant
with stilt-like roots and long narrow green, sword-shaped leaves armed with
reddish prickles, the long-peduncled syncarpous pendulous fruits are sometimes
15 cm. in diamater. [P. odoratissimus of Eggers.]
Pandanus Veitchii IHort., Polynesian, is also planted for ornament; its
spiny toothed leaves are dark green in the center, margined with broad bands of
white or silvery white.
Order 2. NAIADALES.
Aquatic or marsh-inhabiting caulescent or acaulescent herbs, the leaves
. various. Flowers perfect, monoecious or dioecious. Perianth rudimentary
or wanting. Parts of the flower mostly unequal in number. Carpels 1 or
more, distinct and separate or united; endosperm none, or very little.
Carpels distinct. Fam. 1. ZANNICHELLIACEAE.
Carpels united, or 1 only.
Stamiiate flowers of 2 long-pedicelled anthers; peri-
anth wanting; acaulescent plants. Farm. 2. CYMODOCEACEAE.
Staminate flowers sessile or nearly so, consisting of an
anther surrounded by the perianth; caulescent
plants. Farm. 3. NAIADACEAE.
Family 1. ZANNICHELLIACEAE Dumort.
PONDWEED FAMILY.
Marine or fresh-water perennials, with floating or submerged len ves or
both. Flowers monoecious or perfect, inconspicuous. Perianth present or
wanting. Stamens 1-4. Carpels 1-seeded. Fruit drupe-like. Endosperm
wanting.
About four genera and 90 species.
Perianth wanting; stamens 2. rf. 1. Ruppia.
Perianth of 4 segments; stamens 4. 2. Polamogeton.
/zN
ZANNICHELLIACEAE
1. RUPPIA L. Sp. Pl. 127. 1753.
Submerged, usually salt or brackish water herbs, with long thread-like,
forking stems, and slender alternate 1-nerved leaves. Flowers 2 or more together
within the leaf-sheath on a short peduncle which usually becomes greatly elong-
ated after flowering, and is ultimately a loosely coiled spiral. Perianth wanting.
Stamens 2; anthers 2-celled, sessile. Carpels 4, 1-ovuled, sessile at first, at length
usually long-stipitate; stigmas peltate; ovule pendulous. Drupelets oblique or
equilateral, crowned with the long or short-style. Embryo curved. [Named
in honor of Heinrich Bernhard Ruppius, a German botanist of the 18th century.]
About three species, of wide distribution. Type species: Ruppia maritima L.
Stipes of the drupelets free. 1. R. maritima
Stipes of the drupelets united into a column. 2. R. anomala.
1. Ruppia maritima L. Sp. Pl. 127. 1753.
Ruppia rostellata Koch; Reichb. Icon. Pl. Crit. 2: 66. 1824.
Stems pale brown or whitish, usually branched, often 1 m. long. Leaves
linear-capillary, 3-10 cm. long, 0.3-0.8 mm. wide; sheaths with a short free tip;
fruiting peduncles capillary, sometimes 3 dm. long; pedicles 4 or more in a cluster,
0.8-3.5 cm. long; drupes ovoid, 2-3 mm. long, often oblique or gibbous at the
base, pointed with the long style.
In shallow bays, pools, and lagoons, Porto Rico; Culebra; Vieques; St. Thomas: St. Jan:
St. Croix:- Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, sometimes occurring in saline pools
in the interior; Bermuda; Baha mas to Trinidad; temperate and tropical regions of the Old
World. DITCH-GHASS.
2. Ruppia anomala Ostenfeld, Bull. Torrey Club 42: 659. 1915.
Stems and leaves similar to the preceding. Peduncle short, not becoming
greatly elongated after flowering: stipes united into a column at the top of which
the drupelets are arranged in a star-like manner.
Border of Lake Guanica. Endemic.
2. POTAMOGETON [Tourn.] L. Sp. Pl. 126. 1753.
Herbs mostly of fresh-water ponds and streams, with submerged or floating
stems. Leaves flat, 2-ranked, alternate or the uppermost opposite, often of
two kinds, submerged and floating, the submerged leaves mostly thin and narrow,
the floating coriaceous or subcoriaceous and broad. Stipules either free from
the leaf-bases or closely adnate to them. Inflorescence spicate, axillary. Peri-
anth segments 4. Stamens 4'; anthers 2-celled. Ovaries 4, rarely only 1, with
an ascending campylotropous ovule; stigma sessile or on a short style. Fruit
of 4 drupelets, the pericarp usually thin and hard or spongy. Seeds crustaceous,
with a complete or incomplete spiral embryo. [Greek, in allusion to the aquatic
habit.] About 85 species, natives of temperate and tropical regions. Type
species: Potamogeton natans L.
With sessile, submerged leaves only, the blades linear, without a
coarsely cellular-reticulate space each side of the midrib; spikes
capitate. 1. P. foliosus.
With floating and submerged leaves; spikes cylindric.
Submerged leaves sessile, the blades lineal, with a coarsely cellular-
reticulate space each side of the midrib. 2. P. epihydrus.
Submerged leaves petioled, the blades narrowly lanceolate to
elliptic-lanceolate, without a coarsely cellular-reticulate space
each side of the midrib. 3. P. fluitans.
CYIMODOCEACEAE
1. Potamogeton foliosus Raf. -led. Repos. II. 5: 354. 1808.
Potamogeton pauciflorus Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 121. 1814.
Stems filiform, flattened. Leaves all submerged, narrowly linear, 2-6 cm.
long, 0.5-2 mm. broad, acute at the apex, obscurely 3-5-nerved; peduncles 0.5-
L.S mm. long; spikes capitate, foew-flowered, on short, more or less clavate pe-
duncles; fruit lenticular or nearly orbicular, the back more or less crested; embryo
an incomplete spiral, the apex pointing towards the base or outside it.
In streams, Porto Rico:-Cuba; Jamaica; Hispaniola; United States to Brazil: also re-
corded from the Sandwich Islands.
2. Potamogeton epihydrus Raf. Med. Repos. II. 5: 334. 180S.
Potamogeton Nuttallii Cham. & Schl. Linnaea 2: 226. 1827.
Potamogeton penusylvanicus Cham, & Schl. Linnaea 2: 227. 1827.
Potamogeton Claytoni Tuckerm. Am. Jour. Sci. 45: 38S. 1843.
Potamogeton pennsylvanicus portoricensis Graebner; Urban, Symb. Ant. 4:
73. 1903.
Potamogeton Nulttallii portoricensis Graebner, Pflanzenreich 411: 50. 1907.
Stem slender, compressed, simple or sometimes branched. Floating leaves
petioled, the blades oblong-elliptic to elliptic, occasionally somewhat obovate,
3-8 cm. long, 1-2.5 cm. or more broad, obtuse or acutish at the apex, narrowed
at the acute base, many-nerved; submerged leaves sessile, the blades linear or
.linear-lanceolate, 5-14 cm. long, 2-4 mm. or more broad, with a coarsely cellular-
reticulate space each side of the midrib; peduncles equalling or much longer than
the spike; spikes cylindric, 1.5-3.7 cm. long, occasionally longer, many-flowered;
fruit round-obovoid, 3-keeled, the sides flat and indistinctly impressed; embryo
a complete spiral, the curved apex pointing inside the base and upward.
Porto Rico, according to Graebner:--temperate continental North America.
3. Potamogeton fluitans Roth, Tent. Fl. Germ. 1: 72. 178S.
Potamogeton occidentalis Sieber; Chain. & Schl. Linnaea 2: 224. 1S27.
Potamogelon americanus Cham. & Schl. Linnaea 2: 226. 1827.
Stem terete or nearly so, often branched below. Floating leaves long-
petioled, the blades lanceolate to broadly elliptic, 4-13 cm. long, 1-4 cm. broad,
acute or acuminate at the apex, rounded or acute at the base, many-nerved;
submerged leaves petioled, the blades pellucid, narrowly lanceolate to elliptic-
lanceolate, 10-25 cm. long, 7-27 mm. broad; peduncles somewhat thickened
upward, usually much longer than the spike; spikes cylindric, 2-5 cm. long, many-
flowered; fruit obliquely obovoid, 3-4.5 mm. long, 2-3 mm. broad, the back more
or less prominently crested; embryo a complete spiral, the curved apex pointing
just inside the base.
In streams, Porto Rlico:-Cuba; Hispaniola; Jamaica; Martinique; Trinidad; con-
tinental America; Europe; Asia and Africa. Recorded by Bello as P. plantagineus
Du Cruz. P. Leschenaullii Cham & Schl. of Urban's Symb. Ant. 4: 72. 1903, appar-
ently belongs here.
Family 2. CYMODOCEACEAE Kerner.
MANATEE-GRASS FAMILY.
Submerged perennial herbs of sandy sea bottoms, with long creeping
rootstocks. Leaves linear, sheathing at the base. Flowers monoeciotis or
dioecious, solitary or cymose. Perianth wanting. Staminate flowers of 2
long-pedicelled anthers, the anthers 2-celled, longitudinally dehiscent.
Pistillate flowers of I or 2 carpels. Stigmas 1 or 2, slender. Fruit nut-like,
1-seeded. Embryo ovoid or ellipsoid. Two known genera, as follows:
Stigmas 2; leaf-blades tercte or nearly so. 1. Cymodocea.
Stigma 1; leaf-blades flat. 2. Halodule.
NAIADACEAE
1. CYMODOCEA Konig; Konig & Sims, Ann. Bot. 2: 96. 1805.
Submerged marine herbs, with slender elongated rootstocks. Staminate
flowers consisting of two anthers on the end of a long pedicel, the anthers equally
attached. Pistillate flowers of 2 carpels. Stigmas 2, slender. Fruit indehiscent,
1-seeded. Seeds pendulous. [Named for Cymodoce, one of the Nereids.]
About 7 species, tropical and subtropical. Type species: Cymodocea aequorea
Konig.
1. Cymodocea manatorum Aschers. Stiz.-ber. Ges. Nat. Freunde Berlin 1868:
19. 1868.
Phycagrostis manatorum Kuntze, Rev. Gen. 744. 1891.
Rootstock branched, 7 dm. long or longer. Leaves linear, grass-like, terete
or semi-terete, 0.4-3.2 Idm. long, 0.8-1.8 mm. wide. their bases enclosed by mem-
branous sheaths 1-5 cm. long. Fruit ellipsoid, flattened, 5-6.5 mm. long, 2.5
mm. broad, beaked by the persistent style; seed elliptic, 2.5-3 mm. long. '
Shallow salt water, Porto Rico; Culebra; St. Thomas; St. Croix; St. Jan:-Florida;
Mississippi; Louisiana; Jamaica; Bermuda to Cuba, Martinique and Curacao. MANATEE-
GRASS.
2. HALODULE Endl. Gen. 1368. 1841.
Submerged herbs, with jointed rootstocks. Staminate flowers consisting
of 2 anthers attached to the end of a long pedicel, the anthers unequally attached.
Pistillate flower a single naked carpel. Style short, terminated by a slender,
solitary stigma. Fruit small, globose, somewhat compressed. [Greek, referring
to the saline habit.] About two species of tropical and subtropical waters.
Type species: Diplanthera tridentata Steinh.
1. Halodule Wrightii Aschers. Stiz-ber. Ges. Nat. Freunde 1868: 19. 1868.
Diplanthera Wrightii Aschers. in E. & P. Nat. Pfl. Nacht. 37. 1897.
Rootstocks jointed, rooting at the nodes. Leaves narrowly linear, flat,
4-30 cm. long, occasionally longer, 1 mm. wide or less, acute at the tip, sheathing
at the base, the scarious sheaths 1-3 cm. long; anthers 6 mm. long; fruit black.
Shallow salt water, Porto Rico; Culebrita; St. Thomas; St. Croix:-Florida;
Jamaica; Bahamas to Cuba and Martinique; Panama. Also recorded from Africa.
Family 3. NAIADACEAE. (Lindl.) Aseh.
NAIAS FAMILY.
Slender submerged aquatics, with fibrous roots and branching stems.
Leaves alternate, opposite or whorled, the blades linear, spiny on the margins
or the back, or both, sheathing at the base. Leaf-sheaths rounded or auricu-
late, entire or toothed. Flowers monoecious or dioecious, solitary and
axillary. Staminate flowers with a double perianth-like envelope, the
inner hyaline, the outer 4-lobed or entire. Stamen 1. Anther 1-4-celled.
Pistillate flower of a single pistil. Style short or wanting. Stigmas 2-4.
Fruit a little drupelet. Seed solitary. Embryo straight.
The family comprises only the following genus.
1. NAIAS L. Sp. Pl. 1015. 1753.
Characters of the family. [Greek, water-nymph.1 About 30 species, of
wide geographic distribution. Type species: Naias marina L.
ALISMACEAE 13
Leaves flaccid, scarcely toothed; flowers monoecious. 1. N. guadatupensis.
Leaves rigid, coarsely toothed; flowers dioecious. 2. N. marina.
1. Naias guadalupensis (Spreng.) Alorong, Mem. Torrey Club 32: 60. 1893.
Caulinia gaadalupensis Spreng. Syst. 1: 20. 1825.
Naias microdon A. Br. Sitz.-ber. Ges. Nat. Freunde Berlin 1868: 17. 1868.
Naias microdon guadalupensis A. Br. oce. cit. 1868.
Naias microdon curassavica A. Br. loc. cit. 1868.
Naias flexilis gvadalupensis A. Br. Jour. Bot. 2: 276. 1864.
Naias flexilis curassavica A. Br. loc. cit. 277. 1864.
Naias guadalupcnsis curassavical angus & Rendle, Symb. Ant. 4:74. 1903.
Stems very slender, 2-7 dm. long. Leaves numerous, opposite or in fascicles,
the blades linear, 10-25 mm. long, 0.5-1.5 mm. broad, acute or obtuse at the apex,
the margin with numerous minute teeth; sheaths rounded, with 5-10 teeth on
each margin; fruit 2 mm. long; seeds narrowly ellipsoid, straw-colored, con-
spicuously reticulate. [N. major of Bello, not of Allioni.]
In streams, pools and lakes, Porto Rico:-Cuba: Jamaica; llispaniola; Guadeloupe;
Curagao; temperate and tropical continental America. Recorded by Krebs from St.
Thomas. 0
2. Naias marina L. Sp. PI. 1015. 1753.
Stems rather stout, much branched, 2-4 dm. long, the internodes spinulos.
Leaves rigid, coarsely triangular-dentate, linear, 1-4.5 cm. long; flowers dioe-
cious; fruit 3-4 mm. long.
Laguna Tortuguero:-Cuba; temperate and subtropical regions.
Order 3. ALISMALES.
Aquatic or uliginous heibs, mostly ncaul(scent and with rootstocks.
Leaves alternate, mostly basal, broad or narrow. Flowers perfect, monoe-
cious or dioecious, clustered. Calyx of 3 sepals. Corolla of 3 thin petals,
or sometimes wanting. Stamens several or many; filaments slender or
short; anthers with inconspicuous connective. Pistils few to many, distinct;
ovary superior; style stout or slender; stigma small. Fruit a head of achenes
in the following family.
Family 1. ALISMACEAE DC.
WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY.
Marsh or aquatic perennial, or sometimes annual herbs, with fibrous
roots, scapose stems and basal leaves. Inflorescence simple or branched.
Flowers perfect or unisexual, whorled, born in terminal racemes or panicles.
Receptacle flat, convex or globose. Sepals 3, persistent. Petals 3, de-
ciduous. Stamens 6 or more. Anthers 2-celled. Ovaries 1-celled, usually
with a single ovule in each cavity. Fruit a head of flat or turgid achenes.
Seeds curved. Embryo horseshoe-shaped. About 13 genera and 75 species,
of wide distribution in fresh water marshes, ponds and streams.
Flowers perfect.
Fruiting heads not echinate; achenes turgid, beakless or obscurely
beaked. 1. IHelianthium.
Fruiting beads echinate; achenes mostly flat, prominently beaked. 2. Echinodorus.
Flowers monoecious or dioecious, the upper flowers of the inflorescence
staminate, the lower pistillate. 3. Sagittaria.
1. HELIANTHIUM Engelm.; Britton, MAan. ed. 2. 54. 1905."
Annual or perennial marsh or aquatic herbs, sometimes with creeping pro-
ALISMACEAE
liferous shoots, and linear or ovate, erect, ascending, or floating leaves. Scapes
terminating in a few-flowered whorl or a many-flowered panicle, the pedicels
slender, spreading or recurved in fruit. Flowers perfect. Sepals 3, embracing
the fruiting-head or reflexed beneath it. Petals 3. Stamens 6 or 9; filaments
elongate; anthers short. Achenes several, borne on the elevated receptacle.
Style not apical, minute. Achenes forming a globular or depressed head, ribbed,
obscurely beaked or beakless. [Greek, sunflower.] About two species, natives
of temperate and tropical regions. Type species: Echinodorus parvulus Engelm.
1. Helianthium tenellum (Mart.) Britton, Man. ed. 2, 54. 1905.
Alisma tenellum Mart.; R. & S. Syst. Veg. 7: 1600. 1830.
Echinodorus parvulus Engelm. in A. Gray, Mlan. ed. 2, 438. 1856.
Echinodorvs tenellus Buch. Abh. Nat. Ver. Bremen 2: 18. 1868.
Helianthium parvulum Small, N. A. Flora 17: 45. 1909.
A rather delicate stoloniferous herb, 3-15 cm. high. Leaves erect or ascend-
ing, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 0.8-5 cm. long, 2-6 mm. broad, acute at both
ends, slender petioted, when submersed becoming linear phyllodia; scape often
surpassing the leaves, commonly reclined; umbel 2 S-flowered; bracts lanceolate;
pedicels slender, 1-3.5 cm. long, unequal, reflexed in fruit; flower 6 mm. broad;
sepals ovate, obtuse; petals obovate, emarginate; styles much shorter than the
ovary; fruiting heads globular, 3-4 mm. in diameter; achenes 1-1.5 mm. long.
Submersed or in mud, northern coastal plain of Porto Rico:-United States;
continental tropical America; Cuba; Jamaica; Santo Domingo.
2. ECHINODORUS Rich.; Engelm. in A. Gray, Man. 460. 1848.
Perennial or annual marsh herbs, with erect or ascending, long-petioled
leaves. Scape often longer than the leaves. Flowers perfect, mostly in remote
whorled racemes; sepals 3, persistent; petals 3, deciduous; stamens 12-30, rarely
fewer; carpels numerous, inserted on a convex or globose receptacle; style ob-
liquely apical, persistent; stigma simple. Achenes more or less compressed,
ribbed and beaked, forming bristly heads. [Greek, in allusion to the bristly
heads of fruit.] About 16 species, mostly natives of tropical America. Type
species: Alisma rostratu in Nutt.
1. Echinodorus cordifolius (L.) Griseb. Abh. K. Ges. Wiss. G6tt. 7: 257. 1857.
Alisma cordifolia L. Sp. Pl. 343. 1753.
Alisma Berteroanum Balbis; R. & S. Syst. Veg. 7: 1605. 1S30.
Alisma rostratum Nutt. Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. II. 5: 159. 1837.
Echinodorus rostratus Engelm. in A. Gray, Man. 460. 1S48.
Sagittaria rostrata Ktze. Rev. Gen. 32: 326. 1898.
Perennial, with a short erect rootstock and angled stems and petioles.
Leaves long-petioled, the blades ovate to broadly ovate, occasionally ovate-
lanceolate, 5-20 cm. long, 2-18 cm. broad, obtuse or acute at the apex, truncate
or cordate at the base, punctate with pellucid lines, the submersed ones thin and
pellucid; scapes solitary or several, up to 1.5 m. tall, surpassing the leaves, simple
or verticillately branched; flowers 3-09 in each verticil; pedicels 7-15 mim. long,
nearly erect after flowering; sepals elliptic-ovate to broadly ovate, 4-5 imm. long,
acutish or obtuse; petals white, often about twice as long as the sepals; fruiting
heads bur-like, globose to ovoid, 5-9 mm. long; achenes narrowly obovate, 1.9-
2.5 mm. long, the beak slender, about one half as long as the body.
Marshy places along fresh water streams and borders of ponds, Porto Rico; St.
Thomas; St. Croix:-United States; Mexico and Central America; Bahamas; Jamaica;
Cuba to St. Thomas and Barbados; Curacao.
ALISMACEAE
3. SAGITTARIA L. Sp. Pl. 993. 1753.
Perennial bog or water plants, with tuber-bearing or irregularly thickened
rootstocks. Leaves long-petioled, with a sagittate or lanceolate blade, or the
leaves reduced to bladeless phyllodes. Flowers monoecious or dioecious, borne
in verticils of 3's near the top of the scapes, the staminate uppermost. Sepals 3.
Petals 3. Stamens numerous, inserted on the convex or globose receptacle;
anthers 2-celled, opening by lateral slits. Pistillate flowers with numerous dis-
tinct carpels, sometimes with imperfect stamens. Achenes numerous, densely
crowded in globose or subglobose heads, compressed and often wing-margined.
Seed erect, curved. [Latin, referring to the arrow-shaped leaves of some species.]
About 40 species, natives of temperature and tropical regions, known as Annow-
LEAF. Type species: Sagittaria sagittifolia L.
Leaf-blades without basal lobes. 1. .S. Lancifolia.
Leaf-blades with basal lobes. 2. S. intermedia.
1. Sagittaria lancifolia L. Syst. ed, 10, 1270. 1759.
Sagittaria lancifolia major Mlicheli, in DC. Monog. Phan. 3: 73. 1881.
Sagittaria lancifolia media Micheli, in DC. Monog. Phan. 3: 73. 1881.
A monoecious, often rather stout, perennial herb, 4-20 din. tall. Leaves
long-petioled, the blades linear-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate or elliptic, 2-5
dm. long, 2-18 cm. broad, acute or acuminate at both ends; petioles more or less
black-mottled; scape usually taller than the leaves, commonly branched; bracts
linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, 1-3 cm. long, acute or acuminate, striate; pedicels
1.5-3 cm. long, rather slender; flowers 4-5 cm. broad; sepals obtuse; petals ohovate;
filaments subulate, pubescent, equalling or longer than the anthers; fruiting
heads 10-14 mm. in diameter; achenes cuneate and somewhat falcate, 2-3 mim.
long, without tuberculate faces, the beak less than one half the length of the body.
Marshy places and borders of ponds, Porto Rico:-southern United States to Ar-
gentina; Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba to Barbados. Recorded by Bello as Sagittaria
acutifolia L.f. In the white sand areas of the northern coastal plain the plant has nar-
rowly linear leaves; in muddy places the leaves are much broader.
2. Sagittaria intermedia Micheli, in DC. Monog. Phan. 3: SO0. 1881.
A perennial herb, 2-0 dim. tall. Leaves long-petioled, the blades hastate,
triangular-hastate, or occasionally sagittate, 6-18 cm. long, the terminal lobe
lanceolate to deltoid, acute or obtuse, the basal lobes narrower and usually longer
than the terminal lobe; scapes erect, usually shorter than the leaves, simple or
branched; bracts ovate, obtuse, 3-5 mm. long; pedicels 0.4-1.8 cm. long, those of
the pistillate flowers much thicker than those of the staminate flowers; sepals
ovate to orbicular-ovate, obtuse or acutish; filaments glabrous, anthers about as
long as the filaments; fruiting heads 10-12 mm. in diameter; achenes obovate-
cuneate, 2-2.5 mm. long, with tuberculate faces, the slender beak short.
Marshes, wet woods and ditches at lower elevations; Porto Rico:-Cuba; Jamaica:
Hispanisla. Recorded by Grisebach as Sagillaria aculifolia L.f., and by Bello as
Sagiltaria tancifolia L.
Order 4. HYDROCHARITALES.
Mostly submersed herbs, perennial by rootstocks or stolons. Flowers
monoecious polygamous or dioecious, arising from spathes. Perianth of 2 d's-
similar series of parts or the corolla wanting. Stamens 3-12. Carpels 3-15,
united. Ovary inferior, with several parietal placentae or several-celled.
Endosperm none.
ELODEACEAE
Gynoecium 2-5-carpellary; ovary 1-celled, with 2-5
parietal placentae; stigmas usually 3. Fain. 1. ELODEACEAE.
Uynoecium 6-9-carpellary; ovary 6-9-celled (imper-
fectly so in Hydromyslria); stigmas 6-0. Fam. 2. HYDROCHARITACEAE.
Family 1. ELODEACEAE Dumort.
TAPE-GRASS FAMILY.
Perennial marine or fresh-water herbs, with rootstocks or stolons, sub-
merged or the leaves sometimes floating. Leaves opposite, whorled, or
fascicled. Flowers small, monoecious, dioecious, or polygamous, enclosed
in a spathe composed of 1-3 bracts. Calyx of the pistillate flowers with a
tube and 3 lobes or sepals, that of the staminate flowers often small or
obsolete. Petals 3, often rudimentary or wanting. Stamens 3-12; filaments
hiort or none. Pistil 1; ovary 1-celled, with 2-5 parietal placentae; ovules
usually numerous, orthotropous or anatropous. Fruit small, indehiscent.
Seeds without endosperm. About 6 genera and 35 species, natives of tem-
perate and tropical regions.
1. HALOPHILA Thouars; Gaud. Voy. Freyc. Bot. 429. 1829.
Small submerged marine herbs, with slender creeping rootstocks. Flowers
monoecious or dioecious, solitary or two enclosed in a2-leaved sheath. Staminate
flowers peduncled; sepals 3; anthers 3, subsessile, 2- or 4-celled, extrorse. Pistil-
late flowers sessile, with 3 minute sepals, a 1-celled ovary and a 3-parted style.
Fruit enclosed in the spathe. Seeds numerous, the embryo with spirally twisted
cotyledons. [Greek, salt-loving.] About 7 species of tropical distribution.
Type species: Caulinia oralis R. Br.
Erect shoots very short, 1-3 nim. long, with only one pair of leaves,
and a pair of scales at the base; leaf-blades nearly entire margined. 1. H. Baillonis.
Erect shoots 1-4 cm. long, bearing 2 pairs of subverticillate leaves at
the apex, and a pair of scales at or below the middle; leaf-blades
spinulose-serrate. 2. H. Aschersonii.
1. Halophila Baillonis Aschers. Jour. Linn. Soc. 14: 317. 1874.
Rhizome filiform, branched. Erect shoots very short, 1-3 mm. long, bearing
a pair of erect scales at the base and one pair of leaves at the summit; leaves with
slender petioles 4-10 mm. long, the blades thin, oblong-elliptic or elliptic, 1-3
cm. long, 3-8 mm. wide, rounded at the apex, acute at the base, hispidulous on
both sides, the margin minutely denticulate or almost entire; staminate flower
pedicelled; sepals oval, obtuse; anthers oblong; pistillate flowers sessile, with
three minute sepals; stigmas sessile, filiform; capsule 3.5-4 mm. long, about 2
mm. broad; seeds globose or subglobose, about 0.3 mm. in diameter.
In shallow or deep water, Porto Rico; Culebra; St. Thomas; St. Croix:-Jamaica;
Cuba to AMartinique.
2. Halophila Aschersonii Osteuf. Bot. Tidsskr. 24: 239. 1902.
Rhizome slender, sometimes 1.3 mm. thick. Erect shoots 1-4 cm. long,
bearing a pair of erect scales at or below the middle and 2 pairs of subverticillate
leaves at the summit; leaves short-petioled, the petioles 3-5 mm. long; the blades
elliptic, 0.8-2 cm. long, 4-8 mm. wide, obtuse at both ends, glabrous or nearly
so, spinulose-serrate on the margins; pistillate flowers sessile in the axils of the
upper pairs of leaves, surrounded by two lancecolate acute bracts; sepals minute;
stigmas 2 or 3; staminate flowers unknown.
1Muddy bottoms of bays, Porto Rico; Culebra; St. Croix:-Jamaica.
HYDROCIIARITACEAE
Family 2. HYDROCHARITACEAE Aschers.
FROG'S-BIT FAMILY.
Submersed marine, mud-inhabiting, or floating fresh-water herbs, usually
with rootstocks or stolons. Leaves clustered on the short crown. Flowers
monoecious or dioecious, enclosed in spathes of distinct or united bracts.
Perianth regular or nearly so, of 3 petaloid sepals, or sepals and petals each
3, rudimentary or wanting in the pistillate flowers. Stamens 6-12. Fila-
ments distinct or partly united. Anthers 2-4-celled. Gynoecium of 6-15
united pistils. Ovary inferior, 6-15-celled. Styles or stigmas as many as
the cells of the ovary. Ovules numerous. Fruit usually indehiscent. Seeds
without endosperm. About 8 genera and 30 species, of wide distribution in
warm and temperate regions.
Marine plants; leaves sessile, linear; anthers 4-celled. 1. Thalassia.
Fresh-water plants; leaves distinctly petioled, the blades ovate to sub-
orbicular; anthers 2-celled. 2. HUdromysiria.
1. THALASSIA Solander; Konig & Sims, Ann. Bot. 2: 93, 96. 1805.
Marine herbs, with elongated rootstocks. Leaves linear, elongate, clustered
at the nodes of the rootstock. Scape arising from the cluster of leaves; spathes
tubular, 2-cleft. Flowers dioecious, solitary; staminate flowers pedicelled;
perianth of 3 petaloid sepals: stamens 9; filaments very short or obsolete; anthers
opening laterally. Pistillate flowers nearly sessile in the spathe; ovary 6-12-
celled. Fruit stalked, mamillate or echinate, opening by valves. Seeds numer-
ous. [Greek, referring to its growth in the ocean.] Two known species, the
following typical.
1. Thalassia testudinum Konig; Konig & Sims, Ann. Bot. 2: 96. 1805.
Plant submersed, the base of the short stem covered by the persistent re-
mains of the old leaves. Leaves 2-5, sheathing the stem, the blades linear-
strap-shaped, 0.5-3.5 dm. long, 6.5-11 mm. wide, rounded at the apex, withering-
persistent; scapes solitary; lobes of the spate elliptic, papillose-dentate on the
margins; perianth lobes of both staminate and pistillate flowers oblong, 10-12
mm. long, rounded at the apex; anthers linear, 8 mm. long; stigmas 9-12, linear-
fusiform, pilose, grooved on the inside, about 1 cm. long; fruit elliptic-fusiform,
short-stalked and short-beaked, mammillate. [? Zostera oreanea of Krebs.]
In shallow salt water. Porto Rico; St. Thomas; St. Jan; St. Croix:-Bermuda:
Florida; throughout the West Indies; northern South America. PALMAS DEL MAR.
TURTLE-GRASS.
2. HYDROMYSTRIA G. F. W. Meyer, Fl. Esseq. 152. 1818.
Stoloniferous fresh-water plants. Leaves distinctly petioled; blades ovate
to suborbicular, somewhat spongy beneath. Flowers monoecious or dioecious,
solitary or the staminate ones 2 or 3, enclosed in a 2-cleft spathe. Sepals 3.
Petals 3, rudimentary or wanting in the pistillate flowers. Stamens 6-12, dis-
tinct; anthers linear. Gynoecium of about 6 united pistils: ovary one-celled with
6 placentae; styles 6; stigmas curved. Fruit ellipsoid, one-celled, many seeded
(Greek, "water-spoon," alluding to the aquatic habit of the plant and spoon-
shaped leaves.) Two or three species, natives of tropical America. Type
species: Hydronmystria stolonifera G. F. W. Mever.
POACEAE
1. Hydromystria stolonifera G. F. W. Meyer, Fl. Esseq. 153. 1818.
Limnobium stoloniferum Griseb. Fl. Br. W. I. 506. 1861.
Petioles 3-25 cm. long, usually tapering upwards from the base; leaf-blades
ovate to suborbicular, 2-S cm. long, 1.5-6.5 cm. broad, entire, fleshy. Sepals
in the staminate flowers lanceolate, spreading; petals linear-filiform, spreading,
about half as long as the sepals; filaments subulate, shorter than the anthers;
hypanthium in the pistillate flowers tubular; sepals lanceolate.
In ditches and ponds, Porto Rico:-Cuba; Santo Domingo; Martinique; Trinidad;
South America.
Order 5. POALES.
Grasses and sedges. Monocotyledonous plants, mostly herbaceous,
with leafy or leafless, usually simple, stems culmss), the leaves usually
narrow and elongated, entire or minutely serrulate. Flowers mostly perfect,
small, incomplete, in the axils of dry, chaffy scales glumess) arranged in
spikes or spikelets.
Fruit a caryopsis (grain); culm mostly hollow. Fam. 1. POACEAE.
Fruit an achene; culm mostly solid. Fain. 2. CYPERACEAE.
Family 1. POACEAE R. Br.
GRASS FAMILY.
Annual or perennial herbs, of various habit, rarely shrubs or trees.
Culms (stems) generally hollow, but occasionally solid, the nodes closed.
Leaves sheathing, the sheaths usually open to the base on the side opposite
the blade; a scarious or cartilaginous ring, naked or hairy, rarely wanting,
called the ligule, is borne at the orifice of the sheath. Inflorescence spicate,
racemose or paniculate, consisting of spikelets composed of two to many,
2-ranked imbricated bracts, called scales glumess), the two lowest in the
complete spikelet always empty, one or both of these sometimes wanting.
One or more of the upper scales, except sometimes the terminal ones, contains
in the axil a flower, which is usually enclosed by a bract-like awnless organ
called the palet, placed opposite the scale and with its back toward the axis
(rachilla) of the spikelet, generally 2-keeled; sometimes the palet is present
without the flower, and vice versa. Flowers perfect or staminate, sometimes
monoeciouss or dioecious, subtended by 1-3 minute hyaline scales called the
lodicules. Stamens 1-6, usually 3. Anthers 2-celled, versatile. Ovary
1-celled, 1-ovuled. Styles 1-3, commonly 2 and lateral. Stigmas hairy or
plumose. Fruit a seed-like grain caryopsiss). Endosperm starchy. About
3500 species widely distributed throughout the world, growing in water and
on all kinds of soil. Those yielding food-grains are called cereals. The
species are more numerous in tropical countries, while the number of in-
dividuals is much greater in temperate regions, often forming extended areas
of turf.
We gratefully acknowledge much assistance in the determination of
specimens from Prof. A. S. Hitchcock and Mrs. Agnes Chase, as well as
from their publications on American grasses.
A. Pedicels jointed below the spikelets; spikelets mostly with
only 1 perfect flower, this terminal. [See ORYZEAE.]
I. Lower scales indurated; fruiting scale and palet hyaline or
membranous.
a. Inflorescence monoecious [MlAYDEAE).
Fruiting spikelets aggregated, enclosed in large foli-
aceous bracts. 1. Zea.
Fruiting spikelets enclosed in a globose bony involucre. 2. Coix.
b. Inflorescence not monoecious.
POACEAE
1. Spikelets paired, one sessile the other stalked (See
Sorghastrum) [Tribe ANDROPOGONEAE].
*Axis of the racemes continuous. 3. Imperata.
**Axis of the racemes articulated.
tSpikelets all perfect. 4. Saccharum.
ttSessile spikelet mostly perfect, the stalked one
staminate or rudimentary.
TFertile spikelet without a callus.
Inflorescence a dense silky brown
panicle. 5. Eriochrysis.
Inflorescence various, not a dense silky
panicle.
cPedicel of the sterile spikelet thick-
ened. 6. Rytilix
aaPedicel of the sterile spikelet not
thickened
flSpikelets in racemes.
yRacemes sessile or short-
stalked
bRacemes 1 to many, not
forking.
Spikelets laterally flat-
tened. 7. Diectomis.
Spikelets dorsally flat-
tened.
Raceme 1: pedicels
clavate 8 Schizachyriu
Racemes usually
more than 1;
pedicels not
clavate.
Pedicels filiform.
Awn borne at the
sinus of the 2-
cleft fertile
scale 9. Andropogon
Awn terminating
the fertile scale
of the spikelet. 10. Dichanthium
Pedicels flat. 11. Amphilophis
55Racemes 2, forking, with
staminate awnless spike-
let in the fork. 12. Cymbopooon
7 TRacemes long-stalked, verti-
cillate. 13. Anatherum.
ffSpikelets in panicles.
Stalked spikelet staminate. 14. HIolcus.
Stalked spikelet reduced to a
pedicel. 15 Sorghastrumn
ftFertile spikelet with a hairy-pointed callus. 16. Ileleropogon.
2. Spikelets all alike [Tribe NAZIEAE].
Spikelets not prickly. 17. Anthephora.
Spikelets prickly, like little burs. 18 Nazia.
I l.Lower scales membranous; fruiting scale and palet more or
less indurated.
a. Fruiting scale and palet scarcely more indurated than
the lower scales [Tribe MELINIDEAJ]. 19. Arundinella.
b. Fruiting scale and palet definitely firmer than the lower
scales [Tribe PANICEAE].
1. Inflorescence not monoecious.
Axis of the intlorescence not corky thickened.
tSpikelets not subtended by prickles or bristles.
tFruit cartilaginous, not rigid, papillose
Fruit open at the top; inflorescence a nar-
row panicle. 20. Lcptocoryphi
Fruit not open at the top; inflorescence of
digitate or Ilabellate spike-like ra-
cemes.
Spikelets long-silky; racemes flabellate. 21. Valota.
Spikelets glabrous or pubertlent; ra-
cemes digitate. 22. Syntherisma.
:tFruit rigid, mostly smooth.
Back of the fruit turned away from the
rachis of the solitary, subsessile
spikelets.
Inflorescence of second racemes; a
ring-like callus at the base of the
spikelet. 23. Eriochloa.
Inflorescence of spike-like racemes; no
callus. 24. Axonopus.
m
um.
.
,
.
.
POACEAE
Back of the fruit turned toward the
rachis of the spikelet.
aLower scale wanting (scales 3,
rarely 4); spikelets in spike-like
racemes. 25. Paspalum.
caLower scale present (scales 4);
spikelets mostly in panicles.
/3Scales awnless.
/Lower flower of the spikelet
staminate or neutral; the
upper perfect.
Inflorescence an open or
contracted panicle.
Culms not woody.
Fruiting scale with-
out appendages or
excavations. 26. Panicum.
Fruiting scale with
basal appendages
or excavations. 27. Ichnanthuw
Culms woody, half
climbing. 28. Lasiacis.
Inflorescence a dense spike-
like panicle.
Second scale saccate;
fruit stipitate. 29. Sacciolepis
Second scale not saccate;
fruit sessile. 30. Hymenach
T-yLower flower of the spikelet
usually perfect, the upper
perfect. 31. Isachne.
)flScales, or some of them, awned
or nmucronate.
Inflorescence ofsecund racemes. 32. Oplismenu
Inflorescence paniculate. 33. Echinochlo
ttSpikelets subtended by prickles or bristles.
Spikelets deciduous, the bristles persistent. 34. Chaelochlo
Bristles or prickles deciduous with the
spikelets.
Bristles distinct, often plumose. 35. Pennisetui
Prickles united into an involucre or nearly
separate.
Prickles bristle-like, united only at
base. 36. Cenchropsi
Prickles united, forming a 2-valved
bur. 37. Cenchrus.
**Axis of the inflorescence corky thickened, the
spikelets sunken in it. 38. Stenotaphr
2. Inflorescence mnonoecious.
Panicles terminal, bearing pistillate spikelets above
and staminate below. 39. Olyra.
Panicles axillary, or both axillary and terminal, the
terminal one wholly of stamrninate spikelets. 4Q. Lithachne
B. Spikelets mostly jointed above the lower empty persistent
scales, usually several-flowered, sometimes 1-flowered.
I. Culms coriaceous.
a. Lower scales mostly reduced or wanting; spikelets 1-
flowered. [Tribe ORYZEAE.]
Inflorescence monoecious. 41. Pharus.
Inflorescence not monoecious.
Fruiting scales awned; lower scales present. 42. Oryza.
Scales awnless; lower scales wanting. 43. Homalocen
b. Lower scales present.
1. Spikelets 1-flowered; inflorescence paniculate. [Tribe
AGROSTIDEAE.]
Fruiting scales awned.
Awus 3-cleft. 44. Arislida.
Awns simple. 45. Aluhlenber
Fruiting scales awnless. 46. Sporobolus
2. Spikelets 2-several-flowered or 1-flowered in some
genera of Chlorideae.
*Lower scales elongated, often as long as the whole
spikelet. [Tribe AVENEAE.] 47. Arena.
**Lower scales short.
tSpikelets sessile or very nearly so, forming
narrow spikes. [Tribe CILORIDEAE.]
tSpikelets with only 1 perfect flower.
Spikes racemose. 48. Spartina.
Spikes digitate.
aNo empty scales above the flower. 49. Capriola.
aaOnc or more empty scales above the
flower.
S.
a.
ne.
s.
a.
a.
m.
fs.
um.
mchrus.
gia.
s.
POACEAE
Perfect flower not stipitate.
Flowering scale long-awned.
Flowering scale awnless or
merely tipped.
Perfect flower long-stipitate.
f.Spikelets with 2 or more perfect flowers.
Spikes digitate.
Itachis not produced beyond the
spikelets.
Rachis produced beyond the spikelets.
Spikes racemose or panicled.
Spikes short, broad.
Spikes long, slender.
Spikes racemose.
Spikes panicled.
tfSpikelets panicled, stalked. [Tribe FESTU-
CEAE.]
tFlowering scale cleft into many awns.
ftFlowerhig scale awnless or 1-awned.
Spikelets, at least the pistillate, long-
hairy.
Inflorescence monoecious; only the pis-
tillate spikelets long-hairy.
Inflorescence not monoecions.
'i.., ,', .2'' i. 1 long-hairy; ra-
Flowering scales glabrous; rachilla
long-hairy.
Spikelets not long-hairy; glabrous or
ciliate.
Flowering scales 3-nerved.
Flowering scales many-nerved.
II. Culms woody, climbing or erect. [Tribe BAMBOOEAE.]
Culms climbing, vine-like.
Spikelets 2-several-flowered, racemose.
Spikelets 1-flowered, panicled.
Culms erect.
50. Chloris.
51. Eustachys.
52. Gymnopogon.
53. Elcusine.
51. Daclyloclenium.
55. Bouteloua.
56. Leptochloa.
57. Diplachne.
58. Pappophorum.
59. Gynerium.
60. Arundo.
61. Phrugmites.
62. Eraqrostis.
63. Uniola.
61. Arthrostylidiumn
65. Chnsquea.
66. Bambos.
1. ZEA L. Sp. P1. 971. 1753.
Tall, erect, broad-leaved grasses, the staminate spikelets in terminal panicles,
the pistillate aggregated, sessile, in several rows on a thick spongy rachis in thi
leaf-axils, enclosed in large foliaceous bracts. Staminate spikelets in pairs, 2-
flowered; scales 4, the 2 outer membranous, the 2 inner hyaline, flowering. Pis-
tillate spikelets with 4 short scales, the fourth one flowering; style filiform,
greatly elongated, 2-toothed at the apex. Grain hard, naked except at base or
rarely enclosed by the scales. [Greek, life, in allusion to its grain.] A monotypic
genus.
1. Zea Mays L. Sp. Pl. 971. 1753.
Roots of thick fibers; culms 2-5 m. high, solid, 2-4 cm. thick. Leaf-blades
5-10 dm. long, 5-10 cm. wide, the tips usually drooping; staminate inflorescence
1-2.5 dm. long; fruiting pistillate inflorescence 1-3 dm. long, the grains white,
yellow or black, flattened, various in shape and size.
Widely cultivated and occasionally spontaneous after cultivation. Native of South
America. The species consists of numerous races developed under cultivation, none of
them known in the wild state. INDIAN CORN. SIAIS.
2. COIX L. Sp. Pl. 972. 1753.
Perennial, branching grasses with flat and broad leaf-blades, the spicate
inflorescence monoecious. Pistillate spikelet and 1 or 2 sterile ones enclosed in a
globose involucre which becomes bony and shining; scales 4, hyaline, the 2 outer
empty; styles nearly distinct, filiform. Staminate spikelets in a short spike,
exserted from the involucre; scales 4, the 2 outer ones empty, the 2 inner hyaline,
one or both of them flowering. [Ancient Greek name, said to have been first
POACEAE
applied to some palm.] A few species, natives of the Old World tropics, the
following typical.
1. Coix Lachryma-Jobi L. Sp. Pl. 972. 1753.
Culms 1.5 m. high or less, usually freely branching, glabrous. Leaf-blades
1-7 dm. long, 1.5-4 cm. wide, cordate-clasping at the base, the apex attenuate;
inflorescence mostly axillary, 4-6 cm. long or longer; fruiting involucres globose
or ovoid-globose, white or bluish, 6-12 mm. in diameter.
Waste wet and cultivated grounds, Porto Rico; Vieques; Tortola:-Widely distrib-
uted in insular and continental tropical America; sometimes cultivated for its fruits,
used as beads. Native of tropical Asia. JOB's TEARS. CAMANDULAS.
3. IMPERATA Cirillo, Pl. Rar. Neap. 2: 26. 1792.
Perennial grasses with elongated leaves, the spikelets in dense terminal
spike-like, silvery-hairy panicles. Spikelets 1-flowered, rarely 2-flowered, un-
equally pedicellate in pairs; scales 4, thin, hyaline, awnless, the 2 outer ones empty,
pilose, the third glabrous, usually empty, the fourth glabrous, subtending a
perfect flower and its 2-nerved palet. Stamens 1 or 2. Styles distinct, stigmas
plumose. [Commemorates Ferrante Imperate, Italian naturalist of the sixteenth
century.] About 5 species of tropical distribution. Type species: Lagurus
cylindricus L.
1. Imperata contract (H.B.K.) Hitchc. Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 4: 146. 1893.
Saccharum contractum H.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 182. 1816.
A natherum portorirense Spreng. Syst. 1: 290. 1825.
Inperata cavdata Trin. Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. VI. 2: 331. 1832.
Culms rather slender, hollow, smooth, up to 1 m. high. Leaf-blades 4-6
dm. long, 6-10 mm. wide, hairy on the upper side near the base, long-attenuate,
narrowed at the base; sheaths glabrous, or the lower pubescent; panicle narrow,
2-4 dmi. long; spikelets long-hairy, about 3 mm. long.
Banks and hillsides, Porto Rico, ascending to 1000 in. on Moute Gregorio:-Jamaica;
Cuba; Ilispaniola; Guadeloupe; IMartinique; Dominica; Tobago; Trinidad; Mexico to
northern South America. GUAYAN1LLA.
4. SACCHARUM L. Sp. Pl. 54. 1753.
A tall annual or perennial grass with flat and broad leaf-blades, the spikelets
in a large terminal panicle of silky racemes, paired, one spikelet sessile, the other
stalked, both 1-flowered, the flowers perfect, the axis of the racemes articulated.
Scales 4, the 3 outer ones empty, the fourth one shorter than the others, flowering.
Stamens 3. Styles distinct; stigmas plumose. [Ancient name of the Sugar Cane.]
A monotypic genus.
1. Saccharum officinarum L. Sp. PI. 54. 1753.
Culms stout, erect, 1.5-5 m. tall, glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous or pu-
berulent, the blades tip to 1 m. long and 6 cm. wide, rough-margined; panicle
4-6 dm. long, the numerous slender racemes erect-ascending, 5-12 cm. long;
spikelets narrow, about 3 mm. long, each with a tuft of long white hairs at the
base.
Widely cultivated in many races and sometimes spontaneous after cultivation,
he most important economic plant in Porto Rico; Viercuies; St. Croix:-cultivated in
rop icld and warm temperate regions of both the Old World and the New. Probably
at va of so'luisen Asit. CAoNE. SUGAR CANE. CANA.
POACEAE
5. ERIOCHRYSIS Beauv. Agrost. 8, 162. 1812.
Erect, perennial grasses, the leaf-blades flat, the inflorescence a silky, ter-
minal. dense, spikelike panicle of short, crowded racemes. Spikelets 1-flowered,
the pistillate ones short-stalked, the perfect ones sessile; scales 4, awnless, the 3
outer ones empty. Styles distinct; stigmas plumose. Grain oblong. [Greek,
golden wool.] A few species, natives of tropical America and Africa, the following
typical.
1. Eriochrysis cayennensis Beau-. Agrost. 8. 1812.
Saccharum caycnnense Benth. Jour. Linn. Soc. 19: 66. 1881.
Culms stiff, smooth, 2 m. tall or less. Leaves 8-20 cm. long, or the upper
ones shorter, 6-15 mm. wide, the blades densely pubescent on both sides, the
sheaths pubescent, at least above; inflorescence 1-2 dm. long, usually inter-
rupted, densely brown-velvety, 1-3 cm. thick; spikelets oblong, enveloped by the
silky brown hairs, the sessile ones 2-2.5 mm. long, the stalked ones a little smaller.
Hillsides near San Juan. Bayamon and Alaricao:-Hispaniola; Martinique; Trinidad;
continental tropical America.
6. RYTILIX Raf. in Seringe, Bull. Bot. 1: 219. 1830.
Annual, branched grasses, with flat leaf-blades and small spikelets in terminal
and axillary spike-like racemes. Spikelets borne in pairs in depressions of the
rachis, 1-flowered, the sterile one short-stalked, larger than the perfect, sessile
one. Scales 4, awnless, the first one of the perfect spikelet globose, pitted, the
second concave, 1-nerved, the third shorter than the second, the fourth flowering,
hyaline. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. First and second scales of the
sterile spikelet 5-7-nerved, the third 2-nerved, the fourth nerveless or I-nerved.
[Derivation not cited.] A monotypic genus.
1. Rytilix granularis (L.) Skeels, Bull. U. S. Dept. Agric. 282: 20. 1913.
Cetechrus granularis L. Slant. 575. 1771.
Manisuris granularis Sw. Prodr. 25. 17SS.
IIackelochloa granularis Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 776. 181.
Culms freely branching, rather weak, 2-10 dm. long. Leaves papillose-
hirsute, the blades 5-15 cm. long, 3-15 mm. wide, ciliate; racemes 1-2.5 cm. long;
sessile spikelets about 1 mm. long, the stalked ones about 2 mm. long.
Banks. roadsides and fields at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico:-southern
United States; Jamaica; Cuba; IHispaniola; Guadeloupe; Martinique; St. Vincent; con-
tinental tropical America and Old World tropics.
7. DIECTOMIS 1 &. B.; Beauv. Agrost. 132, 150, 160. 1812.
Perennial grasses, with flat or folded leaf-blades, the spikelets in pairs in
flattened spike-like racemes, one sessile, the other stalked. Internodes of the
rachis with toothed appendages. First scale of the sessile spikelet 2-keeled;
second scale awned; third scale hyaline; fourth scale membranous, 2-toothed,
long-awned, the palet subtending a perfect flower. Stalked spikelet broad,
flowerless, concealing the sessile one, its first scale awned. [Greek, two sterile
scales.] A few species of tropical America, the following typical.
POACEAE
1. Diectomis fastigiata (Sw.) Beauv. Agrost. 160. 1812.
Andropogon fastigiatum Sw. Prodr. 26. 1788.
Culms usually branched, slender, glabrous, 1 in. high or less. Leaf-sheaths
keeled: ligule broad, 5-10 nun. long; blades elongated, 1-4 mm. wide, glabrous, or
ciliate at the base, scabrate; racemes 4-S cm. long, the intcrnodes ciliate; sessile
spikelet 4-5 mm. long, the first scale pilose above, the awn of the second scale
elongated, that of the fourth scale about 4 mm. long; stalked spikelet larger than
the sessile one.
Fields and banks at lower elevations, Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola;
Grenada; continental tropical America.
8. SCHIZACHYRIUM Nees; Agrost. Bras. 331. 1829.
Annual or perennial grasses, the spikelets in a spike-like raceme, terminating
the culm or its branches. Rachis articulated, the internodes cup-shaped or
appendaged, the basal callus barbed. Spikelets in pairs at each node of the
rachis, one sessile, the other stalked, the sessile one dorsally compressed, 1-flow-
ered, the flower perfect; first scale 2-keeled with infolded margins, the second awn-
less or bristle-tipped, the third 2-nerved or nerveless, the fourth usually 2-cleft,
usually bearing a bent awn. Stalked spikelet usually flowerless. Stamens mostly
3. Styles distinct; stigmas plumose. [Greek, cleft-chaff.] Some 40 species,
or more, of tropical and subtropical America. Type species: Andropogon
brevifolius Sw.
Annual. 1. S. brecifolium.
Perennials.
Rachis flexuous. 2. S. gracile.
Rachis straight.
First scale of the sessile spikelet villous. 3. S. domingense.
Scales glabrous or nearly so. 4. S. semiberbe,
1. Schizachyrium brevifolium (Sw.) Nees; Kunth, Enum. 1: 488. 1833.
Andropogon brevifolills Sw. Prodr. 26. 1788.
Andropogon obtusifolies Poir. in Lam. Encycl. Suppl. 1: 538. 1810.
Annual, usually much-branched, spreading, glabrous, the culms decumbent,
slender, flattened, 3-5 dm. long. Leaf-sheaths compressed, the blades flat,
those of the main culm obtuse, 3-5 cm. long, 3-5 mm. wide, those of the branches
much narrower; racenme very slender, filiform-peduncled, 1.5-3 cm. long; sessile
spikelet about 4 mm. long, its fourth scale with a filiform awn 7-15 mm. long;
stalked spikelet usually reduced to a single scale 1-1.5 mm. long, bearing an awn
4-5 mm. long.
Banks and meadows at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba;
Hispaniola (?); Martinique; Dominica: St. Vincent; Trinidad; continental tropical
America and Old World tropics. SERILLO DULCE.
2. Schizachyrium gracile (Spreng.) Nash in Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 60. 1903.
Andropoqon gracilis Spreng. Syst. 1: 284. 1825.
Andropogon juncifolius Desv.; Hamilt. Prodr. 9. 1825.
Perennial, tufted, glabrous, except the inflorescence; culms slender, branched,
2-6 din. high. Sheaths striate; leaf-blades 2 dm. long or less, torete, less than 1
mm. in diameter; raceme long-stalked, 3-5 cm. long, the rachis clothed with long
silky hairs; sessile spikelet 5-6 mm. long, the first scale chartaceous with his-
pidulous keels, the second scale acute, the fourth 2-cleft, bearing an awn 13-20
mm. long; stalked spikelet of one short-awned scale 1-2.5 mm. long.
Hillsides, Monte Mesa and near Arecibo, Porto Rico; St. Croix:-Florida; Bahamas;
Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; Guadeloupe.
POACEAE
3. Schizachyrium domingense (Spreng.) Nash, N. A. Fl. 17: 103. 1912.
Streptachne domingensis Spreng.; Schultes, Slant. 2: 188. 1824.
Schizachyrium hirtiflorum Noes, Agrost. Bras. 334. 1829.
Andropogon hirtiflorus Kunth, Rev. Gram. 2: 569. 1832.
Perennial; culms branched, glabrons, 12 dm. high or less. Leaves glabrous
or sparingly pubescent or ciliate, the blades 1-2 dm. long, 3-5 mm. wide; raceme
4-12 cm. long; sessile spikelet lanceolate, about 8 mm. long, its first scale villous,
or hirsute, entire or bifid at the apex, the fourth scale deeply cleft, bearing a
geniculate awn 12-20 mm. long; stalked spikelet 3-5 mm. long, short-awned.
Rio Mlaricao (Chase 6202):-Florida; Jamaica; Cuba, Hispaniola.
4. Schizachyrium semiberbe Nees, Agrost. Bras. 336. 1829.
Andropogon semiberbis Kunth, Enum. 1: 489. 1833.
Perennial; culms glabrous, branched, erect, 6-13 dm. high; leaves glabrous;
sheaths compressed, keeled; blades 1-3 dm. long, 2-5 mm. wide; racome narrow,
5-8 cm. long, the internodes of the rachis as long as the sessile spikelets or shorter,
glabrous or nearly so; sessile spikelets 5-7 mm. long, the first scale glabrous or
with a few short hairs, its infolded margins touching, the third and fourth scales,
ciliate, the fourth 2-cleft nearly to the base, its awn 12-15 mm. long; stalked
spikelet of one hispidulous scale about 3 mm. long, with an awn about as long.
Banks and field at lower elevations, Porto Rico:-Florida; Bahamas; Jamaica;
Cuba; Trinidad; continental tropical America.
9. ANDROPOGON L. Sp. Pl. 1045. 1753.
Perennial grasses with usually long narrow leaves, and terminal and axillary
racemes. Spikelets in pairs at each node of the jointed hairy rachis, one sessile,
and perfect, the other with a pedicel and either staminate, empty or reduced to
a scale, or none. Perfect spikelet consisting of 4 scales, the outer 2 coriaceous,
the second keeled and acute, the two inner hyaline, the fourth awned or awnless
and subtending a palet and perfect flower. Stamens 1-3. Grain free. [Greek,
in allusion to the bearded rachis.] About 100 species, widely distributed in
tropical and temperate regions, known as BEARD-GRASS and lIOTOJILLO. Type
species: Andropogon virginicus L.
Spikelets awned. 1. A. glomrneratus.
Spikelets awnless.
Inflorescence corymbose, dense. 2. A. bicornis.
Inflorescence not dense, paniculate.
Racemes long-pilose. 3. A. leucostachys.
Racemes glabrous. 4. A. virgatus.
1. Andropogon glomeratus (Walt.) B. S. P. Prol. Cat. N. Y. 67. 1888.
Cinna glomerata Walt. Fl. Car. 59. 1788.
Andropogon macrourus Slichx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 56. 1803.
Andropogon tenaispathevs Nash, N. A. Fl. 17: 113. 1912.
Culms 1.5 dm. high or less, much branched, the ultimate flowering branches
forming oblong corymbiform clusters, the nodes of the secondary branches
densely barbed. Sheaths keeled; leaf-blades 4 din. long or less, 3-7 mm. wide;
spathes 2.5-3 cm. long, glabrous; racemes in pairs, 1-2 cm. long; sessile spikelet
3-4 mm. long, the awn 10-15 mm. long; pedicellate spikelet a rudimentary scale,
or wanting.
Moist grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; St. Thomas? (ex Hackel):-
eastern and southeastern United States; Jamaica; Bahamas; Cuba; Hispaniola; St. litts
to Martinique; continental tropical America north to Mexico.
POACEAE
2. Andropogon bicornis L. Sp. PI. 1046. 1753.
Culms rather stout, stiff, glabrous, 8-15 dm. high, much branched above, the
branches erect-ascending, the inflorescence dense, corymbiform. Leaf-sheaths
glabrous, the blades elongated, 3-4 mm. wide, those or the ultimate branches
spathe-like, small and narrow; racemes very numerous, slender, long-hairy,
3-4 cm. long; scales all awnless. [? A. alopecuvoides of Krebs.]
Banks and fields at lower and middle altitudes in Porto Rico, ascending to 800 in.;
St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola:-Cuba to Trinidad; Jamaica; continental tropical America.
3. Andropogon leucostachys H.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 187. 1810.
Culms usually clustered, slender, erect, 5-8 dm. high, glabrous, branched
above. Leaves glabrous; blades 1-3 din. long, 1.5-5 mm. wide; racemes in
distant clusters of 2 to 5, 3-6 cm. long, the axis with long white hairs; sessile
spikelet 2.5-4 mm. long, awnless, the fourth scale muticous.
Banks and fields at lower and middle altitudes in Porto Rico, ascending to 800 m.;
St. Thomas:-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; Trinidad; continental tropical America.
4. Andropogon virgatus Desv.; Hamilt. Prodr. 9. 1825.
Hypogyniumn spathiflorum Nees, Agrost. Bras. 366. 1829.
Andropogon spathiflorus Kunth, Enum. 1: 496. 1833.
Perennial; culms clustered, usually much-branched above. Leaf-sheaths
compressed, the blades 4 dm. long or less, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide, glabrous, or ciliate
at the base; racemes panicled, 6-13 mm. long, the rachis straight: sessile spikelet
about 3 mm. long, narrowly lanceolate, its first scale keeled, nerveless, the second
and third 1-nerved, the fourth 2-toothed, all awnless; stalked spikelet about as
long as the sessile one.
Fields and banks at lower and middle altitudes, Porto Rico:-Cuba; Hispaniola;
Trinidad; continental tropical America.
10. DICHANTHIUM Willemet in Usteri, Ann. 18: 11. 1796.
Mostly perennial grasses, with branched or simple culms, flat leaves, and
subdigitate, spike-like racemes. Spikelets in pairs at the nodes of the jointed
rachis, one sessile and mostly perfect, the other filiform-pedicelled, staminate or
neutral, the two similar in shape and size. Perfect spikelet sessile, its scales
chartaceous, the upper one passing into a slender awn. Stamens 3. Grain
oblong. [Greek, referring to the paired spikelets.] About 8 species, natives of
the Old World. Type species: Dichanthium nodosum Willemet.
1. Dichanthium annulatum (Forsk.) Stapf. in Prain. Fl. Brit. Ind. 9: 178.
1917.
Andropogon annulatus Forsk. Fl. AEgypt.-Arab. 173. 1775.
Perennial; culms slender, tufted, 6-10 din. long, glabrous, ascending, the
nodes usually white-bearded. Leaves glabrous, narrow, 5 mm. wide or less;
racemes few or several, rather flaccid, 3-6 cm. long, nearly erect, usually purplish;
sessile spikelet about 4 Imm. long, the awn 10-20 mm. long, almost filiform;
lower scale of the pedicelled spikelet several-nerved.
Along a ditch, Aguirre (Britton & Earle 6494, March 11, 1922):-Cuba; British
Guiana. A native of the Old World tropics.
11. AMPHILOPHIS Nash in Britton, Man. 71. 1901.
Perennial grasses with usually flat leaves and showy, often silvery-white,
panicles, the axis short, making the panicle appear fan-like, or elongated with the
branches more scattered. Racemes usually numerous, the internodes with mani-
POACEAE
festly thickened margins, the median portion thin and translucent, the pedicels
of the same structure, the margins ciliate with usually long hairs. Sessile spike-
lets of 4 scales, the first one 2-keeled, the second 1-keeled, the third and fourth
scales hyaline, the latter very narrow, stipe-like, somewhat thickened, gradually
merging into a usually geniculate, contorted or spiral awn, or the awn rarely
wanting. Stalked spikelets staminate and similar to the sessile, or sterile and
smaller. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, enclosed
in the scales. [Greek, with reference to the hairs surrounding the spikelets.]
Thirty species or more, natives of temperate and tropical regions. Type species:
Andropogon Torreyanus Steud.
Stalked spikelet much smaller than the sessile one. 1. A. saccharoides.
Stalked and sessile spikelets about equal in size. 2. A. Ischaemum.
1. Amphilophis saccharoides (Sw.) Nash, N. A. Fl 17: 125. 1912.
Andropogon saccharoides Sw Prodr. 26. 1788.
Culms erect, 4.5-10.5 dm. tall, the nodes naked or barbed. Sheaths more
or less glaucous; blades 7.5-25 cm. long, glaucous; racemes numerous,'2.5-3.75
cm. long in a terminal long-exserted panicle 4-10 cm. long; outermost scale of
sessile spikelet 3-4 mm. long, about equalling the terminal hairs of the rachis-
joints, lanceolate, acute; awn 8-16 mm. long, spiral; pedicelled spikelet shorter
than the sessile one, reduced to a 7-nerved scale.
Mountain sides, Monte Mesa and Monte Alegrillo:-southwestern United States to
Mexico and northern South America; Jamaica; Cuba; IIispaniola; Antigua, Martinique.
2. Amphilophis Ischaemum (L.) Nash, N. A. Fl. 17: 124. 1912.
Andropogon Ischaemum L. Sp. Pl. 1047. 1753.
Andropogon panormitanus Parl. Fl. Ital. 1: 140. 184S.
Culmns erect, simple, or branched above, up to about S din. high. Leaf-
sheaths glabrous, the blades linear, 5-20 cm. long, 3-6 mom. wide, sometimes
sparingly hairy near the base; racemes several, subflabellate, 4-8 cm. long;
sessile spikelet 3-4 mm. long, its first scale 7-9-nerved, the second ciliate, the
fourth bearing an awn 1-2 cm. long; stalked spikelet about the size of the sessile
one.
Very abundant in fields and waste grounds, St. Croix, where it has become a per-
nicious wveed:-Jamaica; Antigua to Trinidad; naturalized from the Old World. A species
consisting of several races. [Andropogon succharoides of Eggers. not of Swartz;A. Vrightii
of Mill.paugh.] SOUR GRASS.
12. CYMBOPOGON Spreng. Pug. 2: 14. 1815.
Large, perennial grasses, with flat leaf-blades, the spikelets in panicled
racemes. Spikelets in pairs, one sessile, the other stalked, the racemes forked,
bearing an awnless, staminate spikelet in the fork, the sessile spikelet of the lower
pair or pairs differing from those above. [Greek, hollow-beard.] About 10
species, natives of the Old World tropics. Type species: Andropogon Schoe-
nanthus L.
Sessile spikelets lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, the back flat. 1. C. Nardus.
Sessile spikelets linear to linear-lanceolate, the back concave below. 2. C. citratus.
1. Cymbopogon Nardus (L.) Rendle, Cat. Welw. Afric. Pl. 2: 155. 1899.
Andropogon Nardus L. Sp. Pl. 1046. 1753.
Culms much branched, 1-2 m. tall, the aromatic leaves crowded near the
base, the inflorescence decompound, up to S dm. long. Leaves glabrous, glaucous,
POACEAE
6-10 din. long, 1.5-2 cm. wide; spathes cymbiform. 1-2 cmn. long: racemes 1-1.5
cm. long: sessile spikelet 4-5 mm. long, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, the back
flat, the fourth scale 2-toothed.
Locally spontaneous after cultivation in Porto Rico, as in Florida, Jamaica, Mar-
tinique and Guadeloupe. Native of tropical Asia. CITRONELLA GRASS.
2. Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Kew. Bull. 1906: 357. 1906.
Andropogon citratus DC. Cat. Hort. SMonsp. 78. 1813.
Andropogon ceriferus Hack. in Mart. Fl. Bras. 23: 281. 1883.
Similar to the preceding species, and about as large, the nodes of the culm
ceriferous, the branches of the inflorescence elongated and somewhat pendulous.
Spathes lanceolate; racemes like those of C. Nardus, but the sessile spikelet
linear to linear-lanceolate, acuminate, the back concave below.
Banks at lower elevations, Porto Rico, escaped from cultivation; Vieques; St.
Thomas:-Florida; Cuba; Guadeloupe; Trinidad; South America. Original home
unknown, and known only in cultivation or as an escape from cultivation. LEMON-GRASS.
13. ANATHERUM Beauv. Agrost. 128. 1812.
Tall erect grasses; the culms mostly simple, the leaf-blades narrow and flat,
the narrow spikelets on whorled branches of large terminal panicles. Spikelets
paired, one sessile, bearing a perfect flower, the other stalked, staminate. Scales
4. Sessile spikelet flattened laterally, its first scale coriaceous or chartaceous,
the second awned or awnless, the third and fourth hyaline. Stalked spikelet
usually awnless. Stamens 3. Stigmas plumose, much longer than the styles.
[Greek, without awns.] A few species of the Old World tropics, the following
typical.
1. Anatherum zizanioides (L.) H. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. HIerb. 18: 2S5.
1917.
Phalaris zizanioides L. Alant. 183. 1771.
Andropogon nmuricatus Retz. Obs. 3: 43. 1783.
Anatherum muricatum Beauv. Agrost. 150. 1812.
Andropogon zizanioides Urban, Symb. Ant. 4: 79. 1903.
Vetiveria zizanioides Nash in Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 67. 1903.
Perennial, with aromatic roots; culms 2-2.5 m. tall, glabrous, shining.
Leaves glabrous, the blades up to 9 din. long, 4-10 mm. wide; panicle narrow, 2-3
dm. long, its branches readily disarticulating from the nodes; sessile spikelet
about 4 mm. long, the second scale with a muricate keel, the fourth awnless or
short-awned; stalked spikelet as long as the sessile one or a little shorter.
Banks and roadsides, Porto Rico, escaped from cultivation:-widely cultivated and
locally subspontaneous in tropical and subtropical regions. Native of the Old World.
KHUS-KIUS. PACHULL.
14. HOLCUS L. Sp. Pl. 1047. 1753.
Tall erect grasses, with broad and flat leaf-blades. Spikelets in large
terminal panicles, in pairs or in 3's at the ends of its branches, one sessile and with
a perfect flower, the other I or 2 stalked and staminate. Sessile spikelet with the
2 outer scales indurated, the third and fourth hyaline, the fourth awned or awn-
less. Stalked spikelet with the 2 outer scales firm-membranous. Stamens 3,
POACEAE
Styles distinct; stigmas plumose. [Greek, taken from Pliny]. About 10 species,
of wide distribution. Type species: Holcus Sorghum L.
Perennial; panicle decompound. 1. H. halepensis.
Annual; panicle usually dense. 2. H. Sorghum.
1. Holcus halepensis L. Sp. P1. 1047. 1753.
Andropogon halepensis Brot. Fl. Lusit. 1: 80. 1804.
Sorghum halepense Pers. Syn. 1: 101. 1805.
Andropogon cernuus Kunth, Enum. 1: 501. 1833.
Perennial by long rootstocks; culms smooth, erect, 2 in. high or less. Leaf-
blades 4-6 din. long, 1-3 cm. wide; panicle decompound, open, up to 6 dm. long,
its branches ascending; sessile spikelets about 4 mm. long, the outer scales densely
appressed-pubescent; first scale 3-toothed at the apex; fourth scale bearing a bent
awn about 12 mm. long; stalked spikelet about 6 mm. long, its 2 outer scales
pubescent.
Waste grounds near Rio Piedras:-widely distributed in tropical and wharm-tem-
perate America by cultivation for fodder. Native of the Old World. JOIINSON GRASS.
2. Holcus Sorghum L. Sp. Pl. 1047. 1753.
Andropogon Sorghum Brot. Fl. Lusit. 1: 88. 180.1.
Sorghum vulgare Pers. Syn. 1: 101. 1S05.
Andropogon bicolor Roxh. Hort. Beng. 21. 181 1.
Andropogon Sorghum sudanensis Piper, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 28: 33. 1915.
Annual; culms tall, stout, up to 4 m. high. Leaf-blades 2-5 cm. wide,
elongated; panicle dense or decompound, its branches commonly nearly erect;
stalked spikelet often without flowers; sessile spikelets similar to those of the
preceding species, from which it is supposed to have been derived.
Locally subspontancous after cultivation in Porto Rico; St. Croix; St. Thomas:-
widely cultivated in temperate and tropical regions in several races. Native of the Old
World. SORGHUM. GUINEA CORN.
15. SORGHASTRUM Nash in Britton, Man. 71. 1901.
Generally tall perennial grasses, with long, narrow, flat leaves and terminal
panicles. Spikelets in pairs, or 3's at the end of the branches, one sessile and
perfect, the lateral pedicelled, empty, or reduced to the pedicel only. Perfect
spikelet consisting of 4 scales, the two outer indurated and shining, the inner
hyaline, the fourth awned and subtending a palet and perfect flower, or the palet
sometimes wanting. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain
free. [Named with reference to the resemblance of these grasses to sorghum.]
About 15 species, in temperate and tropical regions. Type species: Andropogon
avenaceus Alichx.
1. Sorghastrum parviflorum (Desv.) H. &. C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 287.
1917.
Sorghum parviflorum Desv.; Hamilt. Prodr. 12. 1825.
Andropogon setosus Griseb. Cat. Pi. Cub. 235. 1866.
Sorghastrum setosum Hitchc. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 195. 1909.
Sorghastrum agrostoides Hitchc. Bot. Gaz. 51: 300. 1911.
Culms smooth, erect, often clustered, up to 1 m. high or higher. Leaf-
blades fiat or the margins involute in drying, elongated, 4-7 mm. wide; panicle
narrow, 1-3 dm. long, its branches nearly filiform; spikelets 3.5-4 mm. long,
hirsute, yellowish-brown, the awn 1-4 nmm. long.
Open sandy soil. northeastern districts of Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola;
continental tropical America.
POACEAE
16. HETEROPOGON Pers. Syn. 2: 533. 1807.
Annual or perennial grasses, with narrow leaf-blades, the 1-flowered spikelets
in spike-like racemes borne singly at the ends of the branches of the inflorescence.
Spikelets in pairs, one sessile, flowerless or with a staminate flower in the lower
pair, and with a pistillate or perfect flower in the pairs above; the other spikelet
stalked, bearing a staminate flower or flowerless. Sessile spikelet of 4 scales,
with a hairy-pointed callus, the first scale convolute, awnless; the second keeled,
the third hyaline, the fourth flowering and bearing a long twisted awn; stalked
spikelet awnless. Stamens 3. Styles distinct; stigmas plumose. [Greek,
variously bearded.] About 8 species, natives of warm-temperate and tropical
regions. Type species: Andropogon Allionii DC.
1. Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv.; R. & S. Syst. 2: 836. 1817.
Andropogon contortus L. Sp. P1. 1045. 1753.
Perennial; culms 2-8 dm. high, branched above. Leaves smooth, the blades
1-2 dm. long, 3-7 mm. wide; racemes 4-7 cm. long, the internodes between the
upper spikelets densely pubescent with long brown hairs; callus of the sessile
spikelets brownish-barbed, about 3 mm. long, the spikelet about 8 mm. lone,
the awn 1-12 cm. long; stalked spikelet about 10 mm. long, its first scale papillose-
hispid with long hairs above and near the margins.
Krumbay. St. Thomas (ex Eggers); Virgin Gorda:-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola;
Antigua; Guadeloupe; continental tropical America and Old World tropics. TWISTED
GRASS.
17. ANTHEPHORA Schreb. Beschr. Gras. 2: 105. 1810.
Tafted grasses, the culms often branched, erect or prostrate, the leaves mostly
flat, the 1-flowered spikelets in deciduous clusters of 3 or 4, forming elongated
terminal, slender spikes. Empty scales of the spikelets rigid, the first one
indurated, large, involucre-like, the others acute or short-awned; upper and
inner scales thin, the innermost enclosing a thin palet and a perfect flower, the
stamens 3, the styles united at the base, the stigmas plumose. [Greek, flower-
bearing.] Five known species, of tropical distribution, tho following typical
1. Anthephora hermaphrodita (L.) Knuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 759. 1891.
Tripsacim hermaphroditum L. Syst. ed. 10, 1261. 1759.
Cenchrus laevigatus Trin. Fund. Agrost. 172. 1820.
Annual; culms 3-10 dm. long, rooting and branching at the lower nodes.
Leaves flat, 7-20 cm. long, 4-10 mm. wide, glabrous or hirsute, acuminate;
spikes 2-12 cm. long, continuous and dense, or interrupted below, about 4 mam.
thick, the slender rachis flexuous; cluster of spikelets about 7 mm. long; lower
scales ovate to elliptic, acute to acuminate, glabrous or hispidulous.
Fields, sandy and stony soil, northern districts of Porto Rico; St. Croix; St. Thomas:
Tortola; Virgin Gorda:-West Indies; continental tropical America.
18. NAZIA Adans. Fain. Pl. 2: 31, 581. 1763.
Annual grasses, diffusely branched, with flat leaves and 1-flowered deciduous
spikelets, either solitary or in clusters of 3-5 in a terminal spike. Scales of
spikelet 2 or 3, the outermost small or wanting, the second rigid and covered with
POACEAE
hooketl prickles, the third membranous, subtending a palet and perfect flower.
[Name unexplained.] Two species, of tropical and temperate regions. Type
species: Ccnrchrus racemosvs L.
1. Nazia aliena (Sprong.) Scribn. Bull. U. S. Dep. Agr. Agrost. 17: 28. 18V9).
Lappago ulicna Spreiig. Neuo Entdeck. 3: 15. 18S22.
Tufted, 1-3 dmin. high, the culms often rooting at the lower nodes, slentdor,
glabrous. Sheaths clabrons; leaf-blades 2-8 cm. long, 4 mm. wide or less. their
margins ciliate. Inflorescence 4-10 cm. long; spikelets 2-3 mm. long; the second
scale bearing prickles 0.5 mm. long or less, the prickles with swollen opaque bases.
Fields, rocks and waste grounds, especially near the southern coast, Porto Rico;
Culebrita; St. Thomas; St. Jan; St. Croix:-southwestern United States; Bahamas;
Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; St. Barts; St,. Eustatius: St. Kitts; Antigua; Trinidad;
Margarita; Curacao; continental tropical America. [Apparently recorded by Hackel
as Tragus ratccnosus from near Coamo; Lappago racemosa of K(rebs ] PRI'KLE-GRASS.
lt). ARUNDINELLA ltaddi, Agrost. Bras. 34i 1823.
E'rect, often tall grasses, awith flat leaf-blades and small spikelets, jointed
below the outer scales, in a large terminal paniclo. Spikelets 1-2-flowered, when
2-flowered the lower flower staminate. Scales ., the first awnless, the second
awned or acuminate, tho third miniticous, the fourthln mnembranlous, awniled or
awnless. Stamens 3. Styles distinct; stigmas plumose. [Diminutive of
Arnndo.1 About 30 species, natives of warn temperate anid tropical regions.
Type species: Arundlinrla brasiliensis RIaddi.
1. Arundinella confinis (Schultes) II. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 290.
1917.
Piplathcrttm confine Schultes, 1 ant. 2: 181. 1824.
Artitudincllu martinicensis Trin. Grani. Pan. 62. 1820.
Culnis rather stout, 1.5 in. tall or less, glabrous. Leaf-shoaths more or less
Ilispid above, the blades 2-4 dm. long, 1-2 cm. wide, usually hispid; panicle
dense, 2-4 dm. long, its nearly Iliiform branches erect-ascending; spikolets about
4 mm. long, the fourth scale tipped with an awn about 2 mmnn. long. [Recorded
by HIackel as A. hispida.]
Banks, hillsides and cliffs from lower to higher elevations in moist districts of Porto
Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba Hiispaniola; Guadeloupe to Trinidad; continental tropical America.
20. LEPTOCORYPHIUM Nees, Agrost. Bras. 83. 1820.
Erort, perennial grassits, with narrow ciales alnd small, silky, panicled spike-
lets, jointed below the scales. Spikelets lanecolate, t-flowerod. Scales 3, the
2 outer ones empty, long-hairy, the fruiting one minutely papillose, cartilaginous,
its summit hyaline, lacerate, open. Stamens 3. Styles distinct; stigmas plu-
mose. [Greek, thin apex, referring to the hyaline apex of the fruiting scale.]
A few species of tropical America, the following typical.
1. Leptocoryphium lanatum (II.B.K.) Nees, Agrost. Bras. 84. 1829.
Puspalu m lanatum H.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 94. 1815.
Milimn lanalum L. & S. Syst. 2: 322. 1817.
Culms slender, smooth, I m. high or less, solitary or clustered, the old leaf-
sheaths persistent. Leaves glabrous, or nearly so, 2-3 dmi. long, 2-4 mm. wide;
POACEAE
panicle terminal, narrow, 1-2 din. long, with short, nearly filiform, ascending
branches; spikolets filiform-stalked, 4-5 mm. long, the fruiting scale chestnut-
brown.
Red clay slopes, 1\onte Mesa, Mayaguez:-Cuba; Trinidad; continental tropical
America.
21. VALOTA Adans. Fain. Pl. 2: 495. 1765.
Perennial grasses, with flat leaves and terminal pubescent panicles. Spike-
lots lanceolate, acute or acuminate; scales 4, the 3 outer ones membranous, empty,
the first minute or rudimentary, the second silky-pilose and ciliate, the fourth one
shorter, glabrous, shining, chartaccous. [Perhaps in honor of P. Vallot.] Several
species, of warm temperate and tropical America, the first following one typical.
Leaves elongated; racemes many. 1. V. insularis.
Leaves short; racemes few. 2. V. Eggersii.
1. Valota insularis (L.) Chase, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 19: 18S. 1906.
Andropogon insulare L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 130.1. 1759.
Panicumi leucophaerm II.B.lK. Nov. Gen. 1: 97. 1815.
Panicum insulare lMeyer, Prim. Fl. Esseq. 60. 1818.
Tricharhne insularis Nees, Agrost. Bras. 86. 1829.
Culms erect, slender, 1-1.6 in. high, clustered. Leaves 3 dim. long or less,
1-2 cm. wide, acuminate, glabrous or their sheaths publ)escent; panicle narrow,
often 3 din. long, little, if any more than 3 cm. thick; racemes many; spikelets
4-6 nun. long, acuminato; second and third scale 3-nerved, long-hairy; fruiting
scale chestnut-brown.
Banks and hillsides at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico, mostly in dry dis-
tricts: Desecheo; MIona; Vieques; Culebra; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola:-
southern United States; Bermuda: West Indies and continental tropical America.
SILKY-GRASS.
2. Valota Eggersii (Hack.) It. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 292. 1917.
Panicumr Eggersii IIack. Oest. Bot. Zeits. 51: 292. 1901.
Culms erect, very slender, 2-4 dm. high. Leaves short, lanceolate, 2.5-4
cm. long, 2- mmin. wide, the sheaths puberulent; inflorescence of 2-4 very slender
racemes; racemes erect, 2-5 cm. long; spikelets about 4 mm. long.
Banks, St. Thomas; Virgin Gorda. Endemic.
22. SYNTHERISMA Walt. Iel. Car. 76. 1788.
Mostly annual grasses, with flat leaves and spikelets borne in pairs or some-
times in 3's, in second racemes which are digitate or approximate at the summit
of the culm. Spikelets often purplish. Scales of the spikelet 4, sometimes 3 lby
the suppression of the lowest one; the fourth or innermost scale chartaceous,
subtending a palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. Stamens 3. Stigmas
plumose. [Greek, crop-making, in allusion to its abundance.] Species about
20, widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions, known as CRAB-GRASS
and FINGER-GRASS. Type species: Syntherisma praecox Walt.
Rachis of the raceme winged, appearing flat.
Spikelets glabrous or puberulent.
Spikelets about 3 mm. long. L S. sanguinalis.
Spikelets not over 2 mm. long. 2. chincnsis.
Spikelets pubescent. 3. S. Ischacmum.
POACEAE
Rachis of the raceme wingless.
Rachis with long scattered hairs. 4. S. digilata.
Rachis without long hairs.
Hairs of the spikelet long, forming a brush-like tip. 5. S. argillacea.
Hairs of the spikelet short. 6. S. filiformis.
1. Syntherisma sanguinalis (L.) Dulac, Fl. IlHat. Pyr. 77. 1867.
Panicni sangiinale L. Sp. PI. 57. 1753.
Digitaria sanguinalis SCop. Fl. Carn. ed. 2, 1: 52. 1772.
Digitaria marginata Link, Enum. Short. Berol. 1:102. 1821.
Digitaria fimbriata Link, IIort. Berol. 1: 226. 1827.
Panicunm fimbrialum Kunth, Rev. 33. 1829.
Syntherisrma margiaatum Nash, N. A. Fl. 17: 151. 1912.
Culms 8 din. long or less, finally branched, p)rostrate at the base and rooting
at the lower nodes. Lower leaf sheaths densely papillose-hirsute; blades 2-8
cm. long, 5-10 mm. wide, glabrous or more or less pubescent; racemes 2-9, 2-12
cm. long, in pairs or whorls: spikelets 3-3.5 mm. long, about 0.8 mm. wide, lan-
ceolate, very acute, in pairs; first scale small, glabrous, the second one 3-nerved,
the third slightly exceeding the flowering scale, 7-nerved, the fourth one lanceo-
late, very acute, yellowish white at maturity.
Waste and cultivated grounds, Porto Rico: Vieqiues; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St.
Jan; Tortola; Virgin Gorda:-widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions.
2. Syntherisma chinensis (Nees) Ilitche. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 22: 468. 1922.
Paspalmin chinense Nees in 11. & A. Bot. Beechey Voy. 231. 1841.
Syntherisma Helleri Nash, Mlinn. Bot. Stud. 1: 798. 1897.
Culms slender, glabrous, erect or reclining, 5 dm. long or less. Leaves
glabrous, the blades 1.5-3 din. long, 4-6 mm. wide; racemes 3-5 in a terminal
whorl, rarely fewer, sometimes with 1 or 2 additional ones below, 6-10 cm. long;
rachis flattened, narrowly winged; spikelets in 2's or 3's, about 1.5 mm. long;
first scale wanting; second and third scales about equal, 3-5-nerved, appressed-
pubescent; fruiting scale brown, acute.
Fields and waste grounds, Porto Rico:-Bernmuda; Jamaica; Trinidad. Naturalized
from the Old World tropics. Formerly confused with S. longiflora (Retz) Sheels.
3. Syntherisma Ischaemum (Schreb.) Nash, N. A. Fl. 17: 151. 1912.
Panicum Ischaemnm Schreb.; Schweig. Spec. Fl. Erlang. 16. 1804.
Culms slender, glabrous, branched at the base, becoming prostrate, 2-5 dm.
long, forming mats. Leaves glabrous, the sheaths compressed, the blades 6-15
em. long, 2.5-6 nmm. wide; racemes 2-5, widely spreading, 2-8 cm. long; rachis
flattened, narrowly winged; spikelets elliptic, about 2 mm. long, the first scale
rudimentary or wanting, the second and third pubescent, the fruiting scale chest-
nut-brown.
Waste grounds, St. Croix:-eastern United States. Native of Europe.
4. Syntherisma digitata (Sw.) Hitchc. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 142. 1908.
Milium digitatum Sw. Prodr. 24. 1788.
Digitaria horizontalis Willd. Enum. 92. 1809.
Panicum horizontal Meyer, Prim. Fl. Esseq. 54. 1818.
Syntherisma setosa Nash, Bull. Torrey Club 25: 300. 1898.
Culms 4-10 dm. long, branched, tufted, at length decumbent below and
rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves more or less densely hirsute, 2-12 cm. long,
2-7 mm. wide; racemes several, 3-14 cm. long, whorled or alternate or approximate
o00
JLI RARY R
1%. .
POACEAE
In pairs, widely spreading; rachis very narrow; spikelets in pairs, about 2.5 mm.
long, lanceolate, acuminate; first scale minute, glabrous; second scale 3-nerved,
appressed-pubescent; third scale 7-nerved, also appressed-pubescent; fruiting
scale nearly 2 mm. long, shorter than the third, elliptic, greenish when mature.
Plains, waste and cultivated grounds, Porto Rico; Icacos; Mona; Vieques; Culebra;
St. Croix: St. Thomas; Tortola:-Florida; West Indies; continental tropical America
and Old World tropics.
5. Syntherisma argillacea H. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 296. 1917.
Perennial; culms usually tufted, ascending from a decumbent base, glabrous,
simple, or branched below, 6 din. long or less, the nodes loosely pilose. Leaves
pilose or scabrous, the blades 3-S cm. long, 3-5 mm. wide; racemes 1 or several,
up to 8 cm. long, the rachis very slender, wingless; spikelets about 2 mm. long,
clothed with appressed hairs forming a brush-like tip, the fourth scale brown.
Monte Alegrillo near Maricao, at So) meters elevation, and on Monte Mlesa:-Cuba.
G. Syntherisma filiformis (L.) Nash, Bull. Torrey (lub 22: 420. 1895.
Panicum filiforme L. Sp. Pl. 57. 1753.
Mlilium paniceum Sw. Prodr. 24. 1788.
Digitaria filifornius Mluhl. Gram. 131. 1817.
Syntherisma panicemin Nash, N. A. Fl. 17: 152. 1912.
Culms 1.5-7 din. tall. Sheaths, at least the lower ones, hirsute; blades
3-20 cm. long, 1-4 mm. wide; racemes 2-5, 2-10 cm,. long, erect or ascending;
spikelets about 1.8 mm. long, 0.75 rmm. wide, elliptic, short-hairy, acute, in pairs,
the first scale wanting, the second 3-ierved, the third 7-nerved, the fourth scale
deep chestnut-brown at maturity.
Sandy soil, northern districts of Porto Rico; Cowell Hill, St. Thomas (ex Eggers):-
eastern United States; Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; Mexico.
23. ERIOCHLOA H.B.K. Nov. Gon. 1: 94. 1815.
Perennial grasses, with flat leaf-blades. Spikelets 1-flowered, in second
spike-like racemes, in 2 rows along a flattened rachis, jointed below a basal annular
callus, acute or acuminate. Scales 3, the 2 outer membranous, empty, the third
indurated, shining, awn-tipped, flowering, the flower perfect. Stamens 3. Styles
distinct; stigmas plumose. [Greek, woolly grass.] About 10 species, natives of
warm and tropical regions. Type species: Eriochloa distachya H.B.K.
Spikelets long-acuminate. 1. E. punctala.
Spikelets acute. 2. E. subglabra.
1 Eriochloa punctata (L.) Desv.; llamilt. Prodr. 5. 1825.
Milium punctatum L. Syst. ed. 10, 872. 1759.
Monachne punciata Nash, Bull. Torrey Club 30: 374. 1903.
Culms usually clustered, branched, 2-8 dm. high, the nodes puberulent, tbo
leaves glabrous or puberulent. Blades 3 din. long or less, 3-10 mm. wide;
inflorescence usually long-stalked; racemes erect or ascending, 1.5-4 cm. long,
the rachis short-hairy; spikolets 4-5 mm. long, lanceolate, long-acuminate, the
2 outer scales with long appressed hairs, the third scale short-awned. transversely
ruguse.
Banks, roadsides, waste and cultivated grounds at lower and middle elevations,
l'orto Rico: St. Croix: St. Thomas; Tortola:-southern United States; Jamaica; Cuba
it Trinidad; continental tropical America and Old World tropics.
POACEAE
2. Eriochloa subglabra (Nash) Hitche. Contr. U. S.Nat. Herb. 12: 208. 1909.
Monachne subglabra Nash, Bull. Torrey Club 30: 374. 1903.
Eriochloa punctata subglabra Urban, Symb. Ant. 4: 85. 1903.
Culms branched or simple, glabrous, 8-12 dm. high, the nodes pubescent.
Lower leaf-sheaths hirsute; blades glabrous, 1-3 dm. long, 7-17 mm. wide; in-
florescence stalked; racemes 4-6 cm. long; spikelets elliptic, acute, about 3.5 mm.
long; empty scales glabrate, the flowering one mucronate, finely transversely
rugose.
Wet meadows, sandy plains and dunes at lower elevations, in Porto Rico:-Jamaica;
Trinidad; Brazil. MAIALOILIA.
24. AXONOPUS Beauv. AgrosL. 12. 1S12.
Annual or perennial grasses, with flat leaves and 1-Ilowered spikelets, borne
singly in 2 rows in one-sided spike-like racemes. Spikelets oblong to lanceolate,
convex on the outer surface, flat on the inner. Scales 3, the outer 2 membranous,
the inner one firm and with its opening turned toward the rachis, subtending a
perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles separate. Stigmas plumose. Grain free.
[Greek, foot-axis.] About 12 species, of warm temperate and tropical regions,
the following typical.
Rachis of the racemes without hairs. 1. A. compresses.
Rachis of the racemes with stiff brown hairs. 2. A. aureus.
1. Axonopus compressus (Sw.) Beauv. Agrost. 12, 154. 1812.
Milium compressum Sw. Prodr. 24. 1788.
Paspalum tristachyon Lam. Tab. Encycl. 1: 176. 1791.
Anastrophus compressus Schlecht.; Nash in Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 79, 1903.
?Paspalum Raunkierii Mez, Repert. 15: 60. 1917.
Perennial; stolons numerous, leafy, sometimes 6 din. long; culms 1.5-6 dnm.
tall, slender, compressed, glabrous; sheaths loose; leaves glabrous, sometimes
sparsely ciliate, obtuse, those of the culm 5-10 cm. long, 4-6 mm. wide, those of
the stolons about 2.5 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide; racemes 2-5, 2.5-5 cm. long, ap-
proximate at'the summit of the long and slender stalk; spikelets not crowded
nor second, about 2 mm. long, acute.
Wet grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; Vieques; St. ('roix; St.
Thomas; St. Jan:-southeastern United States; West Indies; continental tropical
America. FLAT JOINT-GRASS.
2. Axonopus aureus Beauv. Agrost. 12. 1812.
Perennial; culms slender, smooth, erect, 3-6 dm. high, compressed, slender.
branching. Leaves more or less pilose with long hairs, the blades 7-15 cm. long,
3-7 mm. wide, rather stiff; inflorescence long-stalked, of 4-15, sessile, slender,
pilose, golden-brown racemes 6-10 cm. long; spikelets about 1.5 mm. long, pointed.
Along road between Rio Piedras and Trujillo Alto:-Trinidad; continental tropical
America. (iOLDEN JOINT-GRASS.
25. PASPALUM I,. Syst. Nat. cd. 10, 855. 1759.
Perennial grasses, various in habit, with generally flat leaves and 1-fiowered
spikelets, borne singly or in pairs in 2 rows on 1-sided spikes, which are single,
in pairs or panicled. Spikelets oblong to orbicular, flat on the outer surface,
convex on the inner. Scales 3 (rarely 4) the outer ones inembranous, the inner
one indurated and subtending a palet and perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles
separate. Stigmas plumose. Grain ovoid or oblong, free. [An ancient Greek
POACEAE
name for some grass, used by Hippocrates.] About 160 species, of wide distri-
bution in tropical and temperate regions, most abundant in America. Type
species: Panicum dissectum L.
A, Spikelets not lacerate-margined.
1. Racemes 1 to many, not conjugate.
a. Spikelets with 3 scales.
*Culms erect or ascending.
tFruiting scale dark brown, shining.
Perennial. 1. P. plicalulum.
Annual. 2. P. melanospermum.
ttFruiting scale not dark brown and shining.
TRacemes several or many.
Spikelets pubescent.
Spikelets obovate, about 3 mm. long. 3. P. virgatum.
Spikelets nearly hemispheric, about
1.5 mm. long. 4. P. paniculatum.
Spikelets glabrous.
Panicle dense; rachis long-pilose. 5. P. densum.
Panicle not dense; raclhis glabrous or
sparingly pilose.
Lower leaf-sheaths nodulose. 6. P. miflegrana.
Lower leaf-sheaths not nodulose. 7. P. secans.
ftRacemes few, 1 to 5.
Annual; spikelets minute. 8. P. parviflorum.
Perennials.
Raceme always only one; spikelets 1-
1.5 mm. long.
Leaves subinvolute; racenmes 1.5-2
cm. long. 9. P. rupestre.
Leaves flat; racemes 3-4 cm. long. 10. P. Leoninum.
Racemes 2-10, or on some culms soli-
tary; spikelets 1.5-2 mm. long.
Spikelets narrow, acutish, slender-
stalked. 11. P. portoricense.
Spikelets broad, obtuse, short-
stalked.
Nodes of the culm long-pilose. 12. P. Poiretii.
Culms glabrous.
Racemes 5-12 cm. long.
Spikelets glandular-pubes-
cent. 13. P.Simpsoni.
Spikelets glabrous, or
minutely pubescent.
Spikelets elliptic-obo-
vate. 14. P. glabrum.
Spikeletsbroadlyoval. 15. P. propinquum.
Racemes 2-4 cm. long; spike-
lets pubescent. 16. P. caespitosum.
**Culms creeping; spikelets minute, yellowish 17. P. orbiculatum.
b. Spikelets with 4 scales. 18. P. decumbens.
2. Racemes 2, conjugate, rarely a third one below, or on
some culms only one.
Spikelets plano-convex, not ciliate.
Spikelets suborbicular; plants not stoloniferous.
Spikelets about 1.2 mm. long. 19. P. clavuliferum.
Spikelets 2-4 mm. long.
Spikelets 2.5-4 mm. long. 20. P. notatum.
Spikelets 2-2.5 mm. long. 21. P. minus.
Spikelets elliptic to ovate; stoloniferous plants.
Spikelets glabrous, 3-4 mm. long. 22. P. vaginatum.
Spikelets pubescent, 2.5-3 mm. long. 23. P. distichum.
Spikelets nearly flat, long-ciliate. 24. P. conjugatum.
to. Spikelets lacerate-margined. 25. P. fimbriatum.
1. Paspalum plicatulum Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 45. 1803.
Paspalum undulatum Poir. in Lam. Encycl. 5: 29. 1804.
Perennial; culms commonly clustered, flattened, glabrous, 4-10 dim. tall.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous, compressed, the blades usually folded, 3 dm. long or less,
2-8 mm. wide, nearly erect, sometimes long-hairy above; racemes usually several,
3-7 cm. long, short-stalked, ascending or spreading; spikelets 2-3 mm. long,
obovate to elliptic; first scale wanting; second scale 5-nerved, appressed-pubes-
cent, the third 3-nerved, glabrous, the fruiting one reddish-brown, polished.
Grassy slopes and fields at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; St. Croix;
St. Thomas; Tortola; Virgin Gorda:--southern United States; Jamaica; Cuba; His-
paniola; Guadeloupe to Tobago; continental tropical America.
POACEAE
2. Paspalum melanospermum Desv.; Polr. in Lam. Encycl. Suppl. 4: 315
1816.
Annual; culms glabrous, tufted, erect or the base decumbent, 2-4 dm.
high, compressed, often purplish. Leaves glabrous, or sparingly pilose, the
sheaths compressed, brownish-margined, the blades nearly linear, flat, whitish-
margined, 6-15 cm. long, 4-6 mm. wide; racemes 2 or 3, or on some culms solitary,
3-6 cm. long, the rachis broad; spikelets plano-convex, broadly elliptic-obovate,
obtuse, about 2 mm. long; first scale wanting, the second 3-nerved, the fruiting
one dark brown, shining.
Shaded slopes at middle and higher elevations, Porto Rico:-Florida; Brazil. Re-
ferred by Nash to P. Boscianum Fluegge.
3. Paspalum virgatum L. Syst. ed. 10, 855. 1759.
Perennial, forming clumps; culms stout, erect, 1-2 in. high. Leaves flat,
4-7 dinm. long, 1-2.5 cm. wide, the margins scabrous-ciliate, the lower sheaths
with transverse veinlets between the veins; racemes many, 5-12 cm. long, with a
tuft of long hairs at the base, the whole inflorescence up to 5 di. long: rachis of
the racemes sparingly long-hairy; spikelets crowded, elliptic-obovate, ciliate, 3
mm. long, brownish.
Moist and cultivated grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; Vieques:
St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan:-West Indies; continental tropical America. CORTEDERO.
4. Paspalum paniculatum L. Syst. ed. 10, 855. 1759.
Paspalum hemisphericum Poir. in Lam. Encycl. 5: 31. 1804.
Perennial; culms erect, rather stout, glabrous, 6-10 dm. high, often branched.
Leaf-blades flat, 2-3 dm. long, 1-2.5 cm. wide, rather densely pilose-pubescent;
racemes many, 3-10 cm. long, forming a dense terminal inflorescence; spikelets
nearly hemispheric, crowded, pubescent, about 1.5 mm. long, obovate to nearly
orbicular; first scale wanting, the second and third 3-nerved, the fruiting one
oval, smooth, shining.
Moist meadows, hillsides and ravines, Porto Rico, ascending to 900 m.; St. Thomas
(ex Schlechtendal):-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; St. Kitts to Trinidad; continental
tropical America.
5. Paspalum densum Poir. in Lam. Encycl. 5: 32. 1804.
Perennial; culms erect, smooth, very stout, 1-1.5 m. high. Leaves 4-7
dinm. long, about 1 cm. wide, roughish-margined, the lower sheaths with many
prominent transverse veinlets between the veins; racomes many, 4-6 cm. long,
with a tuft of long hairs at the base, densely clustered, forming a compact in-
florescence, 1.5-3 dm. long, the rachis pilose or ciliate; spikelets crowded, sub-
orbicular, glabrous, about 2 mm. long.
In shallow water, northern coastal plaiu of Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba; Guade-
loupe; Trinidad; continental tropical America. Porto Rico is the type locality.
6. Paspalum millegrana Schrad. in Schultes Mant. 2: 175. 1824.
Paspalumn Underiooodii Nash, Bull. Torrey Club 30: 375. 1903.
Culms stout, 1-1.5 in. high, often clustered, smooth. Lower sheaths
nodulose, overlapping; leaves elongated, roughish, 5-10 mm. wide, commonly
pubescent above; racemes many, rather close together, ascending or nearly
erect, 4-10 cm. long; spikelets glabrous, suborbicular or obovate-orbicular.
about 2 mm. long, usually purplish; rachis sparingly pilose.
Wet grounds at lower elevations near the northern and western coasts of Porto Rico;
Vieques:-Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba; Guadeloupe; Martinique; Barbados; Tobago;
Trinidad; South America. Referred by Hackel to P. lentiginosum Presl.
POACEAE
7. Paspalum secans 11H. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 319. 1917.
Perennial, forming clumps; culms simple, erect, glabrous, 1-2 m. tall. Leaf-
sheaths with a row of white hairs at the mouth, the blades much elongated, some-
times 1 m. long, 5-10 mm. wide, flat, but in drying more or less involute, their
margins serrulate; racemes 5-20, slender, spreading, 5-15 cm. long: rachis gla-
brous; spikelets glabrous, about 2.5 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide.
Wet grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; St. Croix:-Bahamas;
Jamaica; Cuba; Antigua. Included by Hackel in P. elatum L. C. Rich. and by Nash
in P. Schreberianum (Fluegge) Nash.
8. Paspalum parviflorum Rhode; Fluegge, Mon. Pasp. 98. 1810.
Annual; culms up to 1.5 din. long, freely branching, the nodes pilose. Leaves
flat, linear, narrow, long-pilose; racemes 2 or 3, close together, pilose at the base,
1-2 em. long; spikelets elliptic, glabrous, obtuse, the first scale wanting, I he second
and third equal, the fruiting one yellowish, as long as the spikelet.
Porto Rico (type locality, but not since collected here):-South America.
9. Paspalum rupestre Trin. Linnaea 10: 293. 1830.
Perennial; culms very slender, usually tufted, more or less pilose at the nodes,
1-2.5 dm. long. Leaves mostly basal, ciliate, 2-5 cm. long, 2.5 mm. wide or less,
flat or becoming involute; raceme solitary, very slender, 1.5-2.5 cm. long;
spikelets oval, glabrous, about 1 mm. long.
Slopes, Mlonte Alesa:-Cuba.
10. Paspalum Leoninum Chase; Hitchec. Bot. Gaz. 51: 300. 1911.
Perennial; commonly tufted and forming dense small mats; culms slender,
glabrous, except the long-hairy nodes, weak, simple, 1.5-3.5 cm. long. Basal
leaves numerous, flat, 6-12 cm. long, 2-3 mm. wide, ciliate, somewhat involute
in drying, those of the culm 1 or 2, smaller, shorter; raceme 1, very slender,
glabrous, 2-4 cm. long; spikelets elliptic, only about 1 mm. long, obtuse; first
scale wanting, the second 3-nerved.
Serpentine slopes and shaded rocks, Gianajiho, lMonte Mesa. Monte Alcgrillo,
Indiera Fria;-Cuba.
11. Paspalum portoricense Nash, Bull. Torr. Club 30: 377. 1903.
?Paspalum Richardii Steud. Syn. Pl. Glum. 1: 17. 1854.
Culms tufted, glabrous, very slender, spreading, 6 din. long or less, simple
or rarely branched. Leaves flat, 5-12 cm. long, 3-5 mm. wide, with a few long
hairs at the base; racemes 1-3, very slender, 2-6 cm. long, ascending; spikelets
geminate, oblong-elliptic, acute, about 1.8 mm. long, 0.8 mm. wide, glabrous,
about as long as the primary pedicel, the scales 3-nerved.
Moist slopes and fields at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico:-Bahamas
(according to Hitchcock and Chase).
12. Paspalum Poiretii It. & S. Syst. Veg. 2: 878. 1817.
Paspalum grarile Poir. in Lam. Encycl. Suppl. 4: 313. 1810. Not Rudge
1805.
Perennial; culms densely tufted, 5 dm. high or less, slender, glabrous, simple,
or sometimes branched at the base, the nodes pubescent. Leaves 5-10 cm. long,
3-6 mm. wide, glabrous or sparingly hirsute, or ciliate; racemes 1-3, erect or
ascending, 2-4 em. long, the rachis about 0.5 mm. wide; spikelets 1.5 mm. long,
POACEAE
0.9 mm. wide, elliptic, appressed-pubescent singly disposed, the scales 3-nerved,
the fruiting one oval.
Slopes, Aguada and Lares; St. Thomas (according to Krebs):-Jamaica; Bahanmas:
Cuba; Hispaniola. Included by Nash in P. rupestre Trin. Mrs. Chase informs us that
the application of the name Poiretii is not certainly established.
13. Paspalum Simpsoni Nash Bull. Torr. Club 24: 39. 1S97.
Paspalum gracillimum Nash, in Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 73. 1903.
Tufted, similar to P. coespitosium; culms slender, 4-8 din. high. Basal
sheaths hirsute, the upper glabrous; leaves flat, linear-lanceolate, 4-10 cm'. long,
3-10 mm. wide, glabrous on both sides, the margins ciliate; racemes 3-5. spreading.
2-7 cm. long, the rachis narrow; spikelets in pairs, obovoid, about 1.5 mm. long,
and 0.8 mm. thick, the first scale wanting, the second and third 3-nerved, densely
pubescent with short glandular hairs.
Sandy soil. Joyuda; Mona:-Florida; Ilahamas; Jamaica; Cuba.
14. Paspalum glabrum Poir. in Lam. Encycl. 5: 30. 1804.
Paspalum milioideum Desv.: Poir. in Lam. Encycl. Suppl. 4: 315. 1816.
Paspalum IIelleri Nash, Bull. Torr. Club 30: 376. 1903.
Culms tufted, slender, glabrous, erect or ascending, simple, 3 10 dm. high.
Leaves 5-20 em. long, 3-8 mm. wide, roughish-margined, with a few hairs at. the
base of the blade: racemes 2-6, narrow, 10 cm. long or less, erect or spreading;
spikelets many, oval, glabrous or pubescent, 1.7-2 mm. long, obtuse.
Sandy and rocky soil at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; Desecheo;
Mona; Vieques; Culebra; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola; Virgin Gorda; Ane-
gada:-Florida; West Indies.
15. Paspalum propinquum Nash, Bull. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 1: 291. 1899.
Perennial; culms clustered, slender, glabrous, up to 6 din. long, ascending or
spreading. Leaf-sheaths glabrous or the lower ones pubescent; blades 5-15 cm.
long, 8 mnm. wide or less, ciliate with long hairs at least near the base; racemes
solitary or 2 together, slender, 5-7 em. long; spikelets oval, puberulent, a little
less than 2 mrm. long.
In dry soil, plains and hillsides of thie northern districts, Porto Rico:-southeastern
United States; Cuba; Jamaica. Probably not distinct from P. cilialifoliunm Aliclx.
16. Paspalum caespitosum Fluegge, Mion. l'asp. 161. 1810.
Paspalum Blodgettii Chapm. Fl. S. U. S. 571. 1860.
Tufted; culms slender, 3-0 din. high. Leaves glabrous, narrowly linear,
flat, 5-20 enm. long, 3-7 nmm. wide, erect or nearly so. with glabrous sheaths;
racemes 2-06, erect, 1-5 cm. long, the rachis very narrow; spikelets in pairs, a
little less than 2 mm. lone and nearly I1 mm. wide, elliptic, the first scale want ing,
the second and third sparingly papillose-puhescent with appressed hairs, 3-nerved,
the fruiting scale yellowish-white.
Woods and thickets at lower elevations in dry districts, Porto Rico: Mona: St.
Thomas (according to Krebs):-Florida: Hahamas; J amaica: Cuba; HI ispaniola.
17. Paspalum orbiculatum Poir. in Lain. Encycl. 5: 32. 1804.
Paspalnm pusillum Vent.; Fluegge, Al on. Pasp. 100. 1S1(.
Perennial; glabrous; culms prostrate, often rooting at the nodes, slender,
sometimes 4 din. long or longer, the flowering branches erect, 5-20 cm. high.
Leaves short, lanceolate, flat, 2-5 cm. long, 7 mm. wide or less, mostly spreading;
POACEAE
racemes 2-4, short-exserted from the upper leaf-sheath, 1-3 cm. long; spikelets
orbicular-elliptic, smooth, yellowish, a little less than 1 mm. lone.
Wet banks and along shaded streams at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico;
St. Thomas (type locality of P. pusillum, but not collected there recently):-Hispaniola;
Dominica; Martinique; 'Trinidad; continental tropical America.
iS. Paspalum decumbens Sw. Prodr. 22. 1788.
Paspalum peduneulat nm Desv.; Poir. in Lam. Encycl. Suppl. 4: 315. 1816.
Perennial; culm decumbent, rooting at the lower nodes, branched, 2-5 din.
long. Leaves glabrous or more or less pubescent, ciliate, the blades 5-10 cm.
long, 12 nmm. wide or less; racemes solitary, 1.5-4 cm. long; spikelets glabrous,
paired, about 1.5 mm. long, the first scale orbicular, the second and third 3-nerved,
the fruiting one oval, longitudinally papillose.
Shaded banks and woods in wet districts, Porto Rico, ascending to SO ni.:-
Jamaica; Cuba; llispaniola; Trinidad; continental tropical America.
19. Paspalum clavuliferum C. Wright; Sauvalle, Anal. Acad. llabana 8: 203
1871.
Perennial culms tufted, slender, weak, simple or few-branched, 4 dmi. long
or less. Leaves flat, pilose-pubescent, 1-2 mm. wide; racemes 2, sometimes 3
(rarely only 1), slender, straight or slightly curved. 2-5 cm. long; spikelets elliptic-
obovate, plano-convex, pubescent, 1.5 mm. long.
Hillsides and plains at lower elevations in the northern and western districts of
Porto Rico:-Cuba; Mexico to Houth America.
20. Paspalum notatum Fluegge, Alon. Pasp. 106. 1810.
Perennial by a short, tough rootstock; culms simple, glabrous, clustered or
solitary, 1.5-4 dm. high, crect or nearly so. I eaf-sheaths ciliate or glabrous, the
blades flat, glabrous or sparingly pubescent, 6-20 cm. long, 4-8 mm. wide;
racemes 2, conju-ate, straight or becoming somewhat curved, 3-6 cm. long or
sometimes longer; spikelets oval, glabrous, obtuse, 2.5-3 amn. long, the first scale
wanting, the third 3-5-nerved.
Wet meadows, slopes and along streams at lower and middle elevations, Porto
Rico; St. Thomas (type locality, but not found there by recent collectors):-Jamaica;
Cuba; Hispaniola; Antigua; Guadeloupe; Martinique; Grenada; continental tropical
America.
21. Paspalum minus Fourn. Mex. Pl. 2: G. 1886.
Closely resembles Paspalum notatum and may not be specifically distinct
from that species. The two racemes are more widely divergent than those of
notatum and the spikelets are a little less than 2.5 n in. long.
Trujillo Alto (ex Hitchcock & Chase):-Jamaica; Cuba; continental tropical America.
22. Paspalum vaginatum Sw. Prodr. 21. 1788.
Culms 2 ( dnm. tall, from a long stout rootstock; sheaths compressed, keeled,
usually crowded and overlapping, at least at the base an(d on the innovations,
glabrous; leaves folded, or involute when dry, 1.5 dm. long or less, 2-4 mm. wide,
glabrous or sparingly hairy; racemes terminal, usually in pairs, rarely more or but
a single one, erect or ascending, 3-7 cm. long; spikelets singly disposed, ovate-
*anceolate, acute, 3-4 mm. long, the 2 outer scales glabrous, thin, the first scale
4-nerved, the lateral nerves approximate at the margin, the midnerve suppressed,
the second scale 5-nerved, tile lateral nerves rather near together, the third scale
glabrous at the apex or with 2 or 3 hairs.
Brackish soil along the coasts of Porto Rico; Mona; Vieques; St. Croix; Tortola:-
southern United States; West Indies; continental tropical America.
POACEAE
23. Paspalum distichum L. P1. Jam. Pugil. 5. 1759.
Culms 1-6 dm. tall, from a long stout rootstock; sheaths compressed, keeled,
usually crowded and overlapping, especially at the base and on the innovations,
glabrous, or mniore or less hairy on the margins; leaves commonly less than 1 dinm.
long, 3-6 mim. wide, usually glabrous; racemes terminal, in pairs, ascending,
2-5 cm. long; spikelets singly disposed, ovate, 2.5-3 mm. long, acute, the 2 outer
scales firm, 5-nerved, rarely 7-nerved, the first scale glabrous, the second ap-
pressed-pubescent, the third apiculate, pubescent at the apex.
Wet grounds at low elevations near the coasts of Porto Rico; Vieques; St. Croix:-
United States: Bermuda; West Indies: continental tropical America and Old World
tropics. JOINT-GRASS.
24. Paspalum conjugatum Berg. Act. llelv. Phys. Math. 7: 129. 1762.
Smooth and glabrous. Culms compressed, 2-9 dm. tall, finally decumbent
at the base and rooting at the lower nodes; leaves 4-16 cm. long, 4-12 imm. wide;
racemes in pairs, slender, often curved, spreading or ascending, 5-12 cm. long,
the rachis straight, or flexuous toward the apex, 0.6-0.8 nini. broad; spikelets
crowded, much compressed dorsally, singly disposed, 1.5 mm. long, 1-1.2 mam.
broad, apiculate, the 2 outer scales 2-nerved, the nerves marginal, the first scale
ciliate on the margins with very long lax hairs, the third scale smooth, white.
Hillsides and fields at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico, ascending into the
Luquillo Momuntains; Vieques; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. .Tan:-southern United States;
Bermuda; Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba to Trinidad; Margarita; continental tropical
America.
25. Paspalum fimbriatum II.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 93. 1815.
Annual; culms tufted, glabrous, often branched below, 3-8 din. high, the
sheaths hirsute or glabrous. Leaves 1-2.5 dm. long, 1.5 cm. wide or less, ciliate;
racemes 2-6. erect or ascending, 2.5-7 cil. long; spikelets mostly in pairs, sub-
orbicular, 2.5-3.5 mm. iong, the scales papillose, 3-nerved, the lower one with a
broad cleft wing, with ciliate segments, the next with a similar partial wing, the
fruiting scale 7-ridged.
Waste grounds, Porto Rico; Vieques; St. Croix:-West Indies; continental tropical
America.
Paspalum molle Poir. in Lam. Encycl. 5: 34. 1804.
A species described from St. Thomas, not undertsood by modern botanists.
Paspalum spathaceum Desv.; Poir. in Lam. Encyc. Suppl. 4: 314, 1816.
St. Thomas (ex Schlechtendal). A species not understood by modern bot-
anists.
26. PANICUM L. Sp. Pl. 55. 1753.
Annuals or perennials, various in habit, with open or contracted panicles,
Spikelets 1-2-flowered, when 2-flowered the lower one staminate only. Scales 4-
the 3 lower membranous, empty, or the third with a staminate flower, var. ing in
the same species; the inner or fourth scale chartaccous, shining, enclosing a palet
of similar texture and a perfect flower. Awns none. Stamens 3. Styles dis-
tinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, enclosed in the hardened fruiting scale and
POAOEAE
palet. [Old Latin name for some grass, probably the cultivated sorghum.
referring to its panicle, taken from Pliny.] About 500 species, in temperate and
tropical regions, known as PANIC-oRASS. Type species: P'aniiciii iliiarenm L.
A. Panicle-branchlets prolonged as a bristle beyond the upper-
most spikelet. I. I'. stlolwalaeuttl.
f. Panicle-branchlets not prolonged as a bristle
1. Basal leaves similar to those of the culhn.
a. Fourth scale transversely wrinkled.
perennial species.
Panicle open, diffusely branched. 2. 1P. maximum
Panicle of second racemes.
Nodes of the culm glabrous. 3. P. tgeminatum.
Nodes of the culni bearded. I. 1'. ibarbinode.
AIlinal species.
Culms prostrate or spreading. 5. 1'. reptans.
(ulms erect or ascending.
Spikelets glabrous, reticulate veined. Ii. P. fascirtlalstui.
Spikelets tpubescent, searcel. reticiulale-
veined. 7. 1'. ndspersum.
b. Fourth scale not transversely wrinkled.
*First scale trulcate, sitort.
Spikelets acute. 8 P1. aquathicum.
Spikelets aciminate. 9. 1'. e!eephantiprs.
**First scale not trmicate.
tAnnnal species.
Spikelets about 5 mim. long. 10. P. miliareum.
Spikelets about 1.2 mun. long. I 1. P. trichoides.
f"J Perennial species.
1$pikelets in open or contracted panicles.
Panicle narrow; s)ikelets few; leaves in-
volute.
Spikelets pointed, about 2.5 nlln. long. 12. P. tenernum.
Spikelets not Ipointed, about 1.5 mnin.
long. 13:. P. stenodes.
Panicles open, mostly large; spikelets
several or many: leaf-blades flat.
First scale about one-tifth as long as
the spikelet. 11. P. Schiffneri.
First scale about one-third as long as
the spikelet.
Culms erect, not rooting at the
lower nodes
Leaf-blades 1-3 mm. wide. 15. P. 0i
Leaf-blades 6-12 nmn. wide. lIi. 1P. ,, :. ,,
C(lnms decunmbent, rooting at the
lower nodes.
Spikelets viscid. 17. P. qlutinosism.
Spikelets not viscid.
Leaf-blades 10-25 mm. wide. 18. P. Irirhantlhum.
Leaf-blades 2-6 mm. wide. I!l. 1'. parcifniiunt.
t$Spikelets forming spike-like, more or less
second racemes in the panicles.
Cnulms erect;. panicle dense. 20. P. condenstiii.
Culmis decumbent; panicles not dense.
Leaf-blades narrowed at the base. 21. P. laxunti.
Leaf-blades cordate or truncate at the
base.
Spikelets about 2 mm. long; pani-
cle-branches nearly erect. 22. P. Sterensianuni
Spikelets about 1.5 nim. long; pani-
iele-branches spreading. 23. P. bolinirnse.
2. Basal leaves usually broader and shorter than those of
culm, forming rosettes.
a. Plants branching from the base. 24. 1'. polsraelntln.
lb. Plants branching from the nodes.
*Leaf-blades long and stilff.
Nodes not bearded.
Spikelets 2 nmm. long. 25. 1'. aciculare.
Spikelets :1 mm. long. 21(. 11. fusiformt'.
Nodes bearded. 27. P. chrysopsidijoliiumi.
**Leaf-blades not long and stiff.
Spikelets turgid, blunt, strongly nerved. 2S. P. portorieense.
Spikelets not turgid nor strongly nerved.
ligule long-hairy.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous or nearly so. 29. P. leucolhrise.
Leaf-sheaths very pubescent. 30. P. acuminatumn
lignle obsolete; plants velvety-pubescent. 31. P. scoparium.
POACEAE
1. Panicum utowanaeum Scribn.; Millsp. Field MIns. Bot. 2: 25. 1903.
Panicum Sintcnisii Nash, Bull. Torrey Club 30: 382. 1903.
Perennial by slender rootstocks; curms glabrous, rather weatk, little branched,
2-6 dm. long. Leaf-sheaths ciliate above, ligule a few short stiff hairs; blades
2 dm. Iong or less, 1-4 mm. wide, glabrous, or the upper surface pilose toward
the base; panicles slender, 3-10 cm. long, with nearly erect branches, the branch-
lets prolonged beyond the uppermost spikelet into a bristle 2-4 Dmm. long; spike-
lets about 2 mm. long, nearly sessile, ellipsoid, glabrous, the first scale acute,
1 mm. long, 3-nerved, the second 3-5-nerved, the fruit rugulose.
Hillsides at lower elevations in dry parts of the southwestern districts of Porto Rico;
Desecheo; Mona; Muertos; Anegada:-Cuba; Guadeloupe; Venezuela.
2. Panicum maximum Jaci. Ic. I'1. KIar. 1: 2, p/. 13. 17M1.
Panii,'um juincolouinm Pers. Syn. 1: 83. 18S05.
Perennial; culms 1 2 111. tall or more, leafy; leaf-sheaths over lapping,
glabrous, or tubercbilate-pubescent; lades elongated, 1-4 cin. wide, glabrous;
panicle 3 (1 dm. Irng, its branches erect or nearly so, very long; spikelets glabrous,
3-4 mm. long, the f'ilurth scale transversely rtgose.
Fields and hanks at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; AMona; leacos; Mluertos;
Vieques; St. Croix: St. Thomas; St. Jani: 'Tortola:-widely naturalized in tropical and
subtropical regions alter planting fcr fodder. Native of tropical Africa. GUINEA
GRASS. YERB (;IIINEA.
3. Panicum geminatum F'orsk. Fl. Aogypl.-Arab. IS. 1775.
Paidrium briroidcs Lain. Tabl. Encyc. 1: 170. 1701. Not LI. 1771.
Paspalum appressumn Lan. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 170. 1791.
Aquatic. Culms (-12 dmin. lone, usually clothed with sheaths below; leaves
glabrous, 2.5 dmin. long or less, 6-10 innm. wide; racemes 10-20, one-sided, the
rachis broadly winged, appressed, 2-4 cm. long; spikelets about, 2.5 unm. long,
ovate, acute, glabrous, singly disposed in 2 rows, tlhe first scale broader than
long and clasping the Sspikelet at its base, truncate at. the apex, the fourth scale
transversely wrinkled.
Banks and borders of strains and lakes al, lower elevations and in coastal salinas.
Porto Rico; Iceacos: St. Thomas; St. Jan;St. Croix; Anegada:-Florida; Texas; Bahamas,
.lamaicta; Cuba to Martinique; Curacao; Aruba; continental tropical America and Old
World Tropics. [P. paspuloides of authors, not of Persoon.] WATER-GRASS.
4. Panicum barbinode Trin. Meni. Acad. St. P'ctersb. VI. Sci. Nat. 1: 250.
1834.
Sterile culnis 1-2 hi. lung, rooting at the linodes, the fertile ones erect, 6-10
dinm. tall or more; the nodes densely barbed; leaf-sheaths often overlapping,
papillose-hirsute; blades 1-3 dmu. lng. glabrous or pubescent, I 11 ruin. wide;
panicle 1.5-2 dmi. long, its branches spreading or ascending; spikelets about 3
mmi. long, glabrouls.
Wet meadows, marshes andl in cultiaited(] grounds, Porto Rico, at lower elevations:
Mona; Culebra: Viequies; St. Croix; Tortola:-southern United States; Bermuda; West
Indies; continental tropical America. Native of South America. A valuable fodder-
grass [Panicum motle of authors, niiot Swartz.] PARA GASS. MALOJILLO. YERBA PARA
5. Panicum reptans L. Syst. ed. 10, 870. 1759.
P'anicum grossarium L. Syst. ed. 10, 871. 1759.
Panicam prostratum Lamn. Tabl. Encycl..1: 171. 1791.
Panic/um caespitosuim Sw. Fl. Ind. 1ct. 1(6. 1797.
P. prostratum pilosum Eggers, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 13: 104. 1879.
POACEAE
Annual; culims prostrate or decumbent, usually much-branched, rooting at
the lower nodes, the flowering branches 1-3 dinm. high, glabrous, or the nodes
puberulent. Leaf-sheaths ciliate; ligule a dense row of hairs; blades lanceolate,
ciliate at the base, subcordate, 6 nm. long or less, 4 12 mm. wide; panicle at length
long-stalked, of several second spikelike. raceimes 1-3 cm. long; spikelets elliptic,
about 2 minm. long, the first scale very short. [P. repens of Krobs, not of Swart z.
Hillsides and cultivated ground, Porto Rico. in dry parts of the southern districts;
Vicques; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan:-soul hern United States; Mexico; Jamaica;
Cuba to Tobago; Margarita; Curacao; continental tropical America alnd Old World.
6. Panicum fasciculatum Sw. Prodr. 22. 1788.
Puinicrmi carthagincnse Sw. Prodr. 22. 1788.
Panicum fuscum Sw. Prodr. 23. 1788.
Panicurm flavcscens Sw. Prodr. 23. 1788.
P. fusuom fascicutaltu Griseb. Fl. Br. W. 1. 547. 1864.
P. fascirulaitumi fluvrscrnt Dooll. in Mart. Fl. Bras. 22: 205. 1877.
Pairuvi i paniclatum Nash, Bull. 'J'orr. Club 30: 381. 1903. Not Kuntze 1898.
Perennial; culmis glabrous or somewhat pubescent above, slender or rather
stout, erect, spreading or ascending, 0.3-1 in. long. Leaves flat, 3 dmI. long or
less, 0.6-2 cm. wide, glabrous or more or less pubescent, the sheaths sometimes
pilose or hispid; panicles 5-15 mti. long, the branches racome-like, ascending;
spikelets commonly approximate, short-stalked, brown, 2-2.5 inm. long, glabrous,
the outer scales reticulate-veined, the fourth scale rugose.
AMoist banks, hillsides and woodlands, Porto Rico, at lower and tuiddle elevations;
Vieques; Culebra; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola:-soultherni United States;
West Indies; continental tropical America. [?'rochloa fasciculata of Krchs.]
7. Panicum adspersum Trin. Gram. Pan. 1 16. 1826.
Cilms ascending or spreading, rooting at the lower nodes, branched, coin-
pressed, glabrous, 3-10 din. long. Sheaths ciliate above; leaf-blades 5-20 cm.
long, 8-20 min. wide, glabrous, or sometimes ciliate at the base, rather stiff,
abruptly acuminate, rough-margined; panlicles 6-15 ecm. long, composed of many
spike-like racemes; spikelets short-stalkeo, 3-4 nmm. long, 1.5--1.8 nmm. wide,
fusiform; first scale acute, glabrous, 5-nerved, about one-third as long as the
whole spikclet; second and thiid scales, hispid at least above, rarely glabrous.
Banks and hillsides at lower elevations in dry parts of the southern districts of Porto
Rico, extending north to Guanajibo on the western coast: 1Mona; lMuertos; Vieques;
St. Croix; St..Iani; Tortola; Virgin Gorda:-southerni United States; Bahamas; Jamaica;
Cuba; Hispaniola; Saba; Guadeloupe.
S. Panicum aquaticum Poir. in Lain. liEicycl. Suippl. 4: 281. 1810.
Peren'nial; culins rather stout, glabrous, dectiumbni t blow and rooting at the
nodes, simple or branching, the branches nearly erect, 2-5 din. high. Leaf-
sheaths glabrous, or pilose above; blades 8-25 cm. long, 5-10 tmm. wide, glabrous,
or sparingly pilose above; panicles short-stalked, open, 8-20 cm. long, the filiform
branches spreading, smooth or nearly so; spikelets about, 3 mim. long, I mnm.
wide, acute, the first scale short, truncate, the second and third strongly nerved.
[Referred by lbackel to 1'. prolifervxt Lam.]
Wet grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico:-Cuba; Trinidad; conti-
nental tropical America. Recorded by Krebs fromii St. Thomas.
9. Panicum elephantipes Nees, Agrost. Bras. 165. 1829.
Annual; culms ascending from a decumbent base, rooting at the lower nodes,
somewhat Ileshy, up to 1 m. long, stout, sometimes 2 cm. thick, glabrous, the
nodes usually blackish. Leaf-sheaths glabrous, the blades 1.5-5 din. long, 7-20
mm. wide, pilose above near the base; panicles open, 2-4 din. long, their slender
POACEAE 45
branches ascending; spikelets acuminate, 4-5 mm. long; first scale 1-1.5 mm.
long, subtruncate, the second and third 7-9-nerved. [Referred by IIackel to
P. chloroticunm pingue Nees.]
Wet grounds at low elevations, Porto Rlici:-Cuba; Jamaica; continental tropical
America.
10. Panicum miliaceum L,. Sp. P1. 5.s. 1753.
Cu lms erect or declinbeiit, rather slout, 3 min. tall or more, glabrous or
hirsute. Sheaths papillose-hirsite; leaves 1.25-2.5 dlin. long, 8-25 inmm. wide,
more or less pubescent; panicle rather dense, 1-2.5 din. long; branches erect or
ascending; spikelets 5 unm. long, acuminate; first scale about two-thirds as long
as the spikolet, acuminate, 5-7-nerved; second scale acuminate, 13-nerved, some-
what exceeding the 7-13-nerved acuminate third one, which subtends an empty
palet; fourth scale shorter than the third, becoming indurated, obtuse.
Waste grounds, St. Croix:- United S states. Native of the Old World. HOG MILLET.
11. Panicum trichoides Sw. P'rodr. 24. 1788.
Panirum brcvifolinm of authors. Not L. 1753.
Panicuat capillaccutin Lain. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 173. 1791.
Aniiual; culmns slender, ascending or erect, G dim. high or less, pubescent
Sheaths pubescent and ciliate; leaf-blades membranous, 2 7 cra. long, 1-2 eam.
wide, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate at the ;apex, cordate-clasping at the base,
glabrous or sparingly pubescent; panicles 2 dmi. long or less, their branches
filiform, spreading and ascending; spikelets nearly ellipsoid, a bout 1.2 mm. long,
sparingly hirsute; first scale acute, 1-nerved, about one-half as long as the whole
spikelet; second and third scales 3-nerved.
Banks, hillsides, woods and along streams, 'uorto tico, ascending to high elevations;
St. Thomas (ex Eggers); Tortola:-West Indies; continental tropical America.
12. Panicum tenerum Beyr.; Trin. Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. VI. Nat. 1: 341.
1834.
Perennial; culms slender, stiff, tufted, glabrous, 4-9 dim. high. Sheaths
glabrous, or the lower softly pubescent; leaf-blades 4-15 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide,
or the upper much smaller, crect, somewhat involute in drying, somewhat pu-
bescent, at least toward the base; panicles solitary and terminal, 3-8 cm. long,
or also a few smaller ones lateral; spikelets 2-2.8 mmn. long, about I mim. wide,
pointed, short-stalked, rather crowded; first scale about one-half the length of the
whole spikelet, 1-nerved, t lie second and third 5 -7-nerved.
AMoist white sand near Mlaniati:-southeastern United States; laliamas; Cuba.
13. Panicum stenodes Griscb. Fl. Br. W. 1. 547. 1801.
Perennial; culns tufted, wiry, glabrous, erect or reclining, 5 diii. high or less,
usually branched at or above the middle, the branches elongated. Leaves
glabrous, the blades 1-4 cmi. long, involute, 1-2 mm. wide; panicles small, only
1-2 cm. long, the subracemose spikelets about 1.5 mm. long, elliptic; first scale
about one-half the length of the spikelet, nerveless or 1-nerved, the second and
third 5-nerved.
Savanna near San Juan on road to Trujillo Alto:-Jamaica; Cuba; Ilispaniola; con-
tinental tropical America.
14. Panicum Schiffneri hack. Ergeb. Dot. Exp. Sudbras. 11. 1906.
Perennial; culms slender, decumbent, ascending or clambering, with long
diverging branches, glabrous or more or less hirsute. Leaf-sheaths papillose-
POAOEAE
hispid, at least above, the blades flat, lanceolate, 10-18 cm. long, 1-2.5 cm. wide,
scabrate anti sometimes sparingly hispid, the base narrowed; panicles 10-15
cm. long, the filiform branches spreading or the lower reflexed, scabrous, pilose
at the base; spikelets clustered on the branchlets, glabrous, about 2 mm. Long
and 1 mm. thick, obtuse, first scale very short, (lie second and third about equal.
[?Ponicum commielinnacfolium 11. & S.]
River banks and wet slopes, Porto Rico:-Alartinique; St. Vincent, continental
tropical America.
15. Panicum diffusum Sw. Prodr. 23. 1878.
Perennial; culms tufted, spreading or ascending, simple or little branched,
glabrous with pubescent nodes, 2-5 din. high. Sheaths striate, glabrous or
pubescent; leaf-blades 2 din. long or less, 1-3 inm. wide, sparingly pubescent;
panicles 5-10 cm. long, open, the branches liliforni; spikelets few, near the ends
of the panicle-branches, short-stalked, about 2 mm. long and 1 mm. wide; first
scale acute, about. one-half as long as the spikelet; second and third scales 7-9-
nerved.
Hillsides near the coast, western and northwestern districts of Porto Hico; St. Croix
(ex (risebach); St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola:-West Indies, south to 1Martinique.
16. Panicum Ghiesbreghtii Fourn. Alex. PI. 2: 21. 18860.
P'anicini hirtiragiinm i itche. Contr. IT. S. Nat. Ilerb. 12: 223. 1909.
Perennial; culms erect, tufted, rather stout, 0- 8 dim. high, the nodes hirsute.
Sheaths hirsute; leaf-blades flat, up to ri dim. long and 12 mm. wide, hirsute or
glabrate; panicle 2-3 din. long, its branches ascending; spikelets numerous, short-
stalked, about 3 mm. long and 1 mm. wide; first scale acute, one-half to two-
Ihirds as long as the whole spikelet; second and third scales 7-9-nerved. [Re-
corded by Hackel as P. diffiUsin Sw.]
Moist meadows at lower elevations, Porto Kico:-B3ahamas; Jamaica; Cuba; con-
tinental tropical America.
17. Panicum glutinosum Sw. Prodr. 24. 178S.
Perennial: culmns erect with a deeumbent base, rooting at the lower nodes,
rather stout, glabrous, 1-2 in. high. Leaf-sheaths glabrous or pilose, bearded
at the mouth, the blades 1.5-5 dm. long, 1-2.5 cm. wide, long-acuminate, ciliate
toward the base; panicles open, 1-3 dm. tong, their branches ascending, bearded
at the base, th lie lower verticillate, the branchlets scabrous and sometimes viscid;
spikelets slender-stalked, viscid, about 3 nmm. long, the first and second scales
about equal.
Banks, hillsides and forests at middle adl higher elevations in wet or moist districts,
Porto Rico; Si. Croix (ex West):-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; continental tropical
America.
18. Panicum trichanthum Nees, Agrost. Bras. 210. 1829.
Perennial; cunlns often clustered. glabrous, slender, decumbent or ascending,
up to 2 m. long. T-eaf-sheallis glabrous or ciliate, sometimes villons at the
mouth, the blades lanceolate, glabrous or sparingly pubescent, 8-15 cm. long,
1-2.5 emn. wide, the base cordate, the apex acuminate; panicles diffuse, 1-3 cm.
long, the spreading branches and branchlets capillary; spikelets very numerous,
nearly oblong, acute, about 1.3 mm. long; first scale very short, the second and
third 3-nerved.
Thickets, woods and river hanks in wet or moist districts, Porto Rico:-Cuba;
Jamaica; Trinidad; continental tropical America.
POACEAE
19. Panicum parvifolium Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 173. 1791.
Panicum oplismenoides Nash, Bull. Torr. Club 30: 381. 1903. Not Hack.
1888.
Perennial; culms slender, creeping or decumbent, rooting at the nodes,
branched, glabrous, or the nodes sometimes pilose, 2-8 din. long. Leaf-sheaths
glabrous or sparingly pilose or ciliate, the blades lanceolate, short, 1-3 cm. long,
2-7 mnm. wide, sometimes pilose near the rounded or subcordate base; panicles
short-stalked, 2-6 cm. long, the branches filiform, spreading; spikelets glabrous,
about 1.5 mm. long, obtuse; first scale about 0.7 mm. long, the second and third
5-nerved; fruit smooth, shining.
Wet grounds, northern coastal plain of Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba; Trinidad,
continental tropical America.
20. Panicum condensum Nash in Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 93. 1903.
Culmns tufted, branched, 0.6-1 m. tall, the basal sheaths compressed and
keeled. Leaf-blades 2- d(m. long, 6-8 mm. wide, erect or nearly so; panicles
large, dense, oblong, 1-2.5 dmn. long, their branches erect; spikelets numerous,
about 2.3 mm. long, acute, glabrous; first scale acuminate, about one-half the
length of the whole spikelet; second and third scales acuminate.
Swamps and borders of lakes, northern coastal plain of Porto Rico:-southeastern
United Stattes; Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba; Guadeloupe (?); Mexico.
21. Panicum laxum Sw. Prod. 23. 1788.
Panicum agrostidiforme Lam. Tabl. Encycl, 1: 172. 1791.
Panticum tenuiculmu i l eyer, Prim. Fl. Esseq. 58. 1818.
Culms simple or little branched, often decumbent and rooting at the lower
nodes, 4-12 din. high. Sheaths hirsute above, otherwise glabrous; blades 1-2.5
dmn. long, 4-15 nmm. wide, glabrous, or sparingly pubescent on the tipper side;
panicles 0.5-3 dm. long, with many, slender spike-like branches, the lower branches
spreading, the ultimate branchlets mostly secutnd; spikelets 1-1.5 mm. long, about
0.7 mm. wide, short-stalked; first scale 1-3-nerved, about one-third the length of
the whole spikelet, the second somewhat shorter than the third. [?P. pilosum
of Krebs.]
Moist or wet soil, Porto Rico, ascending to at least 900 ci.; Vieques; St. Thomas;
Tortola;-West Indies; continental tropical America.
22. Panicum Stevensianum H. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 17: 498. 1915.
Perennial; culms compressed, 3-6 dm. long, prostrate, rooting at the nodes,
the branches ascending, about 3 din. high. Leaf-sheaths ciliate, keeled, the
blades flat, glabrous, 4-10 cm. long, 10 mm. wide or less, the base truncate or
subcordate, sometimes ciliate; panicle short-stalked, 6-10 cm. long, narrow, its
spike-like branches nearly erect and appressed; spikelets crowded, about 2 mm.
long, acute; first scale about one-fourth the length of the spikelet; the second
and third 3-5-nerved, about equal.
In wet wldhite sand, Laguna do Tortuguero:-Cuba,
23. Panicum boliviense Hack. Report. 11: 19. 1912.
Perennial; culm creeping or decumbent and rooting at the lower nodes,
rather slender, glabrous, branched, the branches erect, 5-15 dm. high. Leaf-
sheaths glabrous, or hirsute above, with ciliate margins, the blades flat, 5-16
cm. long, 8-20 mm. wide, the base subcordate, clasping, ciliate; panicle stalked,
7-25 cm. long, its branches spike-like, distant, or the upper approximate; spikelets
nearly sessile, about 1.5 mm. long, and one-half as wide as long, the first scale
short, the second and third about equal in length, obtuse.
Hillsides, Tortola:-Cuba; St. Kitts (7); continental tropical America.
POACEAE
24. Panicum polycaulon Nash, Bull. Torr. Club 24: 200. 1897.
Densely tufted, forming rosettes or small mats, the basal leaves much larger
than those of the culms; culms glabrous, simple,'or branched at the base, 6-20
cm. high, often many together. Basal leaf-blades linear-lanceolate, 3-7 cm.
long, 2-6 amm. wide, ciliate, the sheaths ciliate; panicles pilose, 4-7 cm. long;
spikelets filiform-stalked, glabrous, 1.5-2 mm. long, obovate, obtuse; first scale
about one-third as long as the spikelet, acutish; second and third scales nerved.
Grassy places at lower and middle elevations in moist districts, Porto Rico:-
southeastern United States: Jamaica; Cuba. Referred by RIackel to f'. ciliatum Ell.
25. Panicum aciculare Desv.; Poir. in Lam. Encycl. Suppl. 4: 274. 1816.
Culms slender, ascending, 1-3 dm. long, pubescent at least above, at length
bushy-branched and forming cushion-like masses. Leaf-sheaths villous or ciliate,
the blades linear, rather stiff, involute and tapering to a sharp tip, glabrous, or the
lower pilose, 4-7 cm. long, 2-5 mm. wide, or those of the culms much smaller and
narrower; panicles 3-7 cm. long; spikelets about 2 mm. long and 1 mm. thick,
obovoid, obtuse; first scale about one-fourth the length of the spikelet, the
second and third papillose-pubescent.
Hillsides at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico:-southern United States; Cuba.
26. Panicum fusiforme HIitchec. Contr. Nat. Herb. 12: 222. 11909.
Culms tufted, up to 7 dm long, usually shorter, pubescent, ultimately busily-
branched. Leaves still, somewhat pubescent, or ciliate, their sheaths villous,
their blades long-aciuminate, 10 cm. long or less; panicles exserted; spikelcts
ellipsoid, pubescent, about 3 imm. long, the I.st scale obtuse.
Summit of El Ytuque:-Florida; Jamaica; Cuba; British Ilonduras.
27. Panicum chrysopsidifolium Nash in Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 100. 1903.
Culms slender or rather stout, 4.5 din. long or less, densely villous, often
purplish, at length diffusely branched and matted, the nodes bearded. Leaves
villous, rather stiff, the blades of the lower or basal ones 5-10 cm. long, 3-8 Dmm.
wide, those of the later branches much smaller and narrower; panicles at length
long-stalked, 4-7 cm. long, with filiform, flexuous branches; spikelets obovoid,
obtuse, about 2 mm. long; first scale about one-third the length of the spikelet,
the second and third villous. [Recorded by Hackel as P. angustifolium Ell.
and as P. consanguineum Kunth.]
Slopes and banks at lower and middle elevations in moist or wet districts, Porto
Rico, ascending into the Luquillo 1lMountains:-southeastern United States; Cuba.
28. Panicum portoricense Dosv.; Ilamilt. Prodr. 11, 1825.
Panicum pauciciliatint Ashe, Joirn. Elisha, Mitchell Soc. 16: 87. 19100.
Culms commonly clustered, ascending or decumbent, pumberulent or glabrate,
3 din. long or less, at length branched from most of the nodes. Shoaths usually
ciliate, at least above; ligules inconspicuous; blades rather thin, glabrous or
pubernlent, 2-5 cm. long, 3-6 mm. wide, or those of the later branches much
smaller; panicle small, 2-6 cm. long, glabrous; spikelets usually few, turgid,
obliquely obovoid, blunt, 1.5 mm. long; first scale about one third the length of
the spikelet, obtuse, the second andml third strongly 7-9-norved, puberulent.
[Recorded by IIackel as P. Nashianum Scribn.]
Sandy soil northern coastal plain of Porto Rico:-southeastern United States; Cuba.
29. Panicum leucothrix Nash, Bull. Torr. Club 24: 41. 1897.
Culms tufted, pubescent or puberulent at least above, slender, ascending or
erect, the later ones much branched, 2.4-5 din. long. Leaf-blades more or less
pubescent, ciliate or puberulent, the hairy ligules about 3 mm. long, rather thin,
POACEAE
flat, 2-7 cm. long, 2-7 inni. wide, the sheaths often nearly glabrous or with some
long hairs; panicle 2-8 cm. long, pilose, the branches filiform; spikelets nearly
ellipsoid, about 1.3 nmm. long, papillose-pubescent, first scale obtuse, about one-
fourth the length of the spikelet, the second and third about equal, 7-nerved.
Savannas and hillsides, Porto Rico:-southeastern United States; Cuba.
30. Panicum acuminatum Sw. Prodr. 23. 1788.
Panictn) ornatum Desv.; Ilamilt. Prodr. 11. 1825.
Panicum comophyllum Nash, Bull. Torr. Club 30: 380. 1903.
Culms densely villous, ascending, 7 dm. long or less, the later ones usually
branched at most of the nodes, the ultimate branchlets commonly fascicled.
Leaves villous or pubescent, or the upper sheaths glabrate, the ligule about 3
mim. long, the blades 4-8 cm. long, 6-13 nm. wide, those of the later branches
much smaller; paniclo up to 10 cm. long, villous; spikclots obovoid, nearly 2 mm.
long, pilose, first scale about one third as long as the spikelet, the second and
third strongly nerved. [Referred by Hackel to P. dichotomum L.]
Banks at lower and middle elevations in moist districts, Porto Rico:-Jamalca;
Cuba; Ilispaniola; Colombia.
31. Panicum scoparium Lam. Encycl. 4: 744. 1798.
Culms rather stout, densely velvety, branched, erect, ascending or le-
cumbent, up to 1 m. long, the base usually decumbent, the nodes villous with a
viscid ring above. Leaf-sheaths velvety or viscid, the blades lanceolate, villous,
2 din. long or less, S 15 mm. wide, or those of the branches much smaller; panicle
stalked, 6-15 cm. long, viscid, its filiform branches spreading or ascending;
spikelets pedicelled, oblong-obovoid, villous, about 2.5 1mm. long, pointed; first
scale very short, the second and third strongly nerved.
Rocky situations, Sierra do Naguabo:-southeastern United States; Cuba.
Panicum cayennense Lam. is recorded, by Schlechtondal, with doubt, as
collected on St. Thomas. We have no e. evidence of its existence there.
Panicum anceps MIichx., of the United States; P. distachyvm L., of Asia
and Australia; and P. oryzoides Sw., of tropical America, recorded by Krebs as
formerly found in St. Thomas, arc, presumably errors for identification.
27. ICHNANTHUS Bcauv. Agrost. 56. 1812.
1Mostly perennial, herbaceous grasses, with flat. leaf-blades and panicled,
narrow, 1-2-flowered spikelets jointed below the scales. Scales 4, awnless, the
lirst one often as long as the whole spikelet, Lower flower of the spikelet com-
monly staminate, sometimes wanting, the upper one perfect. Fruiting scale
with basal appendages, or in our species with excavations, its back turned toward
the rachis of the spikelet. [Greek, vestigial flower.] About 25 species, natives
of tropical America. Type species: Ichnanthus panicoides Beauv.
Lower scales attenuate-acuminate. 1. 1. nemorosus.
Lower scales acute or merely acuminate.
Leaf-blades lanceolate, glabrous. 2. I. pallens.
Leaf-blades ovate to ovate-lanceolate, often pubescent beneath. 3. I. axillaris.
1. Ichnanthus nemorosus (Sw.) Doeli in Mart. Fl. Bras. 22: 289. 1877.
Panicum nemorosum Sw. Prodr. 22. 178S.
Perennial; culms prostrate, often rooting at the nodes, branched, glabrous.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous or sparingly pilose or ciliate; blades ovate to lanceolate,
somewhat inequilateral, acuminate, glabrous or sparingly pilose; panicles 8 m.
long or shorter; lower scales lanceolate, attenuate-acuminate.
Mountain forests of Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; St. Kitts to Trinidad;
continental tropical America.
POACEAE
2. Ichnanthus pallens (Sw.) Munro; Benth. Fl. Hongk. 414. 1861.
Panicum pallens Sw. Prodr. 23. 1788.
Similar to I. nemorosu s, the culms more slender and more elongated. Leaf-
blades lanceolate, glabrous or sparingly pilose; panicles usually larger; lower
scales acute or acuminate, not attenuate.
Shaded banks, forests, woodlands and along streams, Porto Rico, ascending to higher
elovations:-Jamaica; Cuba; HIispaniola; St. Kitts to Trinidad; continental tropical
America. CARUZO.
3. Ichnanthus axillaris (Nees) H. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Iherb. 18: 334. 1917.
Panicum axillare Nees Agrost. Bras. 141. 1829.
Culms commonly shorter than those of either of the two preceding species.
Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, usually more or less pubescent at least beneath;
lower scales acute or acuminate.
Mountain forests of Porto Rico:-Ilispaniola; Tobago; Trinidad; northern South
America.
28. LASIACIS (Grlseb.) Hitchc. Contr. U. S. Nat. Hlerb. 15: 16. 1910.
Perennial, woody, often elongated and vine-like grasses, with flat leaves,
the inflorescence of terminal panicles of large subglobose somewhat oblique
1-flowered spikelets. Scales 4, somewhat coriaceous or chartaceous, not awnod,
bearing an apical tuft of short hairs. (Grain enclosed in the hard fruiting scale
and palet. [Greek, hairy-tip.] Ten species or more, of tropical andi subtropical
America, known as C ANE-GRASS. Type species: Panicim dicaricaluin L.
Leaf-blades glabrous.
Leaf-blades linear-attenuoate, mostly less than 5 inmo. wide. 1. L. Harrisi.
Leaf-blades lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, mostly 5-20 nuu. wide.
Panicles few-flowered, the branches zigzag. 2. L. divaricala.
Panicles many-flowered, the branches straight. 3. L. Sloanei.
Leaf-blades pubescent or puberulent, at least beneath.
Ligule brown, about 2 mm. long; leaves puberulent beneath. 4. L. liqgulaa.
Ligule 1 nmm. long or less; leaves velvety-pubescent on both sides. 5. L. sorghoidea.
1. Lasiacis Harrisii Nash, Torreya 13: 274. 1913.
Culms clambering, glabrous, branched, up to 6 m. long, the branches very
slender. Leaf-sheaths glabrous or sometimes ciliate; ligule scarious, 1 mm. long
or less, blades linear-lanceolate, attenuate, 5-12 cm. long, mostly less than 5 mm.
wide, glabrous, rather thin; panicles narrow, few-flowered, short stalked, 3-7 cm.
long, the branches few and short; spikelets ellipsoid, about 4 mm. long, the first
scale orbicular, about 2 mm. long.
Hillsides, slopes and thlickets in moist districts, Porto Rico; St. Jan:-Jamaica.
2. Lasiacis divaricata (L.) Hitchel. Contr.. U. S. Nat. Herb. 15: 16. 1910.
Panicurm divaricalum L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 871. 1759.
P'anicum bambusoides Desv.; Hamilt. Prodr. 10. 1825.
Panicum divaricalum glabruti Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 784. 1891.
Culm glabrous, smooth, much branched, erect or arching, 2-3 in. long, the
branches sometimes pendent. Sheaths ciliate; leaf-blades glabrous, acuminate,
those of the main culm 8-12 cm. long, 1-2 cm. wide, those of the branches smaller;
panicle 5-10 cm. long, its slender branches spreading or deflexed; spikelets
swollen, 4-5 mm. long.
Thickets and woodlands, Porto Rico, ascending to higher elevations; MIona; Muertos;
Vieques; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola:-West Indies; continental tropical
America.
POACEAE
3. Lasiacis Sloanei (Griseb.) Hitchc. Bot. Gaz. 51: 302. 1911.
Panicum latifolium Hamilt. Prodr. 10. 1825. Not L. 1753.
Panicvm Sloanei Griseb. Fl. Br. W. I. 551. 1864.
Culms arching or clambering, glabrous, 2-4 m. long, the branches slender,
elongated. Leaf-sheaths glabrous or their margins ciliate; ligule very short;
petiole commonly pubescent; blades lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, thin,
6-15 cm. long, 8-20 mm. wide; panicles 6-20 cm. long, their branches rather
widely spreading; spikelets ellipsoid or obovoid, pale, about 4 mm. long.
Dry hillside, Arecibo:-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; Dominica to Trinidad and
South America.
4. Lasiacis ligulata H. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 337. 1917.
Panicum divaricatum puberulum Griseb. Fl. Br. W. I. 551. 1864.
Culms clambering, sometimes attaining a length of 10 meters, and a dia-
meter of 1 cm. toward the base, the slender, widely spreading branches nearly
straight. Leaf-sheaths ciliate, otherwise glabrous; ligule brown, about 2 mm.
long; blades lanceolate, 12 cm. long or less, 3-15 mm. wide, acuminate, glabrous
above, puberulent beneath, roughish-margined; panicles rather loose, 5-10 cm.
long, the short slender branches at length reflexed; spikelets obovoid, nearly black
when mature, about 4 mm. long.
Hillsides and thickets at lower and middle elevations in moist districts, Porto Rico;
St. Thomas; Tortola:-Tobago; Trinidad; Brazil.
5. Lasiacis sorghoidea (Desv.) H. & 0. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 338. 1917.
Panicum sorghoideum Desv.; IIamilt. Prodr. 10. 1825.
Panicum Swartzianum Hitche. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 140. 1908.
Lasiacis Swartziana Hitchc. Bot. Gaz. 51: 302. 1911.
Culms arching or clambering, glabrous, 3-7 m. long, the branches slender.
Leaf-sheaths velvety-pubescent or glabrate; ligule inconspicuous, 1 mm. long or
less; blades lanceolate, velvety-pubescent on both sides, the larger ones 1-2 dm.
long, 1-2.5 cm. wide; panicles usually loosely branched and about as broad as
long, their slender branches spreading or ascending; spikelots pale, subglobose,
about 3 mm. long. [Referred by Urban to Panicum maculatum Aubl. (1775)
but the identity is doubted.]
Wooded slopes and ravines at middle and higher elevations, Porto Rico; St. Croix;
St. Thomas; Virgin Gorda:-Jamaica; Cuba; Antigua to Trinidad and South America.
29. SACCIOLEPIS Nash in Britton, Man. 89. 1901.
Perennial grasses, with flat leaf-blades and small spikelets in panicles.
Spikelets 1-flowered, jointed below the scales. Scales 4, the outer 3 membranous
the second one much larger than the others, saccate at the base, many-nerved,
the fourth one chartaceous. Stamens 3. Styles distinct; stigmas plumose.
[Greek, with reference to the saccate second scale of the spikelet.] A few
American species, the following typical.
1. Sacciolepis striata (L.) Nash, Bull. Torrey Club 30: 383. 1903.
Holcus striatus L. Sp. Pl. 1048. 1753.
Panicum striatum Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 172. 1791.
Culms erect, with a creeping or decumbent base, branched below, 0.6-1.8 m.
long. Lower leaf-sheaths hirsute, the upper usually glabrous; blades 7-18 cm.
POACEAE
long, 4-20 mm. wide, pubescent; panicle dense, narrow, 2.5 dm. long or less:
spikelets elliptic, 3-4 mm. long.
Wet grounds at lower elevations, Porto Rico;-southeastern United States; Jamaica:
Cuba. Reported from Bermuda.
30. HYMENACHNE Beauv. Agrost. 48. 1812.
Perennial, mostly marsh or aquatic grasses, with flat leaf-blades, and small
1-flowered acuminate spikelets in dense or interrupted spikelike panicles, the
very short pedicels jointed below the scales. Scales 4, membranous, all awnless,
the second one not inflated, the fruiting one little indurated, open at the summit,
not stalked. Styles distinct; stigmas plumose. [Greek, membranous scales.]
A few species of tropical and warm-temperate regions. Type species: Agroslis
monostachya Poir.
1. Hymenachne amplexicaulis (Rudge) Nees, Agrost. Bras. 276. 1829.
Panicum aimplexicaule Rudge, Pl. Guian. 1: 21. 1805.
Agrostis monoslachya Poir. in Lam. Encycl. Suppl. 1: 250. 1810.
Panicum hymennchne Desv. Opus. 82. 1831.
Culm erect from a more or less decumbent base, often rooting at the lower
nodes, stout, glabrous, 1-2 n. high. Leaf-blades thin, glabrous, lanceolate,
long-acuminate, 1-3 dm. long, 1-5 cm. wide, the base cordate-clasping; spike-
like panicles elongated, 2-5 dm. long, 8-10 mm. thick, sometimes with a few short
branches below; spikelets lanceolate, 4-5 mm. long.
Wet grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba; His-
paniola; Guadeloupe; Dominica; MIartinique, Trinidad; continental tropical America
and Old World tropics.
31. ISACHNE R. Br. Prodr. 196. 1810.
Mostly perennial and branching grasses, with flat, conspicuously nerved
leaf-blades, the small spikelets panicled, globose or obovoid. Scales 4, not
awned, the two lower ones unequal, empty, the third and fourth flowering, both
usually with perfect flowers, and forming plano-convex grains which usually
remain attached to the minute rachilla. [Greek, similar scales.] About 30
species, tropical and subtropical. Type species: Isachne australis R. Br.
1. Isachne angustifolia Nash, Bull. Torrey Club 30: 377. 1903.
Culms 1 m. long or less, prostrate and branched, often forming large masses,
glabrous or slightly pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous or somewhat pubescent;
ligule a ring of short hairs; blades 2-10 cm. long, 4-6 mm. wide, rough and green
above, smooth and glaucescent beneath; panicles long-stalked, 5-8 cm. long, the
branches spreading, puberulent; spikelets about 1.5 mm. long.
Slopes and forest borders at higher elevations, Porto Rico:-Guadcloupe. Referred
by Hackel to I. arundinacea (Sw.) Griseb. The plant mentioned by Urban under 1.
rigidifolia (Poir.) Urban, is I. angustifolia, the only species known in Porto Rico.
Isachne disperma (Laam.) Dooll [I. dubia Kunth], was recorded by Krebs
as formerly found in St. Thomas; it is now known only from the Lesser Antilles
from St. Kitt's southward.
32. OPLISMENUS Beanv. Fl. Owar. 2: 14. 1807.
Perennial grasses, often decumbent and branched at the base, with broad
flat leaf-blades and inflorescence composed of spikes, bearing on the lower side
scattered clusters of a few spikelets. Spikelets 1-flowered. Scales 4, the 3 outer
POACEAE
membranous, the first and second empty, awned, the first equalling or somewhat
shorter than the spikelet, the third scale usually awned, empty, or enclosing a
small palct, the fourth one shorter than the others, obtuse, awnless, chartaceous,
finally indurated, enclosing a shorter palet of similar texture and a perfect flower.
Stamens 3. Styles distinct to the base. Stigmas plumose. [Greek, armed,
presumably referring to the awns.] About 4 species, natives of warm regions.
Type species: Oplismenus africanus Beauv.
1. Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) Beauv. Agrost. 54, 168. 1812.
Panicum hirtellum L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 870. 1759.
Oplismenus setarius R. & S. Syst. 2: 481. 1817.
Orthopogon loliaceus Spreng. Syst. 1: 306. 1825.
Culms prostrate or nearly so, rooting at the nodes, very slender, 6 dm. long
or less. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 1-6 cm. long, 1 cm. wide
or less, their sheaths often pubescent; panicle 8 cm. long or less, its filiform short
branches erect or spreading; spikelets 3 mm. long, the awns up to 8 mm. long.
Shaded banks, woodlands and forests, Porto Rico, at lower and middle elevations;
Vieques;: ulebra; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola; Virgin Gorda:-southern
United States; Bermuda; West Indies; continental tropical America. WOOD-GRASS
33. ECHINOCHLOA Beauv. Agrost. 53, 161. 1812.
Usually tall grasses, commonly annuals, with broad leaves and a terminal
inflorescence consisting of one-sided racemes racemosely or paniculately arranged.
Spikelets 1-flowered," singly disposed, or in smaller racemes or clusters on the
ultimate divisions of the inflorescence. Scales 4, the outer 3 membranous, hispid
on the nerves, the third and usually also the second scale awned, or sometimes
merely awn-pointed, the awn often very long; fourth scale indurated, shining,
frequently pointed, enclosing a palet of similar texture and a perfect flower.
Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain free. [Greek, in ref-
erence to the stout hispid hairs of the spikelets.] Species about 12, mostly in
warm and tropical countries. Type species: Panicum Crus-galli L.
Annuals; ligule wanting.
Spikelets in about 4 rows; third scale merely tipped, none of them
awned. 1. E. colonum.
Spikelets irregularly arranged, not in definite rows; third scale
awned. 2. E. Crus-galli.
Perennial; ligule a dense line of stiff hairs. 3. E. polyslachya.
1. Echinochloa colonurn (L.) Link, Hort. Berol. 2: 209. 1833.
Panicum colonum L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 870. 1759.
Oplismenus colonus H. B. K. Nov. Gen. 1; 108. 1816.
Annual; culms tufted, smooth and glabrous, 1.5-7.5 dm. tall, often decum-
bent and rooting at the lower nodes. Sheaths compressed, usually crowded;
leaf-blades 2.5-17 cm. long, 2-8 mam. wide; inflorescence composed of 3-18,
1-sided, more or less spreading dense racemes 6-50 mun. long, disposed along a
3-angled rachis and generally somewhat exceeding the length of the internodes;
spikelets single, in pairs, or in 3's in rows on one side of the hispidulons, tri-
angular rachis, obovate, pointed, the first scale about one-half as long as tihe
spikelet, 3-nerved, the second and third scales a little more than 2 nmn. long,
awnless, 5-nerved, hispid on the nerves, the fourth scale cuspidate.
Fields, hillsides, waste and cultivated grounds, Porto Rico: Vieques; Culebra;
St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola:-West Indies; continental tropical America. and
Old World tropics. JUNGLE RiCE.
POACEAE
2. Echinochloa Crus-galli (L.) Beauv. Agrost. 53, 161. 1812.
Panicum Crus-galli L. Sp. Pl. 56. 1753.
Oplismenus Crus-pavonis II.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 108. 1815.
Panicum sabulicolum Nees, Agrost. Bras. 258. 1829.
Panicum Crus-galli sabulicolum Doell in 1\art. Fl. Bras. 22: 142. 1877.
Echinochloa sabulicolum Hitche. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 17: 257. 1913.
Annual; culms 60-12 dm. tall, often branching at base. Sheaths smooth and
glabrous; leaf-blades 1.5-6 dm. long, 6-25 mm. wide, glabrous, smooth or sca-
brous; panicle composed of 5-15 sessile, erect or ascending racemes, or the lower
branches spreading or reflexed; spikelets ovate, green or purple, densely crowded
on one side of the rachis; second and third scales about 3 mm. long, scabrous or
hispid, the third scale awned, empty, the fourth ovate, abruptly pointed.
Roadsides and wet waste grounds, Porto Rico:-continental North and South
America; Bermuda; Jamaica; Cuba; Guadeloupe; Trinidad; Old World. Consists of
several races, differing in length of awns. BARNYARD-GRASS. ARROZILLO.
3. Echinochloa polystachya (H. B. K.) Hitchc. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 22:
135. 1920.
Oplismenus polystachyus H.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 107. 1815.
Echinochloa spectabilis Link, Hort. Berol. 2: 209. 1833.
Perennial; culms commonly clustered, stout, glabrous, 2 m. high or less,
the nodes with appressed yellowish hairs. Sheaths glabrous or papillose-hispid;
ligule a line of stiff yellow hairs; leaf-blades 7-25 mm. wide, roughish; panicle
1-3 dm. long, scabrous, the racemes several or many, ascending 2-6 cm. long, the
rachis scabrous; spikelets somewhat larger than those of E. Crus-galli, the third
scale with an awn 12 mm. long or less.
Moist or wet grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba;
lHispaionla; Antigua; Martinique; Tobago; continental tropical America north to Mexico.
34. CHAETOCHLOA Scribn. Bull. U. S. Dep. Agr. Agrost. 4: 38. 1897.
Mostly annual grasses with erect culms and flat leaves, the inflorescence in
spike-like clusters. Spikelets 1-flowered, or rarely with a second staminate flower,
the basal bristles single or in clusters below the articulation of the rachilla, and
therefore persistent. Scales of the spikelet 4, the three outer membranous, the
third often subtending a palet and rarely a staminate flower; the inner or fourth
scale chartaceous, subtending a palet of similar texture and a perfect flower.
Stamens 3. Styles distinct, elongated. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, enclosed
in the scales. [Greek, in reference to the bristles of the inflorescence.] Species
about 60, in temperate and tropical regions, known as FOXTAIL-GRASS. Type
species: Setaria longiseta Beauv.
Leaf-blades narrowly elliptic, plaited. 1 C. barbata.
Leaf-blades linear to lanceolate, not plaited.
Bristles subtending the spikelets 5 or more. 2. C. geniculata.
Bristles under the spikelets 1-3.
Bristles retrorsely scabrous above; culms clambering. 3. C. tenacissima
Bristles antrorsely scabrous; culms erect.
Annual; very large. 4. C. magna.
Perennials.
Panicle elongated, narrow, attenuate.
Leaf-blades 5-10 nunm. wide. 5. C. setosa.
Leaf-blades less than 5 mm. wide. 6. C. rariflora.
Panicle broader, not attenuate. 7. C. vilpiseta.
1. Chaetochloa barbata (Lam.) H. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18:348. 1917.
Panicum barbatum Lamn. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 171. 1791.
Panicum costatum Roxb. Fl. Ind. 1: 314. 1820.
Annual; culms slender, branched, glabrous or somewhat villous, rather weak,
0.5-2 m. long, the base usually decumbent. Leaf-sheaths compressed, glabrous
POACEAE
or villous, the ligule ciliate, the blades narrowly elliptic, plicate, 0.7-2.5 cm. broad;
panicle long-stalked, 5-20 cm. long, its branches ascending, sessile; spikelets
densely crowded, about 2.5 mm. long, subtended by bristles 5-10 mm. long;
first scale circular; second scale ovale; fertile scale transversely rugose.
Vicinity of Mlayaguez:-Jamaica; Ilispaniola; Antigua to Trinidad; continental
tropical America. Naturalized from the Old World tropics. [Recorded by authors as
Panicum flavescens Sw. MARY GRASS.
2. Chaetochloa geniculata (L.am.) Alillsp. & Chase, Field. Alus. Bot. 3: 37.
1903.
Panicum genicudatum Lain. Encycl. 4: 727. 1798.
Panicum imberbe Poir. in Lam. Encycl. Suppl. 4: 272. 1816.
Setaria purpurasccps II.B.K. Nov. Gon. 1: 110. 1815.
Selaria Venteniatii Kunth, Rev. Gram. 1: 251. 1829.
Chaetoehloa imberbls Scribu. Bull. U. S. Dep. Agr. Agrost. 4: 39. 1897.
Chaetochloa purpvrascens Scribn. & Alerr. Bull. U. S. Dept. Agric. Div.
Agrost. 21: 13. 1900.
Chaetochloa Ventcnalii Nash; Kearney, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 5: 515. 1901.
Selaria glauca geniculata Urban, Symb. Ant. 4: 96. 1903.
Selaria glaeua purpurascens Urban, loc. cit. 1903.
Perennial; culms 60-12 dm. long, ascending. Sheaths smooth and glabrous,
compressed and keeled; leaves 1-3.5 din. long, 2-6 umm. wide, pale green or
glaucous, smooth or nearly so; spike-like panicle long-exserted, rather slender,
2.5-7 cm. long, about 1 cm. thick; spikelets usually single, about 2.5 mm. long
and 1.25 mm. wide, the first sca!e ovate, 3-nerved, about one-half a long as the
spikelet, the second scale acute, 3-nerved, the third scale 5-nerved; bristles in
two nearly equal clusters of 5 each, very slender, 6-10 mm. long. [Setaria glaura
of authors, not Panicum glapucum L.; ?Selaria gracilis of Krebs.]
Banks, hillsides, waste and cultivated grounds, Porto Rico; Mona: Icacos; St.
Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan: Tortola:-eastern United States; West Indies; continental
tropical America.
3. Chaetochloa tenacissima (Schrad.) II. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb 18:
352. 1917.
Sclaria tenacissima Schrad.; Sclmhultes, Alant. 2: 279. 1824.
Annual; culms simple or little branched, slender, scabrous above, 0.5-2 m.
long, weak and clambering. Leaf-sheaths scabrous above; ligule ciliate; blades
1-2 din. long, 5-9 mm. wide, scabrous on both sides, pubescent, long-attenuate:
panicle narrow, dense, 7-15 cm. long, 1-2 cm. thick, the axis pubescent, the
branches short, each ultimate branchlet bearing a bristle about 10 mm. long,
retrorsely scabrous above, antrorsely scabrous below; spikelets about 1.5 mm.
long; first scale 3-nerved; fertile scale transversely rugose. [Referred by Nash to
C. scandens and included by Hackel in Setaria scandens.]
Slopes near Utuado:-Trinidad; continental tropical America.
4. Chaetochloa magna (Griseb.) Scribn. Bull. U. S. Dept. Agric. Div. Agrost. 4:
39. 1897.
Setaria magna Griseb. Fl. Br. W. I. 55.4. 1864.
Annual; culms erect, branched at the base, stout, tall, I-4 m. high. Leaf-
sheaths compressed, glabrous, the blades 3-6 dm. long, 1-3 em. wide, scabrate;
panicle large, up to 3.5 dm. long, 2-5 cm. thick; spikelets elliptic, acute, about 2
mm. long, subtended by 1-3 upwardly barbed bristles 8-12 mm. long; flowering
scale hard, shining, smooth.
On the coast near Humacao and at Laguna de Tortuguero:-southeastern United
States; Bermuda (?); Jamaica; Guadeloupe; Panama.
POACEAE
5. Chaetochloa setosa (Sw.) Scribn. Bull. U. S. Dep. Agr. Agrost. 4:39. 1897.
Panicum setosum Sw. Prodr. 22. 1788.
Panicume caudatum Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1; 171. 1791.
Setaria setosa Beaiv. Agrost. 51, 178. 1812.
Panicum paracraenoides Trin. Mlem. Acad. St. Petcrsh. VI. 32: 219. 1834.
Selaria paraclaenoides Urban, Repert. 15: )8. 1917.
Perennial, tufted; culns wiry, slender, 3-9 din. high, somewhat flattened.
Leaf-blades 2 dmin. long or less, pubescent or scabrous, 5-15 mm. swide.; inflor-
escence more or less branched, the branches erect, or ascending, the lower
sometimes 3 cm. long; bristles 1-3 at the base of all the spikelots or of some of
them, 6-12 1mm. long; spikelets ovoid, about 2 nmm. long.
Banks and thickets at lower elevations in dry districts, Porto Rico: Desecheo: Mona;
Vieques; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola; Virgin Gorda:-West Indies; conti-
nental tropical America; Florida.
Tihe identity of the grass recorded by Hackel as S&.aria scabrifolia from Guanica
(Sinlenis 3577), has not been ascertained, but Chacltchlua setusa is abundant there.
6. Chaetochloa rariflora (mlikan) 11. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 349.
1917.
Setaria rariflora Mlikan; Trin. in Spreng. Neuone Entd. 2: 78. 1821.
Perennial; culms tufted, very slender, erect or the base decunmbent, 3-6
dmin. high. Leaf-blades very narrow, pubescent, mostly less than 5 mnn. wide;
inflorescence very slender hnd narrow, 1-1.5 din. long; bristles usually only I
at the base of each spikelet, 4-7 omm. long; spikelets about 2 nmm. long.
)On cliff facing the sea at lHoqueron, Porto Rico; St. Croix:-Antigua; Brazil.
7. Chaetochloa vulpiseta (Lam.) 1i. & U. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 350
1917.
Panicum vulpisetu/n Lam. Encycl. 4: 735. 179S.
Selaria vdlpiscia 11. & S. Syst. 2: 495. 1817.
Panicumi aomplifolium Steod. Syn. 'l. Glum. 1: 53. 1854.
Perennial; culms branched at thle base or simple, glabrous, rather stout,
0.5-2 m. high. Leaf-sheaths glabrous or hispidulous; ligule hispid; blades sea-
brous, 3-5 din. long, 1.5-3 cm. wide, long-attenuate; panicle dense, narrow, 0.5-
3 din. long, 2-4 cm. thick, narrowed above but not attenuate; bristles I or 2 at
the base of each spikelet, antrorsely scabrous, 1-2 cm. long; spikelets about 2.5
mm. long, the flowering scale coarsely transversely wrinkled. [Recorded by
Hackel as Sctaria macroslachya HI.B.K.]
Bank between Itio Piedras and Trnjillo Alto and cultivated at Jayuya:-Tobago;
Trinidad; continental tropical America.
Chaetochloa sulcata (Aubl.) Hitchcock, of Tobago, Trinidad and conti-
nental tropical America was recorded by Krebs as found in St. Thomas prior to
1851, but the determination is doubted. [Panicurm sulcatlum Albl.]
35. PENNISETUM Pers. Syn. 1: 72. 1805.
Annual or pciennial grasses, mostly with flat leaf-blades, the spikelets in
usually spike-like panicles. Spikelets lanceolate, involucrate, the involucre a
fascicle of short sterile branchlets with few or many antrorsely scabrous or
plumose bristles; fascicles falling away wili the spikelets attached. First
scale minute or obsolete, the second and third few-several-nerved. Stamens 3.
Stigmas pluniose. Grain compressed. [Greek, feather-bristles.] Eighty species
or more, natives of tropical and subtropical regions. Type species: HIulcus
spicatus L.
POACEAE
1. Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link, Ilort. Berol. 1: 213. 1827.
Cenchrus ciliaris L. Alant. 302. 1771.
Pennisetum cenchroides Pers. Syn. 1: 72. 1805.
Perennial; culms tufted or clustered, tough, erect from an ascending base,
scabrate above, slender, simple or little branched, 1-5 din. high. Leaf-sheaths
scabrate, usually pilose on the margins, the blades 2-12 cm. long, 3-5 mm. wide,
scabrate above, pilose on the margins near the base; panicle 1.5-10 cm. long,
purplish; bristles united at the base, the outer short, scabrous, the inner long,
flat, ciliate; spiklets 1-5 in the fascicles, about 5 mm. long.
Dry limestone hills near Ponce:-Onatemala. Naturalized from tropical Africa.
Pennisetum purpureum Schum., ELEPHANT GRASS, NAPIER GRASS,
African, grown for fodder in Porto Rico and St. Croix, is a tall perennial grass,
sometimes 4 m high, th? leaves 2-3 cm. wide, the spikelets purplish, in stiff,
dense panicles.
36. CENCHROPSIS Nash in Small, FI. SE. U. S. 109. 1903.
Perennial grasses, with long rootstocks and flat leaves, the spikelets in ter-
minal spikes, each spikelet subtended by an involucre of 1 or 2 outer rows of
barbed, thick-based bristles, and I or 2 inner rows of barbed spines longer than
the bristles, the involucre jointed to the rachis and deciduous. Spikelets of 4
scales, the first and second ones empty, the third enclosing a palet one-half its
length or less, the fourth enfolding a similar palet and a perfect flower. Stamens
3. [Greek, resembling Cenchrus.] A few species, of tropical America. Type
species: Cenrhrus myosuroides II.B.K.
1. Cenchropsis myosuroides (Il.B.K.) Nash in Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 109. 1903.
Cenchruis myosuroides II.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 115. 1815.
Culms erect, slender, 0.6-1.5 in. tall, simple or branched above, glabrous.
Leaves 1-3 din. long, 3-8 nim. wide, glabrous; spikes 5-20 cm. long; involucres
numerous, the barbed spines about 5 mm. long, and about as long as the spikelet.
Waste and cultivated ground, Porto Rico; Mlona:-southeastern United States;
Slahamas; Cuba; Hispaniola; continental tropical America. SPIKED BUR-GRASS.
37. CENCHRUS L. Sp, Pl. 1049. 1753.
Annual or perennial grasses, with usually Hlat loaves. Inflorescence spike-
like. Spikolets subtended by a spiny involucre which is deciduous with them at
maturity. Scales 4; the first hyaline; the second and third membranous, the
latter sometimes having a palet and staminate flower in its axil; the fourth char-
taceous, subtending a palet of similar structure which encloses a perfect flower.
Stamens 3. Styles united below. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, enclosed in
the scales. [Ancient Greek name for some grass, probably Millet.] About 12
species, in tropical and temperate regions, known as BUR-nRAss. Type species:
Cenchrus echinatus L.
Involucre 2-spikeleted, armed at the base with commonly shorter
often reflexed spines, usually glabrous, or merely puberulent at the
base. 1. C. carolinfanus.
Involucre more than 2-spikeleted, armed at the base with barbed
bristles.
Spines on the usually 3-spikeleted involucre basal and slender,
rarely any above, erect; bristles very slender. 2. C. viridis.
POACEAE
Spines on the usually 4-6-spikeleted involucre not basal but
occurring on various parts, spreading or often reflexed;
bristles stouter and almost spine-like. 3. C. echinatus.
1. Cenchrus carolinianus Walt. Fl. Car. 70. 1788.
Culms erect or decumbent from an annual root, 2-' din. long. Sheaths
usually loose, compressed, smooth; leaves 6 12.5 cm. long; spikes 2.5-6.25 cm.
long, sometimes partially included in the upper sheath; involucres crowded on
the scabrous rachis, 2-spikoleted, globose, pubescent except at the base, the
spines stout; spikelets about 6 nmm. long. [Recorded by Krebs, by Nash and by
Ilackel as C. tribuloides lj.]
Coastal sands, Porto Rico; Mona; Aluertos; Vieques; St. Thomas:-United States;
Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; Aintigua; (Guadeloupe.
2. Cenchrus viridis Spreng. Syst. 1: 301. 1825.
C. echinatus viridis Sprelng.; Griseb. Fl. Br. W. I. 556. 1804.
Culms erect or ascending, usually 6-8 dim. high, branched or simple, the leaf-
blades flat, 4 din. long or less. Spike usually dense and cylindric, 8-12 cm. long
and often much exerted; involucres usually 3-spikeleted, armed below with
slender spines, tlie body about 4 mm. in diameter, the barbed bristles slender.
l)ry or moist soil aii l waste grounds at lower elevations, Port.o ico; Aluertos;
Culebra; Vieques; St. Thiomas:-Florida; West Indies; continental tropical America.
3. Cenchrus echinatus L. Sp. PI. 1050. 1753.
Cenchrus brevisctus Fourn. Alex. Il. 2: 50. 188(.
Culms finally prostrato ami rooting at the nodes, branched; leaf-sheaths
loose; blades 1-4 dnm. long, 5-16 mim. wide, smooth or rough, flat; spikes 3-12
cm. long, finally more or less exserted ; involucres 20-50, containing 4-6 spikelets,
green to purplish, villous at the base, the spines 3-4 mm. long, the bristles at the
base numerous, slender, distinctly barbed for their whole length; spikelets 6-7
mii. long. [C. cchinatus tribuloides of Iuntzeo.]
Fields and waste grounds at lower elevations, Porto Rico: Mona; hinertos; Icacos;
Vieques; Culebra; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola; Virgin Gorda:-southern
United States; liermuda; West Indies; continental tropical America and Old World
tropics.
Cenchrus parviflorus Poir., described as from 'Porto Rico, is not under-
stood by modern botanists.
38. STENOTAPHRUM Trin. Fund. Agrost, 175. 1820.
Perennial creeping branched grasses, witli rather stout flattened culms and
short linear leaves. Spikelets silicate or panicled, acute, mostly 2-flowered, im-
bedded in depressions on one side of the flattened rachis. Scales 4; first scale
small or minute, second about as long as the spikelet, third similar to the second,
subtending a staminate flower, fourth rigid, enclosing a perfect flower. Stigmas
plumose. [Greek, a narrow depression.] A few species of tropical and subtrop-
ical distribution, the following typical.
1. Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. pl. 794. 1891.
Ischaemium secuidatuni Walt. Fl. Car. 249. 1788.
Roltbocllia stolonifera l'oir, in Lam. Encycl. 6: 310. 180 1.
Stenotaphrum glabrum Trill. Fund. Agrost. 176. 1820.
,Senotaphruin anericanum Schrank, Hort. Monac. pl. 98. 1822.
POACEAE
Widely creeping, sometimes 5 m. long, glabrous, rooting at the lower nodes.
Leaf-sheaths keeled, flattened, the blade linear, 3-15 cm. long, 4-10 mm. wide,
blunt and rounded at the apex; spikelets about 6 mm. long, in spikes 4-13 cm. long.
Moist banks and sandy soil at lower elevations, Porto Rico; Vieques: St. Croix:
St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola:-southeastern United States; Bermuda; West Indies;
continental tropical America and Old World tropics. GRAMA BLANCA. RUNNING (C'AB-
GRASS. ST. AUGUSTINE GRASS. Valuable as a lawn-grass. A liandsome variegated race
with white banded leaves was seen in cultivation at the Insulai Experiment Station, Rio
Piedras, in 1923, and also in St. Croix.
39. OLYRA L. Syst. ed. 10, 1261. 1759.
Tall, perennial, monoecious grasses, with broad, flat loaves and terminal
panicles of large, 1-flowered spikelets. Pistillate-flowered spikelets borne on the
upper branches and at the ends of the lower branches of the panicle. Staminate-
flowered spikelets smaller than the pistillate, deciduous, borne on the lower
branches of the panicle. First scale of the pistillate spikelet wanting; second
and third scales long-acuminate. Grain hard. [Greek, of little value.] Several
species ofl tropical distrilnution, the following typical.
1. Olyra latifolia L. Syst. ed. 10, 1261I. 1759.
Olyra (rundinrcca II.B.K. Nov. (Gen. 1: 197. INll;.
Ciil1hn smooth, rat her sIout, usually branched below, elongated, sometimes
11) to 5 in. long. t he lower sheaths bladeless. Leaf-blades nearly sessile, lanceolate
to ova te-lanceolate, acuminate :at the apex, rounded or obtuse and oblique at the
base, many-oerved, 2 din. long or less, 2--5 cm. wide, thle upper ones smaller than
the lower; panicles 1- 1 .5 din. long; pistillate spikelets, including the prolongation
of the scales, 1.5 -2.5 cmi. long; staminate spikelets narrmli, t cm. long or less, of
but one, usually awned scale.
Woodlands and shaded thickets at lower and middle elevations in moist or wet
districts. Porto Rico; Vieques; St. Thomas: St. Jan (ex Eggers); Tortola:-Florida;
Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; St. Kitts to Trinidad; tropical America. CARUZILLO.
40. LITHACHNE Beauv. Agrost. 135. 1812.
\lonoccious, perennial grasses, with liat leaf-blades and small axillary or
axillary and terminal panicles of rather large, 1-flowered spikelets. Terminal
panicle when present, wholly of stamninate-flowered spikelets; axillary panicles
with one pistillate-flowered spikelet at the end, and one or several staminate
ones below. First scale wanting; secondml and third scales long-acuminate;
fruiting.scale horny. Staminate spikelets much reduced. [Greek, hard scales].
Several species of tropical distribution, tlhe following typical.
1. Lithachne pauciflora (Sw.) Beauv.; l'oir Diet. Sci. Nat. 27; 60. 1823.
Olyra pauciflora Sw. Prodr. 21. 1788.
Culms slender, glabrous, usually clustered, naked below, several-leaved
above, 2-5 dm. liigli. Loaf-blades obliquely lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate,
nearly sessile, 3-8 cm. long, 1-3 cm. wide, the apex acuminate, the base sub-
truncate; panicles small, of few spikelets, borne in the upper axils; pistillate
spikelets 1-2 cm. long; staminate spikelets early deciduous, much smaller than
the pistillate; grain white, obliquely obovoid, compressed, shining, about 4 mm.
long.
Woodlands in moist or wet districts, Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba; lIispaniola;
Antigua; Guadeloupe; Martinique; St. Vincent; continental tropical America.
POACEAE
41. PHARUS P. Br.; L. Syst. ed. 10, 1269. 1759.
Large perennial grasses with very broad, flat, petioled leaf-blades, the
monoecious spikelets in a terminal panicle. Spikelets jointed below the scales
in pairs on the panicle-branches, one sessile, with a pistillate flower, the other
short-stalked, staminate, much smaller. Scales 3, the 2 lower ones membranous,
empty, the third in the pistillate spikelet flowering and fruiting, longer than the
empty ones, narrow, nearly closed by involute margins. Stamens 6. Styles
filiform; stigmas papillose. [Greek, a cloak.] About 5 species, natives of
tropical America known as LAAMIEDORA. Type species: Pharus latifolius L.
Culms erect or erect-ascending.
Fruit a little longer than the lower scales, pubescent at the tip. 1 P. latifolius.
Fruit much longer than the lower scales, pubescent all over. 2. P. glaber.
Culms creeping at the base. 3. P. purvifolius.
1. Pharus latifolius L. Syst. ed. 10, 1269. 1759.
Pharus ovalifolius Desv.; llamilt. l1rodr. 8. 1825.
Erect-ascending, glabrous, up to 1 m. long. Leaf-sheaths longer than the
internodes; petioles 1-5 em. long; blades obovate, oblaneeolate or elliptic, (lark
green, aeute, 1-2 din. long, 3-6 cm. wido; panicle 2 dm. long or less; pistillate
spikelet ,-10 rmm. long, the fruiting scale a little longer than the 2 empty ones,
pubescent near the tip, glabrous below; staminate spikelot 3-5 mm. long.
Woodlands at middle altitudes in moist or wet districts, Porto Rico:-Jamaica:
Cuba; Hispaniola; Guadeloupe to Trinidad; continental tropical America. Recorded
from St. Thomas by Krebs, apparently erroneously.
2. Pharus glaber JI.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 196. ISlIi.
Pharas brasiliceisis Raddi, Agrost. Bras. 21. 1823.
Pharus lancifolius Desv.; Hlamilt. Prodr. 8. 1825.
Similar to P. latifolius, about as large, the leaf-blades averaging a little
narrower; panicles sometimes smaller; fruiting scale 2 to 3 times as long as the 2
empty ones, pubescent all over.
Woods and forests in moist districts, 1'orlo Rico; Vieoques; St. Croix: St. Thomas;
St. Jan; Tortola:-Florida; Jamaica; Cuba to Barbados and St. Vincent; continental
tropical America.
3. Pharus parvifolius Nash, Bull. Torrey Club 35: 301. 1008.
Culms creeping, branching, rooting at the lower nodes, irp to 1 m. long,
pubesceit at least azbiove. Leaves glabrous, the sheaths overlapping; petioles
1-1.5 cm. long; ladies elliptic-lan ceolate, 1-12 cm. long, 1.5-3 cm. wide, acu-
minate; panicle small, usually long-stalked; pistillate spikelet 10-12 mni. long,
(lie fruiting scale about twice as long as the empty ones, pubescent.
WVoodland.s, Joho near Arerilto:-Cuba; Hlispaniola; Jamaica; Trinidad. Included
by Hackel in P. glaber II. I.K.
42. ORYZA [Touirn.] L. Sp. Il1. 333. 1753.
Marsh grasses, with erect culms, flat loaf-blades and rather large, 1-flowered
spikelets in terminal panicles. Spikelets flattened, jointed below the scales;
scales 4, the 2 outer ones small, empty, the 2 inner keeled, awned or awnless, the
fourth enclosing a perfect flower without a palet. Stamens 6. Styles nearly
distinct; stigmas plumose. [Greek, rice.] About 6 species of warm temperate
and tropical regions. Type species: Oryza saliva L.
Leaves 5-15 ram. wide. 1. 0. saliva.
Leaves 2-5 cm. wide. 2. 0. lalifolia.
POACEAE
1. Oryza sativa L. Sp. PI' 333. 1753.
Annual, with coarse fibrous roots; elmni simple, 5-12 dl. high, glabrous.
Leaf-sheaths long, smooth or nearly so, the blades scabrous, elongated, 5-15 iun.
wide; panicle narrow, 1-3 dm. long, its branches slender and nearly erect; spike-
lets oblong, 8 10 mm. long, the third and fi)urth scales hispidulous, the fourth
one awned or awn less, thie 2 lower emllpty ones subulate, glabrous.
Waste grounds and spoilln Ilnous after cultivation Porto Rico; St. Tlionias:---spon-
taneous after cultivation in iwarni-temiperaturc and tropical regions. Native of the
East Indies. RICE. AmRIZ.
2. Oryza latifolia Desv. Journ. deo. Bot. 1: 77. 1813.
Perennial; culm stout, glabrous, simple, 2-2.5 in. tall. Leaf-sheatlis elon-
gated, smooth or scabrate, the, blades 3-6 dinm. long, 2-5 cm. wide, scabrous:
panicles large, up to 4 dm. long, with many spikelets on the upper parts of the
elongated ascending branches; spikelets oblong, about 6 1mmi. long, the third and
fourth scales hispid, tile upper one long-awned, the 2 lower ones subulate.
Along a stream, Mayaguez:-Hispaniola; Trinidad; continental tropical America.
Native of the Old World tropics.
43. HOMALOCENCHRUS iiog. in Soc. Phys.-med. Basil, Act.
llelv. 4: 307. 17(0).
Mostly marsh grasses with flat iiarrow, generally rough leaves and palliculate
inflorescence. Spikelets 1-flowered, perfect, strongly flattened laterally, and
usually more or less imbricated. Scales 2, charlaceous, the outer o0l0 broad and
strongly conduplicato, the inner much narrower. Stamens 1-6. Styles short,
distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain ovoid, free. [Greek, il reference to the
supposed resemblance of these grasses to Millet.] About 5 species, natives of
temperate and tropical countries.
Panicle narrow, its branches spikelet-bearing nearly to the base;
spikelets hispidulous. 1. 1I. he-.nrtdrus.
Panicle open, its branches spreading, naked below; spikelets glabrous. 2. II. monanldrus.
1,. Homalocenchrus hexandrus (Sw.) Klitze, Rcv. Gen. 11P, 777. 1891.
Lccrsia hexandra Sw. Prodr. 21. 1788.
Perennial; culms slender, weak, G;-20 din. long, rooting at the lower nodes.
Leaves scabrous, the blades 5-20 cm. long, ,8 1inm. wide or less. Panicle narrow,
4-8 cm. long, its branches ascending, hearing spikelets along nearly their whole
length ; splikelets oblong, about I, mIm. long and 1 .1.5 inni. wide, 11the scales scabrate on
the keel, hlispidulous on tlie sides; stamens G.
Marshes at lower elevations, Porto Rico -southern United States; Jamaica: Cuba;
HIispaniola; Martinique; Trinidad; continental tropical America.
2. Homalocenchrus monandrus (Sw.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. I'. 777. 1891.
Leersia monalira Sw. Prodr. 21. 1788.
Perennial; culms tufted, erect or ascending, t-6 din. high, Leaf-sheaths
glabrous, smooth, the blades scabrate, 4-16 cm. long, 2-5 mm. wide; panicle
open, 7-13 cm. long; spikelets about 2 mm. long and 1 nam. wide. elliptic, gla-
brous; stamen only 1.
Woodlands in dry parts of thie southern and southwestern districts of Porto Rico:-
Florida; Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; continental tropical America.
POACEAE
44. ARISTIDA L. Sp. Pl. 82. 1753.
Grasses varying greatly in habit and inflorescence. Leaves narrow, often
involute-setaceous. Spikelets narrow, 1-flowered. Scales 3, narrow, the two
outer carinate; the third rigid and convolute, bearing three awns occasionally
united at the base, the lateral awns rarely wanting or reduced to rudiments.
Palet 2-nerved. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain free,
tightly enclosed in the scale. [Latin, from arista. an awn.1 About 100 species,
in the warmer regions of both hemispheres, known as TRIPLE-AWNED GRASS.
Type species: Aristida adsccnsionis L.
Annual. 1. A. odscc sionis.
Perennials.
Panicle dense, spike-like; neck of the fruit loug. twisted. 2. A. spiciformis.
Panicle not spike-like; neck of the fruit short or wanting.
Awns 2-2.5 cm. long. 3. A. portoricensis.
Awns 1.5 cm. long or less.
Culms spreading; spikelets clustered. 4. A. cognata.
Culms erect or ascending. 5. A. refracta.
1. Aristida adscensionis L. Sp. I'l. 82 1753.
Aristida broatoides 1I.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 121. 1815.
Aristida strict Grisch. Fl. Brit. W. I. 534. 1831. Not AMichx. 1803.
Annual, tufted, glabrous; culms slender, erect, or ascending, 3-7 din. long,
branching from the lower nodes. Leaf-blades thin, flat or involute; panicles
narrow, 1.5 dmin. long or less, with short appressed branches or the lower branches
spreading; awns about equal in length, 12-20 mm. long.
Coastal plains in the dry southwestern districts, Porto Rico; Alona; St. Croix; St.
Thomas; St. Jan:-Bahamas; Jamaica; llispaniola; Antigua; Montserrat; (Gandelonpe;
Martinique; Bonaire; Curacao; Ascension; southern United States and Mexico to con-
tinental tropical America. [A. disperse of authors, not of Trinius & Ruprecht; errone-
ously referred by Pilger to A. americana L.j
2. Aristida spiciformis Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. 1: 141. 1816.
Perennial, glabrous; culms clustered, simple, 4-10 dm. high, stiff, erect.
Leaf-blades 2-3 mm. wide, involute in drying; panicle dense, narrow, 10-20 cm.
long; central awn 2.5-3.5 cm. long, the lateral ones a little shorter, the three
united below into a twisted column 1.5-2.5 cm. long, forming the neck of the
fruit.
In white sand, Campo Alegre:-southeastern United States; Isle of Pines.
3. Aristida portoricensis Pilger in Urban, Symb. Ant. 4: 100. 1903.
Perennial; culms tufted, very slender, erect, glabrous, 3-5 dmin. high, simple
or little branched. Leaf-blades setaceous, S cm. long or less, erect or nearly so;
panicle open, its liliform branches spreading or ascending; awns 2-2.5 cm. long,
the neck of the fruit short.
Red clay slopes, Monto Mesa and serpentine slopes, (tuanajibo. Endemnic.
4. Aristida cognata Trin. & Rupr. Moem. Acad. St. Petersb. V[. Sci. Nat. 5':
127. 1842.
Aristida Swartziana Steud. Syn. P'l. Glum 1: 137. 1854.
Perennial; culms slender, tufted, spreading, 3-6 din. tall. Leaves involuto-
filiform, the upper shorter; panicle strict, or the top sometimes nodding, its short
branches ascending; awns 1-2 cm. long, horizontal when old, nearly equal in
length.
Rocky soil, Boqueroi, Porto Rico, (ex Hitchcock & Chase); St. Croix; St. Thomas:-
Bahamas: Jamaica.
POACEAE
5. Aristida refracta Griseb. Cat. Pl. Cub. 228. 1866.
Perennial, densely tufted; culins nearly filiformn but stiff, erect, simple or
branched below, 3-5 d(1m. high. Leaves filiform-setaceonus, 10 cm. long or less,
erect; panicle rather narrow, its branches ascending; awns 10-12 mm. long.
Serpentine slopes, Guanajibo, and near Bolqueron:-Jamaica; Cuba.
Aristida capillacea Lain., East Indian, and A. plumosa. L., Mediterranean,
recorded by Krebs from St. Thomas are, presumably, errors in determination.
45. MUHLENBERGIA Schreb.; Gmnel. Syst. Nat. 2: 171. 1791.
Mostly perennial grasses, with flat or convolute leaves and paniculate
inflorescence. Rootstocks often scaly. Spikelets 1-flowered, very rarely 2-
flowered. Scales 3 very rarely 4; the outer ones empty, membranous or hyaline,
acute and sometimes awned: third scale 3-5-nerved, subtending a palet and perfect
flower, obtuse, acute, or very often produced into a capillary awn; paleot 2-keeled.
Stamens often 3. Stylo distinct. Stigmas plumose. Callus minute. Grain
narrow, free, tightly enclosed in the scale. [In honor of Henry Mluhlenberg,
1756- 1817, North American botanist.] About 60 species, chiefly natives of
America, a few Asiatic. Type species: Muhlenbergia Schreberi Gmel.
1. Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. Gram. Unifl. 191. 1824.
Stipa capillaris Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 1S8. 1791.
Culms 4.5-12 dm. tall, erect, simple, smooth or nearly so. Sheaths smooth,
the lower short and overlapping, the upper ones much longer; leaves 1.5-3 dinm.
long, 2-4 inm. wide, scabrous; panicle 1.75-3 dm. in length or more, diffuse, the
capillary branches 1-2 dmin. long, at length widely spreading; spikelets on long
hair-like pedicels which are clavate-thickenedl at the apex; outer scales unequal,
acute or short-awned, slightly scabrous; third scale, exclusive of the awn, 4 mm.
long, about twice as long as the first one, the awn 6-18 mm. long.
Top of limestone cliff west of the junction of Rio Arecibo and Rio Limon, and near
those Arecibo-Larcs road:-United States; 1lahaumas; Cuba. HIAIR GRASS. PURPLE GRASs.
Muhlenbergia tenuissima Kunth, of Central America was recorded by
Krebs from St. Thomas, presumably in error.
46. SPOROBOLUS R. Br. I'rodr. 169. 1810.
Perennial or rarely annual grasses, with flat or convolute leaves and open or
contracted panicles. Spikelets generally small, 1-flowered, occasionally 2-3-
flowered. Scales in the 1-flowered spikelets 3, membranous; the 2 outer empty,
the first somewhat shorter; the third scale equalling or longer than the empty
ones; palet 2-nerved. Stamens 2-3. Styles very short, distinct. Stigmas
plumose. Grain free, and often early dlociduous. [Greek, referring to the de-
ciduous grain.] About 100 species, in tropical and temperate regions, very
numerous in America. Type species: Agrostis indica L.
Annual. 1. S. murulis.
Perennials.
Plants with long rootstocks. 2. S. virginicus.
Plants without rootstocks.
Second scale much shorter than the spikelet.
Panicle loose; second scale about one-fourth as long as the,
spikelet. 3. S. indices.
Panicle dense; second scale about one-half as long as the
spikelet. 4. S. Berteroanus.
Second scale about as long as the spikelet.
Panicle ovoid; spikelets about 1.5 nunmm. long. 5. S. argulus.
Panicle elongated, dense; spikelets 2-4 nun. long.
Panicle green; spikelets 2 rnm. long. 6. S. domingensis.
Panicle purple; spikelets 4 mm. long. 7. S. cubensis.
POACEAE
1. Sporobolus muralis (Raddl) 11. & C. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18:368. 1917.
Agrosticula muralis Raddi, Agrost. Bras. 33. 1823.
Annual, glabrous, 3-8 dm. high; culms very slender, flattened, erect or
ascending. Leaf-blades nearly linear, 2-3 mm. wide; panicle large, sometimes
3 dm. long, loose, with capillary ascending branches; spikelets long-stalked, about
I mmI. long, glabrous, the scales acute.
Waste grounds, St. Croix; Tortola:-Slartinique; St. Lucia. Native of Brazil.
[Sporobolus minuliforus of 51illspaugh, not of Link.]
2. Sporobolus virginicus (L.).Kunth, Rlev. Gram. 1: 67. 1829.
Agroslis virginica L. Sp. Pl. 63. 1753.
Agrostis littoralis Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 161. 1791.
Sporobolus litloralis IKlnth, Rev. Grain. 1: 68. 1829.
Cutlins 1.5-6 din. tall, erect or decumbent, from a stout creeping rootstock.
Sheaths numerous, short, overlapping and crowded at the lower part of the culm,
smooth, glabrous or sometimes piloso on tlie margins and at the throat; loaves
2.5-20 cm. long, 4 mm. wide or less at the base, distichous, involute on tire margins
and at the apex, smooth beneath, scabrous above or sometimes sparingly hairy;
panicle 2.5-7.5 cm. long, 4-10 mrm. (hick, dense and spike-like; spikelets 2-2.5
imm. long, the outer scales about, equal, acute, smooth and glabrous; third
scale smooth and glabrous acute, slightly shorter than the second and about
equalling the obtuse palet. ?S.I treinhls of Krobs.]
Saline soil along the coasts, Porto Rico: Desecheo: Mona; Vieques; St. Croix: St.
Thomas; St. .an: Anegadla;-eastcrin amn southern United States; Bermunda; WVest
Indies; continental tropical America. SMA-SHORE RUSH-GRASS.
3. Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br. Prodr. 170. 1810.
Agrostis indica L. Sp. PI. 63. 1753.
Agrostis tenacissima L. f. Suppl. 107. 1781.
Sporobolus Jacquemontii Kunthl, Rev. Gram. 2: 427. 1831.
Glabrous. Culmrs 3-12 dinm. tall, erect, tufted; leaves 2-6 min. wide, atten-
uate into a long slender tip, the lower 2-3 dm. long, the upper shorter; panicle
1-4 dmin. in length, usually elongated, narrow, spike-like; spikelets 1.5-2 mrm.
long, the outer scales unequal, the second about one-third as long as the third,
obtuse, smooth and glabrous, the lower one shorter, and often erose-truncate.
Dry soil, waste and cultivated grounds, Porto Rico, at lower and middle elevations;
Vieques; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola:-West Indies; 1Mexico to northern
South America. WEST INDIAN RUSH-GRASS. SERRILLO.
4. Sporobolus Berteroanus (Trin.) II. & C., Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18:
370. 11)17.
Vilfa Bericroana Trin. Moem. Acad. St. I'etorsh. VI. Sci. Nat. 4': 100. 1840.
Sporobolus angustjis Bulckley, Proc. Phila. Acad. 1862: 8SS. 186t2.
Slender, wiry, 1 m. tall or less. Leaves smooth, nearly erect, 1-3 mm. wide,
long-attenuate, the lower ones 1.5-2.5 din. long, the upper shorter; panicle
narrow, often 3 din. long; spikelets about 3 imm. long, crowded on the short ap-
pressed branches of the panicle; second scale ovate-oblong, about one half as
long as the spikelet.
Wet grotud, and shaded slopes, ascending to 800 ti. in Porto Rico; Vieques; St.
Croix; St. Jan; Tortola:-southern United States; Bermuda; West Indies; Mexico to
northern South America. BULL-GRASS.
5. Sporobolus argutus (Noes) Kunth, Enum. 1: 215. 1833.
Vilfa argnita Nees, Agrost. Bras. 395. 1829.
Perennial; culi s 3 din. tall or less, erect, or somewhat decumnont at the base.
Sheaths shorter than the internodes, their margins sometimes hirsute at the top;
caves 2.5-5 cm. long, 2-4 mnm. wide at the base, acuminuate, smooth and glabrous
POACEAE
beneath, scabrous, and often sparingly hairy at the base above; panicle 3.75-7.5
cm. in length, the branches 1.25-2.5 em. long, verticillate, at first appressed,
finally widely spreading; spikelets 1.5 mm. long; outer scales smooth and glabrous,
the first rounded or obtuse, one-quarter the length of the acute second one; third
scale about equalling the second, acute.
Sandy and saline soil along the coasts andi along Lake Guanica, Porto Rico; Mlona;
Muertos; St. Croix; Anegada:-southwestern United States; Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba;
Ilispaniola; Antigua; Trinidad; Bonaire; Curarao; Mexico to nortliern South America.
6. Sporobolus domingensis (Trii.) Kunth, Ennm. 1: 214. 1833.
Vilfa domingensis Trin.; Spreng. Neue Entdeck. 2: 59. 1821.
Perennial, similar to S. arfatus, but usually larger, the culms up to 4 dim.
long, the panicle densely many-flowered, narrow, 9 cm. long or less, its branches
2-1 cm. long. Spikelets 2 mmn. long; first scale about one-half as long as second.
Sandy soil, Caho Rojo:--Florida; Bahamas; Cuba; HIispaniola. The Cabo Rojo
specimen is immature and thie determination doubtful.
7. Sporobolus cubensis Ilitchc. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 237. 1909.
Perennial; culms clustered, glabrous, erect, slender, 3- dinm. high. Leaf-
sheaths long-ciliate, the blades of the lower ones elongated, sometimes as long as
the culm, flat or involute, 3 mm. wide or less, strongly nerved, long-ciliate at the
base; upper leaves much smaller; panicle 60-10 cm. long, its short branches op-
posite or whorled; spikelets glabrous, about 4 mm. long, short-stalked; lower
scale 1.5-2 nun. long. [Referred by Nash and by Hackol to S. purpurascens
(Sw.) Hlamilt.]
Slopes of Monte Mesa:-Cuiba. CUBAN DROP-SEED GRASS.
Sporobolus pungens Kuntlh, of southern Europe, was recorded from St.
Thomas by Krblhs, presumably in error.
47. AVENA [Tourn.] L. Sp. Pl. 79, 1753.
Annual or perennial grasses, with usually flat leaves and panicled spikelets.
Spikelets 2- -many-flowerad, or rarely 1-flowered; lower flowers perfect, the upper
often staminate or imperfect. Scales 4-many (rarely 3); the two lower empty,
somewhat unequal, membranous, persistent; flowering scales deciduous, rounded
on the back, acute, generally hearing a dorsal awn, the apex often 2-toothed.
Palet narrow, 2-toothed. Stamens 3. Styles short, distinct. Stigmas plumose.
Grain oblong, deeply furrowed, enclosed in the scale and palet, free or sometimes
adherent to the latter, [Old Latin name for the oat.] About 50 species, widely
distribute! in temperate regions, chiefly in the Old World, thl following typical.
1. Avena sativa L. Sp. Pl. 79. 1753.
Annual, glabrous; culms erect, 1 m. high or less. Leaf-blades 2-3 din. long,
7-12 mm. wide, acuminate; panicle 1-2 dm. long, its very slender branches as-
cending; spikelets filiform-stalked, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, the empty scales broad,
acute, thi flowering scales awnless or short-awned.
Waste grounds, San Juan:-widely cultivated in temperate regions. Native of the
Old World. OATS. AVENA.
48. SPARTINA Schreb.; Gmoel. Syst. 123. 1791.
Perennial glabrous grasses, with long horizontal rootstocks, flat or involute
leaves, and an inflorescence of one-sided spreading or erect alternate spikes.
Spikelets 1-flowercd, narrow, deciduous, borne in two rows ou the rachis, artic-
POACEAE
ulated with the very short pedicels below the scales. Scales 3; the two outer
empty, keeled, very unequal; the third subtending a perfect flower, keeled,
equalling or shorter than the second; palet often longer than its scale, 2-nerved.
Stamens 3. Styles filiform, elongated. Stigmas filiform, papillose or shortly
plumose. Grain free. [Greek, referring to the cord-like leaves of some species.]
About 7 species, widely distributed in saline soil, rarely in fresh-water marshes.
Type species: Spartina Schrebcri Gmel.
1. Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl. Gram. 55. 1817.
Dactylis patens Ait. Ifort. Kew 1: 104. 1789.
Spartina juncea Willd. Enum. St. 1809.
Culms 3-9 dm. tall, erect, or decumbent at base, smooth. Leaves 1.5-3
dm. long, 2-4 mm. broad, involute, attenuate into a long tip, smooth and glabrous
beneath; spikes 2-10, 2.5-5 cm. long, usually ascending, more or less peduncled,
the rachis slightly scabrous; spikelets 6-8 mm. long; outer scales acute, scabrous,
hispid on the keel, the first usually rather less than one-half as long as the second;
third scale somewhat scabrous on the upper part of the keel, emarginate or 2-
toothed at the apex, longer than the first and exceeded by the palet.
Coastal rocks and banks, Porto Rico; leacos; Vieques; Virgin Gorda (barren):-
eastern United States; lBermuda; Bahamas; Jamaica; Guadeloupe; AMartinique. SALT
GRASS.
49. CAPRIOLA Adans. Fain. Il. 2: 31. 1763.
Perennial grasses with short flat loaves and spicate inliorsceence, the spikes
digitate. Spikelets 1-flowered, second. Scales 3; the 2 lower empty, keeled;
flowering scale broader, membranous, compressed; palet a little shorter than the
scale, hyaline, 2-keeled. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas short, plumose.
Grain free. [Name mediaeval Latin for the wild goat, that feeds on this grass in
waste rocky places.] Four known species, of which three are Australian, the
following typical one widely distributed.
1. Capriola Dactylon (L.) Kuntzo, Rev. GCon. 764. 1891.
Panicum Dactylon L. Sp. Pl. 58. 1753.
Cynodon Dactylon Pers. Syn. 1: 85. 1805.
Cuhns 1-3 dm. tall, erect, from long creeping and branching stolons, smooth
and glabrous. Sheaths glabrous or somewhat hairy, crowded at the bases of the
culms and along the stolons; leaves 2.5-5 cm. long, 2-4 mim. wide, flat, scabrous
above; spikes 4 or 5, digitate, 1-5 cm. long, the rachis flat; spikelets 2 mm. long;
outer scales hispid on the keel, narrow, the first shorter than the second.
Hillsides and banks at lower elevations, Porto Rico, especially in dry districts;
St. Croix: St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola.-southern and central United States; Bermuda;
West Indies; continental tropical America; warm-temperature and tropical regions of the
Old World. IBERMlUDA GRASS. GRANMA.
50. CHLORIS Sw. Prod. 25. 1788.
Mostly perennial grasses with flat leaves and spicate inflorescenco, the spikes
few or numerous, verticillate or approximate. Spikelets 1-lloworod, arranged in
two rows on one side of the rachis. Scales 4; the 2 lower empty, unequal, keeled,
acute; third and fourth usually awned, the former subtending a perfect flower;
palet folded and 2-keelod. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose.
Grain free, enclosed in the scale. [Greek, greenish-yellow, referring to the color
POACEAE
of the herbage.] About fifty species, mostly natives of warm and tropical regions.
Type species: Agrostis cruciata L.
Hairs on the margins or nerves of the third scale short, not mani-
fest, appressed to and not extending beyond the apex.
Fourth scale of the spikelet at least one third as long as the
second scale and bearing a long awn 4 nun. long or more;
spikes 4-6, widely spreading at maturity. 1. C. Sagraeana.
Fourth scale of the spikelet rudimentary, bearing an awn less
than 4 nmi. long; spikes usually numerous, erect or ascending
at maturity. 2. C. radiala.
Hairs on the margins or nerves of the third scale long, manifest,
widely spreading or extending much beyond the apex.
Third and fourth scales only awned, the former densely long-
hairy on the midnerve, its awn less than twice the length of the
scale. 3. C. ciliata.
Third, fourth and flfthl scales awned, the first glabrous on the
midnerve, its awn about three tines the length of the scale. 4. C. paraguaiensis.
I. Chloris Sagraeana A. Rich. in Sagra, Ilist. Cub. 11: 315. 1850.
Chloris eleusinoides Griseb. Fl. Brit. W. 1. 539. 1864.
Perennial; culms ascending, 6 din. long or less, usually branched below.
Leaf-sheaths keeled, the blades narrow, involute; spikes 4-6, slender, 4-8 cm.
long, horizontally spreading when old, not pectinate; spikelets imbricated, the
fourth scale bearing a filiform awn 4-12 mm. long.
D)ry soil, St. Croix:-Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; Antigua; Guadeloupe.
This is, perhaps, the grass recorded by Krebs from St. Thomas as C. cruciate.
2. Chloris radiata (L.) Sw. Prodr. 26. 1788.
Agrostis radiata L. PI. Jam. Pugil. 7. 1759.
Annual; culms decumbent, ascending or erect, 2-4 dm. long, usually
branched, smooth and slender. Leaf-sheaths compressed, the blades flat,
blunt or short-pointed, 2-15 cm. long; spikes several or many, radiating, slender,
4-8 cm. long, not pectinate; spikelets densely imbricated, the fourth scale rudi-
mentary, bearing a filiform awn about 3 mm. long.
Hillsides, banks, ditches and waste grounds, Porto Rico; Vieques: St. Croix; St.
Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola:-West Indies; continental tropical America. PLUSHI-GItASS.
11OltQUETILLO.
3. Chloris ciliata Sw. Prodr. 25. 1788,
Annual; culms decumbent, ascending or nearly erect, rather stiff. 8 dm. long
or less, smooth, mostly simple. Leaf-sheaths somewhat compressed, the blades
flat, long-acuminate, 7-20 cm. long; spikes few, stout, radiate, pectinate, 4-7
cm. long, commonly curved; spikelets pale, approximate, the third and fourth
scales short-awned.
Dry and brackish soil near Tallaboa, Porto Rico; St. Croix; St. Thomas:-southern
United States; Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; Antigua to Grenada; continental
tropical America.
4. Chloris paraguaiensis Steud. Syn. P'l. Gram. 201. 1854.
Chloris barbata Sw. Fl. Ind. Occ. 1: 200. 1797. Not Andropogon barbatum
L. 1759.
Annual; culms decumbent, ascending or erect, 3-6 (dm. long, slender, smooth.
Leaf-sheaths compressed, the blades flat or folded, long-acuminate, 4-12 cm. long.
Spikes few or numerous, radiate, pectinate, 4-8 cm. long; spikelets usually purple,
the third, fourth and fifth scales filiform-awied.
Waste and cultivated grounds, Porto Rico; Mona; Vieques; Culebra; St. Croix;
St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola; Virgin Gorda:-West Indies; continental tropical America;
Old World tropics.
POACEAE
51. EUSTACHYS Desv. Nouv. Bull. Soc. Philom. 2: 188. 1810.
Perennial grasses, with flat or folded, usually obtuse leaf-blades, and spicate
inflorescence, the spikes single, in pairs or 3-many and digitate. Spikelets usu-
ally 1-flowered, rarely 2-flowered, sessile, crowded in 2 rows. Scales 'I, rarely 5,
the 2 lower empty, persistent, unequal, keeled, the first generally acute, the
second oblong, truncate or 2-lobed at the apex, short-awned, the others awnless,
mucronate, or short-awnod, firmer than the empty scales, the third scale enclosing
a perfect flower and a palet, the fourth scale empty, or rarely enclosing a stam-
inate flower. [Greek, beautiful spikes.] About 6 species, natives of tropical
America, the following typical.
1. Eustachys petraea (Sw.) Desv. Noiv. Bull. Soc. Philom. 2: 189. 1810.
Chloris petraea Sw. Prodr. 25. 1788.
('hloris Swariziana Doell, in Alart. Fl. Bras. 23: 68. 1878.
Culms 3-11 dmi. tall; leaves 3 din. long or less, 10 mm. wide or less, smooth;
spikes 3-11, usually 4-6, erect, 4-11 cm. long; spikelets about 2 mm. long;
scales 4, the second, exclusive of the awn, 1.5-1.75 mm. long, 2-toothed at the
apex, the teeth triangular, acute or obtusish, the awn about 0.5 mm. long; third
scale about 2 mm. long, in side view elliptic and about 1 mm. wide, the awn
short or wanting; fourth scale, in side view, obovate-elliptic, rounded at the apex,
awnless.
Sandy soil along and near the coasts, Porto Rico; Miona; Vieques:-Florida; Ber-
muda; Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; Trinidad; continental tropical America.
FINGER-GRASS.
52. GYMNOPOGON Beaum. Agrost. 41. 1812.
Annual or perennial grasses with flat and usually short rigid leaves, and
numerous slender alternate or digitate spikes. Spikelets 1-flowered, almost
sessile, the rachilla extended and bearing a small scale which is usually awned.
Scales 3 or 4; the 2 lower empty, unequal, narrow, acute; third broader, fertile,
3-nerved, slightly 2-toothed at the apex, bearing an erect awn; the fourth empty,
small, awned; palet 2-keeled. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumoso,
Grain linear, free, enclosed in the rigid scale. [Greek, naked-beard, referring to
the prolongation of the rachilla.] Six known species, all but one of them natives
of America. Type species: Andropogon ambiguous Alichx.
1. Gymnopogon foliosus (Willd.) Nees, Agrost. Bras. 426. 182).
Chloris foliosa Willd. Sp. PI. 4: 924. 1806.
Annual; culms branched near the base or tufted, erect or ascending, with
erect branches, slender, glabrous, 1.5-5 din. high, the internodes short. Leaf-
sheaths with a row of long hairs at the mouth, the blades short, tapering from the
base to the apex, glabrous, 1-2.5 cm. long, 1-2 mm. wide; spikes 4-8, digitate at
the end of a long, very slender stalk, 2-4.5 cm. long, the upper scales of the
spikelets filiform-awned.
In white sand, Campo Alegre, Porto Rico; St. Thomas:-Hispaniola; northern
South America. The type locality is St. Thomas.
53. ELEUSINE Gaertn. Fruct. & Seni. 1: 7. 1788.
Tufted annual or perennial grasses, with flat leaves and spicate inflorescence,
the spikes digitate or close together at the summit of the culm. Spikelets several-
flowered, sessile, closely imbricated in two rows on one side of the rachis, which is
POACEAE
not extended beyond them; flowers perfect or the upper staminate. Scales
compressed, keeled; the 2 lower empty; the others subtending flowers, or the
tipper empty. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain loosely
enclosed in the scale and paleLt. [From the Greek name of the town whero Cores
was worshipped.] Species 6, natives of the O>ld World. Type species: Cynosurus
coracana L.
1. Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. Fruct. & Sem. 1: 8. 1783.
Cynosurus indicus L. Sp. Pl. 72. 1753.
Andropogonrepens Schoepf, Reise2:493. 1788.
(Culns 1.5-6 din. tall, tufted, erect, or decumbent at the base. Sheaths
loose, overlapping and often short and crowded at the base of the culm, glabrous
or sometimes sparingly villous; leaves 7.5-30 em. long, 2- 6 imm. wide, smooth or
scabrous; spikes 2-10, 2.5-7.5 enm. long, whorled or approximate at the summit
of the culm or one or two sometimes distant; spikelets 3-6-flow-ered, 3-4 mm. long;
scales acute, minutely scabrous on the keel, the first 1-nerved, the second 3-7-
nerved, the others 3-5-nerved.
Waste and cultivated grounds, a, troublesome weed, Porto Rico: Mona; Icacos; Vieques;
St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola:-temperato and tropical regions of tihe Old
World and the New. Native of the Old World. WIRE-GRASS. YERBA DULCE. PATA
DE GALLINA.
54. DACTYLOCTENIUM Willd. Enum. Hfort. Berol. 1029. 1809.
An annual grass, with flat leaves and spicate inflorescence, the spikes in
pairs or digitate. Spikelets several-flowered, sessile, closely imbricated in two
rows on one side of the rachis, which is extended beyond them into a sharp point.
Scales compressed, keeled, the 2 lower and the uppermost ones empty, the others
subtending flowers. Stamens 3. Styles distinct, short. Stigmas plumose.
Grain free, rugose, loosely enclosed in the scale. [Greek, referring to the digi-
tately spreading spikes.] A monotypic genus of the warmer parts of the Old
World.]
1. Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. Enum. lort. Berol. 1029. 1809.
Cynosurus aegyptius L. Sp. PL. 72. 1753.
Culms 1.5-6 din. long, usually decumbent and extensively creeping at the
base. Sheaths loose, overlapping and often crowded, smooth and glabrous;
leaves 1.5 din. in length or less, 2-6 nim. wide, smooth or rough, sometimes
pubescent, ciliate toward the base; spikes in pairs, or 3-5 and digitate, 1.25-5
cm. long; spikelets 3-5-flowered; scales compressed, scabrous on the keel, the
second awned, the flowering ones broader and pointed.
Waste and cultivated grounds, Porto Rico: Mona; Viexqnes; St. Croix; St. Thomas:
St. Jan; Tortola; Anegada:-southern United States; West Indies; tropical continental
America; warm-temperate and tropical regions of the Old World. EGYPTIAN GRASS.
55. BOUTELOUA Lag. Varied. Cienc. 24: 134. 1805.
Annual or perennial grasses with flat or convolute leaves and numerous
spikelets in few one-sided spikes, Spikelets 1-2-flowered, arranged in two rows
on one side of a flat rachis, the rachilla extended beyond the base of the flowers,
bearing 1-3 awns and 1-3 rudimentary scales. Two lower scales empty, acute,
keeled; flowering scale broader, 3-toothed, the teeth awn-pointed or awned;
POACEAE
palet hyaline, entire or 2-toothed. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas
plumose. Grain oblong, free. [In honor of Claudian Boutelou, a Spanish
botanist.] About 36 species, particularly numerous in Mexico and in the south-
western United States, known as A ESQUITE-GRASS. Type species: Botleloua
racemosa Lag.
Second flower a rudimentary 3-fid awn.
Leaf-blades up to 10 ecm. long; spikes 2-3 cm. long. 1. J1. americana.
Leaf-blades only 2 cm. long or less; spikes about 0.5 cmn. long. 2. D, juncea.
Second flower well developed. 3. B. heteroslega.
1. Bouteloua americana (h.) Scribn. Proc. Phila. Acad. 1891: 306. 1891.
Aristida americana L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 879. 1759.
Bovueloua litigiosa Lag. Gen. & Sp. Nov. 5. 1816.
Perennial, tufted. Culms wiry, compressed, decumbent or ascending, 7
dm. long or less, often much branched, glabrous. Leaves involute-margined,
hairy near the base, 6-10 em. long, 2 mm. wide or less; raceme open, composed of
several spike-like branches 2-3 cm. long; spikelets about 7 on each spike, ap-
pressed; second flower rudimentary, with 3 awns of about equal length.
Sandy fields and roadsides near the southern and western coasts, Porto Rico;
Vieques; St. Croix; St. Thonmas; St. Jan; Tortola; Virgin Gorda:--Bahamas; Jamaica;
Cuba; Hispaniola; Antigua to Tobago; continental tropical America.
2. Bouteloua juncea (Desv.) Ilitchec. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 17: 343. 1913.
Triathera juncea Dosv.; Beauv. Agrost. 40. 1812.
Perennial; culmns glabrous, very slender, prostrate or ascending, branched,
5-15 cm. long, the branches often fascicled or densely tufted, the flowering ones
filiform, erect, 6-15 cm. high. Leaf-sheaths pilose at the month, the blades 15
mm. long or less, 1-1.5 imm. wide, glabrous, folded, at least in drying; racemes of
few or several minute spikes; spikelet solitary, pilose at the base, about 4 mm.
long, the scales lanceolate, acuminate, the second flower of 3 slender scabrous
awns.
Red soil, coastal plain near Guanica:-Ilispaniola.
3. Bouteloua heterostega (Trin.) Griffiths, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 14: 414.
1912.
Eiuriana heleroslega Trin. Gram. Unifl. 242. 1824.
Bouteloua Humboldliana Griseb. AMom. Am. Acad. II. 8: 532. 1862.
Jfeterosteca rhadina Nash, Bull. T'orrey Club 30: 386. 1903.
Perennial; culms prostrate, ascending or erect, branched, glabrous, slender,
2-6 dm. long. Leaves more or less pilose, the blades 2-8 cm. long, 1-2.5 mm. wide,
folded, at least when dry; racemes 2-10, ascending or spreading, 1.5-3 cin. long;
spikelets 4-7, about 12 mm. long, the second flower staminate, the other perfect
or pistillate, its scale long-awned.
Rocky and sandy soil at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico, mostly in dry
districts:-Cuba; Hispaniola; Alartinique.
56. LEPTOCHLOA Beauv. Agrost. 71. 1812.
Usually tall annual or perennial grasses, with flat leaves and numerous spikes
forming a simple panicle. Spikelets usually several-flowered, flattened, alter-
nating in two rows on one side of the rachis. Scales 4 to many; tihe 2 lower empty,
keeled, shorter than the spikelet; the flowering scales keeled, 3-nerved. Palet
POACEAE
2-nerved. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, on-
closed in the scale and palet. [Greek, in allusion to the slender spikes.] About
12 species, natives of the warmer regions of both hemispheres. Type species:
Cynosurus virgatus L.
Perennial. 1. L. tirgata.
Annuals.
Sheaths, or the upper ones hispid. 2. L. filiformis.
Sheaths glabrous. 3. L. scabra.
1. Leptochloa virgata (L.) Beauv. Agrost. 71, 166. 1812.
Cynosurns virgatus L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, S76. 1759.
Perennial; culms rather slender, smooth, erect or decumnbent, somewhat
tufted, 2-10 di. high, little branched or simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous, thlie blade
6-18 cm. long, 4-15 mm. wide; spikes slender, weak, 3-12 cm. long, racemose near
the top of the culm; spikelets about 4 nun. long; flowering scales awnless or very
short-awned. [?L. virgata gracilis of Eggers.]
Wet and waste grounds, Porto Rico; Vieques: Culcbra; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St.
Jan; Tortola:-West Indies; continental tropical America.
2. Leptochloa filiformis (Lam.) Beauv. Agrost. 166. 1812.
Festuca filiformis Lain. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 19lt. 1791.
Eleusine inucronata 1\fichx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 65. 1803.
Leptochloa mucronata Kuntth, Rev. Gram. 1: 91. 1829.
Annual; culms 3 12 din. high, finally branching. Leaf-sheaths usually
hispid or hirsute, the blades 6-25 cm. long, 1 cm. wide or loss, scabrous; spikes
ascending, 5-15 cm. long; spikelets about 3 mm. long. [L. inucronlata multiflora
of Eggers.]
Fields and cultivated grounds at lower elevations, Porto Rico: along ditches, St.
Croix (according to Eggers):-southern United States; Berimuda; West Indies; conti-
nental tropical America.
3. Leptochloa scabra Nees, Agrost. Bras. 435. 1829.
Annual; culms about 1 m. high, or less, rather stout, usually simple. Leaf-
sheaths glabrous but scabrate, the blades 6-20 cm. long, mostly less than I cm.
wide; spikes 4-8 cm. long, ascending or nearly erect, numerous, forming an
elongated, narrow inflorescence; spikelets second, 3-4 mm. long.
Wet grounds at lower elevations, Porto Rico:-southern United States; Tobago;
Trinidad; continental tropical America.
57. DIPLACHNE Beauv. Agrost. 80. 1812.
Tufted grasses, with narrow flat leaves and long slender spikes arranged in
an open panicle, or rarely only one terminal spike. Spikelets several-flowered,
narrow, sessile or rarely pedicelled, erect. Two lower scales empty, membranous,
keeled, acute, unequal; flowering scales 1-3-nerved, 2-toothed and mucronate or
short-awned between the teeth. Palet hyaline, 2-nerved. Stamens 3. Styles
distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, loosely enclosed in the scale and palot.
[Greek, referring to the 2-toothed flowering scales.] About 15 species, natives
of the warmer regions of both hemispheres, the following typical.
POAOEAE
1. Diplachne fascicularis (Lam.) Beauv, Agrost. 160. 1812.
Festlura fascicularis Lam. Tab]. Encycl. 1: 189. 1791.
Leplochloa fascic laris A. Gray, Alan. 588. 1848.
Culnis tufted, finally branching, 3-S dim. tall. Leaves erect, 1-2 dinm. long,
3 mni. or less wide, involute when dry, rough; racemes S or more, erect or ascend-
ing, the larger ones 4-8 cm. long; spikelets 4-8 mmn. long; scales 10-12, the
flowering scales, exclusive of the awn, 3-1 mm. long, the miduerve extending
into all awn 1 mimn. long or less.
In a ditch, St. John's Estate, St. Croix:-United States; Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba;
Mlexico; South America. SPIKE-GRASS,
58. PAPPOPHORUM Schreb.; Yahl, Symb. 3: 10. 1794.
Mostly perennial, tufted, large or small grasses, the narrow leaf-blades often
convolute in drying, the 1-3-flowered spikelets in dense spike-like, simple or
branched panicles. Spikelets jointed above the 2 lower empty scales, the 1 or 2
lower flowers perfect, the upper one staminato. Lower empty scales nmem-
branous, persistent, the flowering ones and the upper barren ones subcoriaceous,
cleft at the apex into numerous slender awns, forming a pappus-like crown,
which falls away with the grain. [Greek, pappus-bearing.] Twenty species or
more, mostly tropical, the following typical.
1. Pappophorum alopecuroideum Vahli, Syrnb. 3: 10. 1794.
PTappophorutm laguroideuim Schrad.; Schultes, Alant. 2: 342. 1S24.
Culms densely tufted, stiff, erect, glabrous, 6-15 din. tall. Leaves elongated,
about 4 mm. wide, strongly convolute in drying, glalrous, light green; panicle
1-4 dmi. long, silvery-hristly, its branches erect-appressed; awns soft, nearly
filiform, 8 10 mm. long.
On a limestone bench, Pnnta Agnila, Porto Rico; Desechen; MTona; St. Thomas:-
Cuba; St. Eustatius; Guadeloupe; Dominica; AMartinique; Trinidad; continental tropical
America; Jamaica?
59. GYNERIUM H. &, B. Pl. Aequin. 2: 112. 1812.
Tall, perennial, dioecions grasses, (lthe culms stout, somewhat woody below,
the leaf-blades large and flat, the spikelets in a large terminal panicle. Spikelets
several-flowered, jointed above the lower scales. Scales membranous or hyaline,
narrow, the 2 lower ones empty; flowering scales of the pistillate. spikelets long-
hairy, those of the staminate spikelets glabrous. Stamens 3. Styles distinct;
stigmas plumose. Grain oblong, free, nearly teretc, not grooved. [Greek,
referring to the hairy pistillate scales.] A few species of tropical America, the
following typical.
I. Gynerium sagittatum (Aubl.) Beauv. Agrost. 13S. 1812.
Saccharum sagittaturn Aubl. PI. Guian. 1: 50. 1775.
Gynerium eaccharoides 11. & B. Pl. Aequin. 2: 112. IS12.
An immense grass, sometimes reaching 10 m. in height, the old leaf-sheaths
persistent below. Leaf-blades up to 2 m. long, 4-7 cm. wide, long-acuminate,
serrulate, those of the staminate plant approximate under the panicle which is
often 1 m. long, its axis erect, the branches drooping, the pistillate panicle very
silky.
River-banks at lower elevations, Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; St.
Eitts to Trinidad; continental tropical America. UVA GRASS. WILD CANE. CARA DE
CASTILL.. CANA DE LA INDIA. The leaves are used in basketry
POAOEAE
60. ARUNDO [Scheuch.] L. Sp. Pl. 81. 1753.
Tall, perennial grasses, with stout somewhat woody culms, broad and flat
leaf-blades and large panicles of spikelets. Spikelets 2-many-flowered, the
Internodes of the rachilla glabrous; scales .1 to many, the empty lower ones narrow,
the flowering ones broader, hairy ()o the back. Stamens 3. Styles distinct;
stigmas plumose. [Name said to be derived from the Celtic for water.] About
6 species, natives of the Old World, the following typical.
1. Arundo Donax L. Sp. PI. 81. 1753.
Culms erect, 3-8 m. high. Leaf-blades up to 1 m. long. 5-S cm. wide;
panicle terminal, 5 10 din. long, the spikelets numerous and crowded.
Wet grounds near Ponre and Guanica; Vieqttes:-southern United States; Berrmuda;
Jamaica: Cuba; Antigua to Barbados. AMuch planted for ornament. Native of the Old
World. GIANT REED. COW CANE. CARA GUANA.
61. PHRAGMITES Trin. Fund. Agrost. 134. 1820.
Tall, perennial reed-like grasses, with broad flat leaves :and ample panicles.
Spikelets 3-several-flowered, the first flower often staminate, the others perfect;
rachilla articulated between the flowering scales, long-pilose. Two lower scales
empty, unequal, membranous, lanceolate, acute, shorter than the spikelet; the
third scale empty or subtending a staminate flower; flowering scales glabrous,
narrow, long-acuminate, much exceeding the short palets. Stamens 3. Styles
distinct, short. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, loosely enclosed in the scale
and palet. [Greek referring to its bedge-like growth along ditches. Three
known species, the following typical one widely distributed, one in Asia the third
in South America.
1. Phragmites Phragmites (L.) Karst. Deutsch. Fl. 379. 1881.
Arundo Phragmiiles 1~. Sp. Pl. 81. 1753.
P'hragmites rommnni is Trin. Fund. Agrost. 134. 1820.
Culms 1.5-5 m. tall, erect, stout, from long horizontal rootstocks, smooth
and glabrous. Sheaths overlapping, loose; blades 1.5-3 din. long or more, 8-50
mm. wide, flat, smooth, glabrous; panicle 1.5-3 dm. long or more, ample; spikelets
crowded on the ascending branches; first scale 1-nerved, half to two-thirds as
long as the 3-nerved second one; flowering scales 1-1.2 cmi. long, 3-nerved, long-
acuminate, equ(alling the hairs of the rachilla.
River-banks, marshes and lake-borders at lower elevations, Porto Rico:-north tenm-
perate zone; Bahamas; Jamaica; Hispaniola; Guadeloupe; Martinique; Tobago; Mexico.
REED-GRASS. WILD CANE.
62. ERAGROSTIS Host, Ic. Gram. Austr. 4: 14. 1809.
Annual or perennial grasses, rarely dioecious, from a few inches to several
feet in height, the spikelets in panicles. Spikelets 2-miany-flowered, more or
less flattened. Two lower scales empty, unequal, shorter than the flowering
ones, keeled, 1-nerved, or the second 3-nerved; flowering scales membranous,
keeled, 3-nerved; palets shorter than the scales, prominently 2-nerved or 2-keeled,
usually persisting on the rachilla after the fruiting scale has fallen. Stamens
2 or 3. Styles distinct, short. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, loosely enclosed
in the scale and palet. [Greek, etymology doubtful, perhaps signifying a low
POACEAE
grass, or Love-grass, an occasional English name.] A genus of about 100 species,
widely distributed throughout all warm and temperate countries, known as
LOVE-CRASS. Type species: Briza Eragrostis L.
Palets glabrous on the keel, or merely hispidulous.
Spikelets dioecious; creeping grass. 1. E. hypnoides.
Spikelets all alike; plants not creeping.
Annuals; low.
Spikelets small, about 1.5 numm. wide. 2. E. pilosa
Spikelets larger, about 2 mm. wide.
Spikelets ovate, 6 1mm. long or less. 3. E. lephrosanthos.
Spikelets linear, 7-10 umm. long. 4. E. Barrelieri.
Perennial; tall. 5. E. Elliottii.
Palets long-ciliate on the keel.
Spikclcts 2 mm. long. 6. E. amabilis.
Spikelets 3-4 mm. long. 7, E. ciliaris
1. Eragrostis hypnoides (Lain.) B. S. P. Prel. Cat. N. Y. 69. 1888.
Poa hypnoides Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 185. 1791.
Poa reptans Mlichx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 69. 1803.
Eragrostis reptans Nees, Agrost. Bras. 514. 1829.
Culms 2.5-45 cm. long, extensively creeping, branched, the branches erect
or ascending, 2.5-15 cm. high. Sheaths villous at the summit; leaf-blades 5 cm.
long or less, 1-2 mm. wide, flat, smooth beneath, rough above: spikelets dioecious.
10-35-flowered, 4-16 mm. long; lower scales unequal, the first one-half to two-
thirds as long as the second; flowering scales about 2.5 mm. long, the lateral
nerves prominent; scales of the pistillate flowers more acute than those of the
staminate.
Banks, roadsides and muddy places at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico:-
Cuba; Illspaniola; MIartinique; Trinidad; temperate and tropical continental North
and South America.
2. Eragrostis pilosa (L.) Beauv. Agrost. 162. 1812.
Poa pilosa L. Sp. ]1. 68. 1753.
Annual: culms 1.5-4.5 dm. tall, tufted, erect, slender, branched. Sheaths
sometimes pilose at the throat; leaf-blades 2.5-12.5 cm. long, 2 mm. wide or less,
smooth beneath, scabrous above; panicle 5-15 cm. in length, the branches at
first erect, finally widely spreading, 2.5-3.75 cm. long, often hairy in the axils.
spikelets 5-12-flowered, 3-6 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide; lower scales acute,
the first one-half as long as the second; flowering scales acute, the lower 1.5 mm.
long, thin, usually purplisli.
Fields, roadsides and waste grounds, Porto Rico; St. Croix; St Thomas:-United
States; Jamaica; Cuba; Ilispaniola; Guadeloupe to Trinidad; continental tropical Ameri-
ca; warm-temperate and tropical regions of the Old World.
3. Eragrostis tephrosanthos Schult. Mant. 2: 310. 1824.
Annual; culms tufted, slender, erect or ascending, 1-3 din. high, glabrous.
Leaf-blades 4-8 cm. long, 1.5-3 mm. wide, glabrous or nearly so, the sheath
ciliate at the top; panicle open, 4-8 cm. long, its filiform branches spreading or
ascending; spikelets filiform-peduncled, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 4-7 mim. long,
about 2 mm. wide; scales and palot glabrous.
Banks, fields, roadsides and in cultivated grounds at lower and middle elevations,
Porto Rico; Vieques; St. Croix; St. Tholnas:-West Indies; northern South America.
Doubtfully referred by Nash to E. PIurshii Schrad.
4. Eragrostis Barrelieri Desv., Journ. dc Bot. 8: 289. 1894.
Annual; culms tufted, glabrous, ascending or erect, 5 dm. high or less. Leaf-
blades 4-9 cm. long, 3-6 mm. wide, scabrous above; panicle open, 1-2 dnm. long
or shorter, its filiform branches ascending; spikelets linear, 8-12 mm. long.
[E. minor of \lillspaugh, not of Host; E. poaeoides of Eggers, not of Beauvois.]
Dry soil, St. Croix; St. Thomas (ex Eggers):-Texas. Native of the Old World.
POACEAE
5. Eragrostis Elliottii S. Wats. Proc. Am. Acad. 25: 1-10. 1890.
Poa nitida Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. 1: 162. 1S17. Not Lam. 1791.
Eragrostis macropoda Pilger, in Frb. Symb. Ant. 4: 106. 1903.
Perennial; culms tufted, glabrous, rather slender, erect, 4-10 dm. high.
Sheaths glabrous; leaf-blades 1-4 dm. long, 3-5 imm. wide, scabrous above; smooth
beneath; panicle 2-5 (lm. long, open, its nearly filiform branches spreading or
ascending; pedicels filiform, much longer than tho spikelets; spikelets G-13-
flowered, 5-10 mm. long, the flowering scales about 2 rum. long.
Moist sandy soil near the northern and western coasts of Porto Rico; St. Thomas:-
southeastern United States; Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola.
6. Eragrostis amabilis (L.) W. & A.; 11. & A. Bot. Beechey Voy. 251. 1841.
Poe amabilis L. Sp. Pl. 68. 1753.
Poa plumosa Retz. Obs. 4: 20. 17S6.
Erogrostis plumosa Link, TIort. Berol. 1: 192. 1827.
Annual; culms slender, densely tufted, erect or ascending, 1-4 dm. high.
Sheaths commonly with a tuft of hairs at the top, their margins usually ciliate;
leaf-blades 2 10 cm. long, 4 mm. wide or less; panicle-branches spreading or
ascending; spikelets about 2 inmm. long, 4 S-flowered, the pallets ciliato with very
short hairs.
Waste and cultivated grounds at. lower elevations, Porto Rico; St. Jan:-south-
eastern United States; Bahamas; Jamaica: Cuba; St. Kitts to Trinidad. Naturalized
from the Old World tropics.
7. Eragrostis ciliaris (1I.) Link, llort. Berol. 1: 192. 1827.
Pon ciliaris L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 875. 1759.
Annual; culms densely tufted, slender, erect or ascending, 3 din. high or less;
leaf-sheaths with a tuft of hairs at tlie top and usually ciliale, the blades flat,
2-7 cm. long, 2-5 nun. wildo; panicle narrow, dense, 2-10 cm. long, its branches
oppressed; spikelets 3-4 mm. long, 6 16-flowered; palet-nerves long-ciliate.
Sandy soil. waste and cultivated grounds at lower elevations, Porto Hico; Moina:
Mlnertos; Vieques; Culebra; St. Croix; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola; Anegada:- southern
United States; lBermuda; West Indies; continental tropical America and Old World
tropics. Consists of several races. Specimens from Anegada recorded by Britton as
E. Urbaniana Hitchc., a closely related species, now appear better referable to E. ciliaris.
Specimens from \Morillos die Cabo Hojo, Porto Rico, closely approach E. arabica.
63. UNIOLA 1L. Sp. PI. 71. 1753.
Erect and often tall grasses with flat or convolute leaves and panicilatoe
inflorescence. Spikelets 3-many-flowered, hlat, 2-edged, tho flowers perfect, or
the upper staminate. Scales flattened, keeled, sometimes winged, rigid, usually
acutte; the lower 3-ti empty, unequal; the flowering scale many-nerved, the
uppermost scales oflen smaller and empty; palets rigid, 2-keeled. Stamens 1-3.
Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain compressed, free, loosely enclosed in
the scale and palet. [Name diminutive of nms, one, of no obvious application.]
About 8 species, natives of America. Type species: Uniola panicus/ala L.
2. Uniola virgata (Poir.) Griseob. Fl. Brit. W. I. 531. 1864.
Poa virgata Poir. in Lam. Encycl. 5: 78. 1801.
Uniola racemiflora Trin. Bull. Acad. St. Peters. 1: 68. 1836.
Culms tufted, 1-2 m. tall, rigid. Leaves 3-5 dm. long, rigid, involute,
usually curved, 2-3 mm. wide; panicle narrow, virgate, 2-5 dmin. long, about 2
cm. thick, its many short branches erect, appressed, the spikelets racemnoso-
POACEAE
spicate, second, 3-4 mm. long, oval, few-flowered; flowering scales about 2 mm.
long.
Coastal rocks, southwestern districts, Porto Rico; Vieques; St. Thomas; Little
St. James:-lBahamas; Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola; Saba.
64. ARTHROSTYLIDIUM Rupr. 1\cm. Acad. St. Petersb. VI. 52:117. 1839.
Woody, mostly vine-like grasses, the leaves usually borne on short branches
whorled at the nodes, the leaf-blades linear or lanceolate, jointed with the sheaths.
Spikelets racemose, usually appearing only after long intervals, sometimes only
after many years. Spikelets linear, few-several-flowered, stalked or nearly
sessile, more or less second, articulated above the lower 3 or 4 empty scales;
lowest scale small, the others similar to each other, acute or acuminate, many-
nerved, not awned; palets narrow, 2-carinate, scarcely shorter than the scales.
Flowers perfect. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles 2. Grain oblong. [Greek
referring to the jointed spikelets.] About 20 species, natives of tropical America.
Known as Cakoncillas. Type species: Arthrostylidium IIacnkei Rupr.
Leaf-blades nearly capillary, involute in drying, 1-3 mm. wide.
Leaf-blades flat, not involute. 1. A. capillifolium.
Young branches retrorse-scabrous; leaf-blades 10-15 mm.
wide. 2. A. mitlispicatumn.
Young branches smooth; leaf-blades 3-5 mm. wide. 3. A. sarmenlosum.
1. Arthrostylidium capillifolium Griseb. Mem. Am. Acad. II. 8: 531. 1862.
Arnitdinaria capillifolia IHack. (test. Bot. Zeitsclir. 53: 69. 1903.
Glahrous; stem slender, wiry, woody, climbing over shrubs and small trees,
sometimes 5 in. long, often forming large colonies. Branches numerous, fas-
cieled at the nodes, short; leaves capillary, flexible, 5-15 eCm. long; spikelets few,
at the ends of the branches, lanceolate, S-12 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide, several-
flowered.
Woods and thickets near 1\laricao and Sabana Orande, Porto Rico; Vieques; St.
Thomas; St. Jan:-Bahanmas; Cuba; Hispaniola. OLD MAN'S BEARDI).
2. Arthrostylidium multispicatum I'ilgerin Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 311. 1901.
Artundineiria mnilispicata Hiack. Ocst. Bot. Zeitschr. 53: 69. 1903.
High-climbing; main branches elongated, when young retrorse-scabrous, the
older branches smooth; ultimate branchlets verticillate, 15-30 em. long; leaf-
blades 6 8 cmi. long, 10-15 mi n. wide, or larger on strong shoots; racemes ter-
minal and axillary, numerous, the axis straight, the glabrous spl)ikelets appressed.
Mountain forests, central and western districts of Porto Rico:-Cuba; Hispaniola.
FOREST CLIMBING BAMBOO.
3. Arthrostylidium sarmentosum P'ilger in Urban, Symb. Ant. 4: 108. 1903.
Climbing on trees and mlrtos, the culm and branches very slender, smooth,
the ultimate branchlets 10 15 cm. long, in dense, distant verticils. Leaf-blades
pale green, flat, 5 cm. long or less, 3-.5 mm. wide; racomnes nany, terminal and
axillary, zigzag, composed of few pubescent spikelets.
Mountain forests at higher elevations, Porto Rico:-Cuba; IHispaniola. FOREST
CLIMBING BAMBOO.
65. CHUSQUEA Kunth, Syn. Pl. Acquin. 1: 254. 1822.
Climbing or clambering woody graises, with elongated, branched culms,
small leaves, the blades jointed with the sheaths, the small 1-flowered spikelets
in terminal panicles, the flowers perfect. Scales 5, the two lower ones small,
POACEAE
empty, persistent, the next two appressed, the flowering one membranous.
Stamens 3. Styles distinct or united. rainn oblong. [Colombian name.]
About 35 species of tropical America. Type species: Chusquca scandens Kunth.
1. Chusquea abietifolia Criseb. Fl. Hr. W. 1. 529. 1864.
Arviudiiaria (?) uicrrliada Pilger in Urban, Symb. Ant. 5: 289. 1907.
Climbing on trees aind shrubs, slender, much-branchled, the culnms elongated,
often drooping, sometimes 6-7 meters long, the ultimate branchlets verticillate,
numerous, 6-10 cm. long. Leaves rather rigid, narrowly lanceolate, 1.5-5 cm.
long, spinulose-tipped, the margins scabrato; panicles terminating leafy branch-
lets; spikelets few, lanceolate, pointed, about 6 1mm. long, short-stalked.
Hillsides, Mlonte Alegrillo and near Yauco:-.Jamaica; Hispaniola. The grass
flowers only after long intervals and (lies after flowering.
66. BAMBOS Retz. Obs. 5: 21. 1789.
Woody grasses, with erect, hollow, jointed, branching culms, flat leaf-blades
jointed with their sheaths, and several-many-flowered spikelets clustered in
narrow or broad panicles, the paniclo-brancihes often verticillate. Scales several
or numerous, awniless, the lower 1 to 4 empty, shorter than the. flowering ones.
Stamens 6. Style undivided or 2-3-cleft. (;rain oblong. [Indian name.]
Forty species or more, natives of warmn-temperate and tropical parts of the
Old World. Type species: Baimbos arundinacea Retz.
1. Bambos vulgaris Schrad.; WVendl. Coll. Pl. 2: 26. 1810.
Culms stout, 15 m. high or less, about I dinm. in diameter, the lateral branches
numerous, slender, the nodes with a line of hairs. Leaf-sheaths loosely pu-
bescent, the blades lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 din. long, 4 cm. wide or less; flowering
branches clustered; spiklets 1-2 cm. long in bracted clusters of 3-10, oblong.
pointed, the empty scales ovate, acute, many-nerved.
Moist grounds and along water-courses at lower elevations, Porto Rico; St. Croix,
St. Thomnas:-Widely naturalized in the West Indies and in continental tropical America
from the Old World tropics. BAMBOO. BAMBT.
A low arching slender Bamboo was seen at Agricultural Experiment Station, Maya-
guez, in 1923. Krebs records thli East I ndiawn 1. arundinacea \Willd., as formerly grown
in St. Thollmas.
Melinis minutiflora Beauv., l MOLASSES G RASS, South America, grown as a
forage grass in Porto Rico, is a perennial, odorous, velvety, slender species tiup to
almost a meter in height, with a terminal panicle of numerous awned spikelets.
Polytrias amaura (Buese) Kuntze [P. praemorsa Hlack.], JAVA GRASS,
experimentally planted for use as a lawn-grass in Porto Rico, is a low, prostrate,
densely tufted grass, with rather slender, brownish, hairy racemes 2-5 cm. long.
Tripsacum latifolium llitch., CAYENNE (RASS, seen growing luxuriantly at
the Agricultural Experiment Station, Alayaguez, in 1923, is an erect grass 2-2.5
ni. high, with broad flat leaves, the spikes 3 together in clusters axillary to leafy
bracts.
Tripsacum laxum Nash, GUATEMALA GRASS, also seen growillg luxuriantly
at the Mayaguez Station, and also at the St. Croix Station is similar to the pre-
ceding species, but with solitary spikes
Tricholaena rose Nees, NATAL (;RASS of Africa, cultivated at the
Insular Experiment Station, Rio Piedras and lending there in 1922 to spread
beyond cultivation, is a slender perennial species (3-10 din. high with panicled,
silky red-purple spikelets, now naturalized in northern Cuba and in Florida.
CYPERACEAE
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf, African, grown at the Mayaguez Agricul-
tural Experiment Station, is a tufted perennial tall grass, with long narrow
leaves, the reddish-pubescent awned spikelets in panicles. [Trachypogon rufus
Nees; Cymbopogon rufim Reudle.]
Stipa tortilis Desf., of southern Europe was recorded by Krebs from St
Thomas, probably in error.
Family 2. CYPERACEAE J. St. Hilaire
SEDGE FAMILY
C.'rass-like or rush-like herbs. Stems culmss) slender, solid (rarely
hollow), triangular, qnadrangular, terete or flattened. [oots fibrous
(many species perennial by long rootstocks). Leaves narrow, with closed
sheaths. Flowers perfect or imperfect, arranged in spikelets, one (rarely 2)
in the axil of each .scale (glume, bract), the spikelets solitary or clustered,
1-tianiy-flowered. Scales 2-ranked or spirally imbricated, persistent or
deciduous. Perianth i ypogynous, composed of bristles, or interior scales,
rarely calyx-like, or sometimes wanting. Stamens 1-3, rarely more. Fila-
ments slender or filiform. Anthers 2-celled. Ovary 1-celled. Ovule 1,
anatropolis, erect. Style 2-3-cleft or rarely simple or minutely 2-toothed.
Fruit a lenticular, planlo-eonvex, or trigonous aeliene. Endosperm mealy.
Embryo minute.
About 65 genera and 3000 species, of very wide geographic distribution.
A. Flowers, at least the iistillate ones, perfect.
a. All the spikelet-scales subtending flowers or only 1 or 2 empty.
Scales of the spikelets distichous (See Abildgaurdia).
Spikelets with only I perfect [lower. 1. JKyllinga.
Spikelets with 2 to many perfect flowers. 2. Cyperus.
Scales of the spikelets spirally imbricated.
Base of the style persistent as a tubercle on the acliene.
Spikelet 1, culmn leafless; bristles usually present. 3. Eleocharis.
Spikelets several or miany; leaves present; bristles none, 4. Stenophyllus.
Base of the style not persistent as a tubercle.
Flowers without any inner scales (petals).
Base of the style swollen; bristles none.
Spikelets terete. 5. Fimbristylis
Spikelets compressed, their scales liseudodis-
ticlious. 6. Abildgaurdia.
Ilase of the style not swollen; bristles usually present. 7. Scirpus.
Flowers wilhi 3 expanded inner scales (sepals) alter-
nating with ;: bristles in our species. S. Fuirena.
1). Three or more of the lower scales usually empty.
Style 2-cleft.
IBrislles none; spikelets several-flowered.
Spikelets in a terminal involucrate cluster. 0. lDichromena.
Spikelets ill uimbels or panicles. 10. Psilocarya.
Bristles present, exeopt in a few species; spikelets variously
clustered, (lie clusters not inuvoluerae. 11. Ilynchospora.
Style 3-cleft.
Pistillate flower axillary; plants tall.
Bristles nonl. 12. Aauriscuts.
Bristles present. 13. Aaclihaeriuma.
Pistillate flower subterminal; plants low, leafy. 14. RIlcirea.
13. Flowers all imperfect.
Pistillate flower subtended by scales.
Lower spikelets of the panicles staminate, the upper pistillate. 15. Lageteocarpus.
Staminate and pistillate spikelets variously intermixed in the
panicles. 16. Scleria.
Pistillate flower enclosed in a perigynium. 17. Garex..
1. KYLLINGA Rottb. Descr. & Ic. 12. t773.
Annual or perennial sedges, with slender triangular culms, leafy below, and
with 2 or more leaves at the summit forming an involucre to the strictly sessile,
simple or compound dense head of spikelets. Spikelets numerous, compressed,
CYPERACEAE
falling away from the axis of thie head at maturity, consisting of only 3 or 4
scales, the I or 2 lower ones small and empty, the middle one, fertile, the upper
empty or staminate. Joints of the rachis wingless or narrowly wsingetd. Scales
2-ranked, keeled. Perianth none. Stamenos 1-3. Style 2-cleft, deciduous from
the summit of the ahiene. Achene lenticular. [In honor of P'eter Kylling, a
Danish botanist of the seventeenth century.] About -15 species, natives of
tropical and temperate regions.
Perennials, with rootstocks.
Basal leaves with blades.
Leaves long, tihe apex gradually acuminate. 1. K. brerifolia.
Leaves short, the apex acute. 2. K. pungens.
Basal leaves reduced to sheaths. 3. K. peruviana.
Annunal or biennial; roots fibrous.
Fertile scale setulose on the keel, cglandular. 4. KI. punmila.
Fertile scale smooth on tlie keel, glandular. 5. K. odorala.
1. Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb. Descr. & Icon. 13. 1773.
Perennial by slender rootstocks; culms 6 dIm. high or less, slender. Leaves
2-4 cm. wide, attenuate at the apex, the basal ones as long as the culn or much
shorter, those of the involucre 3 or 4, the longer sometimes 12 cm. long; heads
1-3, usually only 1, ovoid to short cylindric, 5-12 min. long; fertile scale ovate-
lanceolate, boat-shaped, submucronate, the keel rough-setulose, or wholly
smooth.
Wel or moist grounds, at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico: St. Thomas:
St. Croix; St. .lan: Tortola:- -southern tUnited States; West Indies; tropical continental
America and Old World tropics.
2. Kyllinga pungens Link, Hort. Bevel. 1: 326. 1827.
Perennial by short scaly rootstocks; calms erect or reclining, 3-8 dnm. long.
Basal leaves muchl shorter than the clm, 3 -1 mmin. wide, acute, those of the
involucre 2-4, clm. long or less; head solitary, subglobose to short-cylindric,
about 1 cmn. thick; spikelets lanceolate; fertile scale acute or mucronate, boat-
shaped, keeled, 3-nerved otn each side. [S'irpus multatus hello, not L.]
'Moist grassy places near ltayaguez, Porto Rico; St. Croix:-Ilispaniola; Jamaica;
continental tropical America and Old World tropics.
3. Kyllinga peruviana Lam. Encycl. 3: 30G. 1789.
Kyllinga aphylla Kunth, ntlnum. 2: 127. 1837.
Perennial by short stout rootstocks covered by ovate scales; culms rather
stout, erect, 7 dmn. high or less. Basal leaves reduced to tubular sheaths 1-5 cm.
long; involucral leaves reduced to triangular acute bracts mostly shorter than
the solitary head of spikelets; head about 1 em. in diameter; spikelots many,
brownish, about 4 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate; fertile scale mucrontilate, boat-
shaped, striate. [Scirpus nodiulosus Bello, not Roth.]
In swamps and marshes, rarely on sand duties, at lower elevations, Porto Hico:-
Jamaica; llispaniola; Antigua: Trinidad; continental tropical America; tropical Africa.
4. Kyllinga pumila Alichix. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 28. 1803.
Annual, fibrous-rooted; culms tufted, slender to liliform, I (di1, long or less.
Leaves 0.7-5 nuin. wide, the basal ones mostly shorter than tlie culm, those of the
involucre 3-5, elongated, spreading; heads 1-3, ovoid to ovoid-oblong, 5-9 nim.
long, or the lateral ones smaller; spikelets brownish; fertile scale ovate to ovate-
lancoolate, acute, not glandular, its keel setose.
Moist grassy places, Porto Rico; St. Thomas (according to Clarke); Tortola:-
southeastern United States; Mexico to Brazil; Jamaica; Cuba to Trinidad; Africa.
CYPERACEAE
5. Kyllinga odorata Vahl, Euum. 2: 382. 1805.
Annual or biennial, fibrous rooted; culms rather slender, tufted, 4 dm. long
or less. Leaves grass-like, 2-4 mm. wide, the basal ones shorter than the culm,
those of the involucre 3 or 4, the longer 8-12 cm. long; heads 1-4, cylindric to
ovoid-cylindric, 7-15 mm. long, or the lateral ones much smaller; spikelets
yellowish-brown; fertile scale ovate-oblong, depreseod-glandular, its keel smooth.
Roadsides and sandy places at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; St. Thomas;
St. Jan:-southern United States; Mlexico to Uraguay; Jamaica; Cuba; Trinidad.
2. CYPERUS [Tourn.] L. Sp. P1. 44. 1753.
Annual or perennial sedges. Culms in our species simple, mostly triangular,
mostly leafy near the base, and with 1 or more leaves at the summit forming an
involucre to the simple or compound, umbellate or capitate inflorescence. Rays
of the umbel sheathed at the base, usually very unequal, one or more of the heads
or spikes commonly sessile. Spikelets flat or subterete, the scales falling away
from the rachis as they mature (nos. 1 19), or persistent and the spikelets falling
away from the axis of the head or spike with the scales attached (nos. 20-34).
Scales concave, conduplicate or keeled, 2-ranked, all flower-bearing or the lower
ones empty. Flowers perfect. Perianth none. Stamens 1-3. Style 2-3-cleft,
deciduous from the summit of the achene. [Ancient Greek name for these
sedges.] About 600 species, of wide distribution in tropical and temperate
regions, called GALINGALE. Type species: Cyperus esculentus L.
A. Style-branches 2; achene lenticular or plano-couvox.
Achene laterally compressed [Genus PYCRAEUS Beauv].
Superficial cells of achene oblong. 1. C. flarescens.
Superficial cells of achene quadrate. 2. C. odoratus.
Achene dorsally compressed [Genus JUNCELLUS Clarke]. 3. C. laeigatus.
B. Style-branches 3; aclihee trigonous.
a. Rachis of the spikelet persistent [EUCYPEmUS].
*Rachis wingless, or very narrowly winged.
Annuals.
Scales sharply acuminate or awned.
Scales sharply acuminate. 4. C. compressus.
Scales with recurved awns. 5. C. cuspidatus.
Scales obtusish. 6. C. sphacclatus.
Perennials.
Spikelets spicate. 7. C. dislans.
Spikelets digitate.
Stamens 3 or 2.
Scales acute; basal leaves reduced to sheaths;
culms smooth.
Involucral leaves 8-20. S. C. alternifolius.
Involucral leaves 1-3. 9. C. llaspan.
Scales mucronate or short-awued; basal
leaves normal; culms viscid-pubescent. 10. C. elegans.
Stamen only 1.
Spikelets linear-oblong to oblong-lanceolate,
yellow. 11 C. Cochraccus.
Spikelets ovate; leaves not transversely
nerved.
Spikelets capitate, yellow to yellow-brown. 12. C. surinamensis
Spikelets densely glomerate, red to red-
dish-brown. 13. C. Luzulac.
Spikelets ovate, green-brown; leaves strongly
transversely nerved. 14. C. virens.
**Rachis broadly winged.
Perennials.
Culms leafy below, not pseudoseptate; plants tuberif-
erous.
Spikelets pur'ple-brown. 15. C. rotundus.
Spikelets yellow-brown. 16. G. esculentus.
Culmns leafless, psendoseptate. 17. C. articulatus.
Annuals, flowering the first season.
Wings of the rachis at length separating from it;
no basal leaves. 1S. C. gigantcus.
Wings of the rachis persistent; basal leaves
present, 190. C. radiatsu,
CYPERACEAE
b. Racids of the spikelets deciduous above the 2 lower scales
[MARISCUS Clarke, not Zinn.]
*Achene more than twice as long as thick; heads globose.
**Achene not more than twice as long as thick; spikelcts
mostly spicate or capitate.
Spikelets with 1-5 achenes.
Umbel simple or head only one.
Spikelets spreading.
Scales of the spikelet imbricated.
Spikelets yellow or yellowish.
Spikelets 2-1 mm. long.
Spikelets I mm. long; spike solitary.
Spikelets dark brown; head solitary,
globose.
Scales of the spikelet few, faintly
nerved, acute.
Scales of the spikelet numerous, strong-
ly nerved, nmucroiate.
Scales of the spikelets distant.
Spikelets in age reflexed; spike 1, short.
Umbel compound.
Spikes oblong, 8-10 mm. thick.
Spikes long-cylindric, 5-7 mm. thick.
Spikelets with 5-25 achenes.
Scales awned; spikclets capitate.
Scales acute or acuminate; spikelets spicate.
Umbel capitate or with rays up to 3 cm. long;
spikelets 2-3 mm. wide.
Umbel decompouund, with rays 4-6 cm. long;
spikelets 1.5 mm. wide.
C. Rachis of the spikelets separating into 1-fruited joints [Genus
TORULINIUM Desv.].
Perennial; culms slender; spikes 1 or 2.
Annual; culms stout; spikes numerous.
Spikelets yellow-brown, loosely spicate.
Spikelets dark brown, densely spicate.
20. C. globulosus.
21. G. cayennrnsis.
22. G. granularis.
23. C. calcicola.
24. C. fuligineus.
25. C. Urbani.
26. C. tenuis.
27. C. lignlaris.
28. C. incompletus.
20. C. conferlus.
30. C. brunnrus.
31. C. planifolius.
32. C. filiformis.
33. C. ferax
34. C. Vahlii.
1. Cyperus flavescens L. Sp. Pl. 10. 1753.
Pyeracus flavrscens Beativ.; Reich. Fl. Germn. Excurs. 72. 1830.
Annual; culms slender, tufted, 3 dmin. tall or less. Leaves 2-3 mm. wide,
smooth, mostly shorter than the culim; heads of spikelets solitary, or in a 2-4-
rayed umbel; spikelets linear, subacute, yellow, flat, S-1S mni. long, about 3
mm. wide, many-floweried; scales ovate, obtuse, appressed, twice as long as the
black, shining, lenticular achene; stamens 3; stylo branches 2; superficial cells of
the achlen oblong.
Wet grounds near Bayamon and Dorado:-eastern United States; Bermuda; Cuba;
Hispaniola; Mexico; Europe and Asia.
2. Cyperus odoratus L. SI). P1. 46. 1753.
Pycracus polystachyns Beativ. Fl. Owar. 2: 48. 1S07.
('yperus polystachyos It. Br. Prodr. 214. 1810.
Pycraees odoralis ITrhan, Symb. Ant. 2: 164. 1900.
Annual, or perennial with a rootstock up to 5 cmi. long; culms slender, tufted,
S din. high or less. Leaves as long as the culms or shorter, 2-5 nmm. wide, those
of the involucre spreading; umbel 1-5-rayed, or sometimes capitate, the rays
5 cm. long or less; spikelets linear to linear-lanceolate, 6-20 mm. long, about 2
mm. wide, acute; scales gray-brown or yollow-brown, dull, acutish, one-half
longer than the gray, oblong dull achene; style-branches 2; superficial cells of the
achene quadrate.
lMoist grassy places at lower and middle elevations, Porto Ilico; St. Thomas; Tortola;
Virgin Gorda:-Cuba; IIispaniola; Antigua to Trinidad; Jamaica; continental tropical
America; southern United States; Old World tropics.
3. Cyperus laevigatus L. Alant. 179. 1771.
Juncellus laevigatus Clarke, in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 596. 1S93.
Perennial by horizontal rootstocks; culms rather stout, erect, 1-6 dmi. high,
trigonous above. Basal leaves strongly sheathing, usually much shorter than
the culm, sometimes reduced to sheaths, those of the involucre I or 2, when only
CYPERACEAE
1 erect and much exceeding the spikelets; spikelets 1 to many, capitate, appearing
lateral, 6-12 mnt. long, 2-3 mm. wide, compressed, linear-oblong, many-flow ered,
scales ovate, obtuse, whitish to brown; style-branches 2; achene plaino-convex,
obovoid, brown, 1.5-2 im. long.
TMoist or wet soil, mostly in saline situations near the coasts, Porto Rico; St. Thomas;
St. Croix; Virgin Gorda:-sonthern United States; Cuba to Antigua; Jamaica; con-
tinental tropical America and Old World species.
4. Cyperus compressus L. Sp. Pl. 46. 1753.
Annual, fibrous-rooted; culms tufted, spreading or erect, 1-4 dm. long, wiry.
Leaves mostly shorter than the culm, 1-3 mm. wide, those of the involucre 2 or
3, the longer one surpassing the inflorescence; umbel capitate, or w ith 2 or 3 rays
up to 1.5 em. long; spikelets 3-10 in the clusters, lanceolate, 8-25 mm. long, 3-5
nmmn. wide, several many-flowered; rachis wingless; scales ovate, acuminate,
firi, keeled, light green with a yellowish band on both sides; stamens 3; acliene
obovoid, dutll, obtuse, brown to black, sharply 3-angled.
Wasto and cultivated grounds at lower and middle altitudes, Porto Rico; Vieques;
Culebra; St. Thomas; Virgin Gorda:-soutliert United States; West Indies; tropical
continental America and Old World tropics.
5. Cyperus cuspidatus H.B.K. Nov. Gon. 1: 204. 1816.
Annual, glahrous; culms tufted, 2-14 cin. tall, as long as the leaves, or
longer. Leaves 1 2 itnn. wide, those of the umbel usually 3 or 4, sometimes 1
din. long; umbel 2-5-rayed, rarely capitate; rays 0.5-5 cm. long; spikelets linear,
5-12 nmm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide, digitate, many-flowered; scales chestnut-
brown, nearly 2 nitn. long, the recurved spreading awn-like tip nearly as long
as the body, strongly 3-5- nerved, keeled; stamens 1-3; achene broadly obovoid,
0.5 nmm. long, trigonous, brown, apiculate; stylo very short.
On the rocky limestone plain, Ancgada:-southern United States; Blalhamas; Cuba;
Yucatan; northern South America.
6. Cyperus sphacelatus Rotth. Descr. & Icon. 26. 1773.
Annual, fibrous-rooted; culms tufted, somewhat thickened at the base,
spreading or erect, 6 din. long or less. Leaves 1.5-5 imm. wide, mostly shorter
than the culm, those of the involucre 3-6, the longer ones mostly surpassing the
inflorescence; umbel simple or compound, 1-S-rayed, the longer rays up to 15 cm.
long; spikelcts rather loosely short-spicate, linear, acute, flat, 1-5 cm. long, 1.5-2
mnm. wide; scales ovate, obtusish, light green or with purple margins; rachis nar-
rowly winged; stamens 3; achene narrowly ellipsoid, 3-angled.
Moist grassy situations and waste grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto
Rico; Vicques; St. Thomas; Tortola:-West Indies (except Bahamas); continental tropical
America; tropical Africa.
7. Cyperus distans la. f. Suppl. 103. 1781.
Perennial by short rootstocks or stolons; culms stout, up to 1.5 Im. tall, often
overtopped by the leaves. Leaves 5-12 mm. wide, those of the involucre about
5, the longer ones surpassing the inflorescence; umibel large, usually compound,
tlihe slender rays 2 dmi. long or less; leaves of the involccels mostly shorter than
the raylets; spikelets rather loosely spicate, narrowly linear, 1-3 cm. long, about
I rmm. wide; scales oblong, obtuse, 2 mmn. long, distant, reddish-brown; rachis
very narrowly winged; stamens 3; achene oblong or narrowly oblong-ohovoid,
3-angled, 1.5 mni. long, brownish-black, obtusely pointed.
,Moist woodlands and along streams from lower to higher elevations. Porto Rico;
St. Thomas; St. Croix:-Jamaica; HIispaniola to Trinidad; tropical continental America
and Old World tropics.
CYPERACEAE
8. Cyperus alternifolius L. Alant. 28. 1767.
Perennial by short stout rootstocks, glabrous; culms stout, tufted, 1.5 m.
high or less, trigonous, smooth. Basal leaves reduced to lan(eolate acuminate
sheaths; leaves of the involucre 12-20, spreading, 1-2.5 din. long, -I -10 imm. wide,
flat, linear, acuminate, longer than the inllorescencoe; umbel decompound, often
1.5 dm. broad; rays numerous, nearly filiform; heads very numerous, the spikelets
few, digitate, linear, obtusish, many-flow ered, 10 mun. long or less, 1.5-2 1mm.
wide; rachis narrowly membranous-winged; scales greenish yellow to brownish,
lanceolate, acute, obscurely nerved, appressed; achene oblong, narrowed at each
end, trigonous, a little shorter than the scale.
Naturalized in swamps and along slrea ins:-Florida; Bermuda; Cuba; Guadeloupe;
Martinique; St. Vincent. Often planted for ornament; many seedlings were seen on an
old wall at Ponce. Native of Madagascar. UMBRELLA SEDGE.
9. Cyperus Haspan L. Sp. PI. 45. 1753.
Perennial by short rootstocks, or sometimes annual; culms weak, tufted,
3-10 dn. long. Basal leaves reduced to membtlranous pointed sheaths; involucral
leaves usually 2, 1-3 inni. wide, shorter than or somewhat exceeding the in-
florescence; umubel compound or simple, its rays 10 cm. lung or less; spikelets
few in the clusters, digitate, linear, nianly-flowered, flat, 0-15 mm. long, 1-2 mnm.
wide; scales ovate to oblong-lanceolate, reddish or greenish-brown, keeled;
rachis-wings narrow, membranous; stamens 2 or 3; achenle eoovoid, obtuse,
3-angled, nearly white, half as long as the scale.
Ditches and marshes, northern coastal plain of Porto Rico and in the eastern
nmountains:-southeastern United States; Cuba; Hispaniola; Jamaica; Trinidad; conti-
nental tropical Anierica and Old World tropics.
10. Cyperus elegans L. Sp. Pl. 45. 1753.
Cyperus viscosums Sw. Prodr. 20. 1788.
Perennial by short rootstocks; culms viscid-pubescent, 8 din. tall or less.
Leaves convolute in drying, the basal ones about as long as the culm, those of
the involucre about 3, the longer ones much surpassing the inflorescence; umbel
usually compound, the rays up to 15 cm. long; spikelets 2-12 in the clusters,
digitate, oblong-lanceolate, 6 15 mm. long, 3-5 mm. wide, compressed; scales
green-brown, ovate, strongly mucronate, about 3 mum. long; stamens and style-
branches 3; achene obovoid, 3-angled, nearly black, about half as long as the
scale.
Wet saline soil, Porto Rico; Miona: St. Thomas; St. Jan; St. Croix; Anegada:-
Florida; West Indies; continental tropical America.
11. Cyperus ochraceus Vahl, Enium. 2: 325. 1805.
Perennial; culms rather stout, 2-7 din. tall. Leaves 6 mm. wide or less, the
basal ones mostly shorter than the culm, those of the involucre several, spreading,
2 or more of them much longer than the compound or simple unmbel; umbel-rays
15 cm. long or less; spikelets numerous, capitate, flattish, blunt, many-flowered,
5-12 imn. long, about 2 nun. wide; scales yellow, ovate to ovate-lauceolate,
obtusish; stamen 1; achene ovoid, 3-angled, narrowed at both ends.
In wet soil at lower elevations, Porto Rico; St. Croix:-southern United States;
Bahamas; Cuba to Guadeloupe; Jamaica; continental tropical America.
12. Cyperus surinamensis Rottb. Descr. & Icon. 35. 1773.
Perennial by short rootstocks; culms slender to stout, longer than the leaves,
3-12 dmi. tall. Leaves 1.5-4 mm. wide, those of the involucre 5-7, the longer
much surpassing the compound inflorescence; umbel-rays 5-12, slender, 1-15 cm.
CYPERACEAE
long; spikelets numerous, capitate, ovate to oblong, flat, 5-12 mm. long, 2-3 mm.
wide, obtusish; scales ovate-lanceolate, keeled, nearly 1.5 mm. long, yellow or
yellow-brown, apiculate; stamen 1; achene oblong or ellipsoid, 3-angled, nar-
rowed at both ends, half as long as the scale. [C. acuminatus Bello, not Torr. &
Lookk]
In wet or moist soil at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; Vieques; St. Thomas:
-southern United States; West Indies; continental tropical America.
13. Cyperus Luzulae (L.) Retz. Obs. 4: 11. 1786.
Scirpus Luzulae L. Sp. P1. ed. 2, 75. 1762.
Perennial by short rootstocks; culms stout, 1 m. high or less. Leaves 3-7
min. wide, the basal ones often overtopping the culm, those of the involucre
5-10, much exceeding the inflorescence; umbel usually simple with short rays;
spikelets densely glomerate, numerous, ovate, 3-5 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide, flat,
6-12-flowered; scales oblong, obtusish, mostly reddish-brown; stamen 1; achene
oblong to oblong-obovoid, 3-angled, half as long as the scale.
Moist grounds, collected on Porto Rico by Bertero, and near Bayamon by Brother
Hioram:-Hispaniola to Trinidad; Mexico and continental tropical America.
14. Cyperus virens \Iichx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 28. 1803.
Perennial by short rootstocks. Culms stout, smooth, 1.5 m. tall or less;
basal leaves shorter than the culm, strongly transversely lineolate between the
veins, 5-12 mm. wide, those of the involucre several, similar to the basal ones, the
longer much surpassing the inflorescence; umbel compound, its 3-12-rays 2 din.
long or less, sometimes quite short; spikelets in capitate clusters, ovate, flat,
acutish, several-many-flowered, 6-14 mm. long, 3-4 mm. wide; scales ovate-
oblong, green, keeled, obtusish, 2-2.5 mm, long; stamen only 1; achene linear,
trigonous, about one-half as long as the scale.
Wet grounds near Bayamon and Pueblo Viejo:-southeasteru United States; Cuba;
Mexico. Recorded from Guadeloupe.
15. Cyperus rotundus L. Sp. P1. 45. 1753.
Perennial by long tuber-bearing rootstocks; culms rather stout, 8 din. high
or less, thickened at the base. Leaves 3- 6mm. wide, the basal ones shorter than
the culm, those of the involucre 3-5, the longer usually exceeding the 3-8-rayed,
simple or compound umbel; rays slender, 3-12 cm long; spikelets loosely spicate,
linear, acute, 1-4.5 cm. long, 2-3 mm. wide; scales purple-brown or greenish-
purple, ovate, acute or obtusish, scarious-margined; rachis-wings hyaline; stamens
3; achene ellipsoid, 3-angled, half as long as the scale. [C. esculentus of Bello,
not of Linnaeus.]
Moist and cultivated grounds and waste places at lower and middle elevations,
often a pernicious weed, Porto Rico; Vieques; St. Thomas; St. Jan; Tortola; Virgin Gorda;
St. Croix:-southeastern United States; West Indies; continental tropical America;
warm-temperate and tropical parts of the Old World. NUT-GRASS. COQUI.
16. Cyperus esculentus L. Sp. Pl. 45. 1753.
Perennial by scaly horizontal tuber-bearing rootstocks; culms usually stout,
3-7 dm. tall, commonly shorter than the leaves. Leaves light green, 4-8 nmm.
wide, the midvein prominent; those of the involucre 3-6, the longer much ex-
ceeding the inflorescence; umbel 4-10-rayed, often compound; spikelets numerous
in loose spikes, straw-colored or yellowish-brown, flat, spreading, 12-25 mm. long,
2-3 mm. wide, many-flowered; scales ovate-oblong, subacute, 3-5-nerved: rachis
narrowly winged; stamens 3; style 3-cleft; achene obovoid, obtuse, 3-angled.
Waste grounds, Palo Seco, Porto Rico; St. Thomas (according to Clarke):-temper-
ate and subtropical continental North America; Europe and Asia; Bermuda; Cuba;
Hispaniola; Guadeloupe, Martinique; Bonaire.
CYPERACEAE
17. Cyperus articulatus L. Sp. Pl. 44. 1753.
Perennial by thick scaly rootstocks; culms stout, 2 in. tall or less, terete,
pseudoseptate at intervals from 8 to 20 mm. Basal leaves reduced to scarious
bladeless sheaths, those of the involucre usually 3. triangular ovate to linear-
lanceolate, much shorter than the inflorescence; umbel 4-10-rayed, compound;
spikelets few to several in the clusters, narrowly linear, 1.5-5 cm. long, about 1.5
mm. wide; scales ovate, obtusish, about 3 mm. long, straw-color; rachis-wings
oblong; stamens 3; achene oblong, 3-angled, nearly black, about 2/5 as long as
the scale.
In streams and lagoons and in mud, Porto Rico, up to 900 m. elevation; St. Thomas;
St. Croix; Tortola:-southeastern United States; Cuba to St. Thomas and Trinidad;
continental tropical America and Old World tropics.
18. Cyperus giganteus Vabhl, Enum. 2: 364. 1805.
Fibrous-rooted; culms stout, 2 m. high or less. Basal leaves none; leaves
of the involucre numerous, up to S dm. long, 1-2.5 cm. wide, those of the involu-
cels also numerous, 2.5 (idm. long or less, mostly not over 6 mm. wide, erect or
ascending, much longer than the umbellets; inflorescence large, sometimes 1 nm.
broad; spikelets numerous, spicate, 8-12 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, compressed,
several-flowered; rachis-wings lanceolate, deciduous; scales brown, ovate, ob-
tusish; stamens 3; achene oblong-ellipsoid, 3-angled, blackish, about one-fourth
as long as the scale.
1Marshes and ditches at lower elevations, P'orto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola;
Trinidad; tropical continental America.
19. Cyperus radiatus Vahl, Enum. 2: 369. 1805.
Fibrous-rooted; culms slender to stout, 1 m. high or less. Leaves 4-9 mm.
wide, the basal ones shorter than the culm, those of the involucre several, the
longer much exceeding the compound umbel; spikelets spicate, 5-9 mm. long,
about 1 mm. wide, in sessile spikes 5 cm. long or less; rachis-wings oblong, per-
sistent; scales ovate, brown, obtuse or mucronulate; stamens 3; achene oblong,
3-angled, blackish, about half as long as the scale.
River-banks and wet soil at low elevations. Porto Rico.-Jamaica; Hispaniola;
Trinidad; tropical continental America and Old World tropics.
20. Cyperus globulosus Aubl. Pl. Gulan. 1: 47. 1775.
Cyperus crocens Vahl, Enum. 2: 357. 180i.
Afariscsus globulosus Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 165. 1900.
Perennial by tuber-like corms; culms slender, smooth, erect, mostly longer
than the leaves. Leaves pale green, 3-4 mmti. wide, those of the involucre 5-10,
the longer usually much exceeding the umbel; umbel G -13-rayed; the rays filiform,
their sheaths short, mucronate; spikelets 4-6 mm. long, linear, flat, capitate In
globose heads; scales thin, pale green, appressed, ovato-lanceolate, acute, 9-13-
nerved, with narrow scarious margins; joints of the rachis broadly winged;
stamens 3; style 3-cleft; achene oblong-obovoid, obtuse, one-half as long as the
scale, about twice as long as thick.
Sandy soil, northern coastal plain of Porto Rico and on the Playa de Humacao:
southeastern United States; Bermuda; Jamaica; continental tropical America.
21. Cyperus cayennensis (Lam.) Britton, Bull. Dept. Agric. Jamaica 5:
Suppl. 1, 8. 1907.
Kylliuga cayennensis Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 149. 1791
.lariscas flavus Vahl, Enum. 2: 374. 1805.
Cyperus flavus Nees, Linnaea 19: 698. IS47.
Alariscsus cayenmensis Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 165. 1900.
Perennial by short rootstocks; culms slender to stout, sometimes 8 dm. high,
their bases thickened. Leaves 2-8 mm. wide, the basal ones as long as the culm
CYPERACEAE
or shorter, those of the involucro much exceeding the inflorescence; spikes
cylindric, dense, 8-25 nnm. long, 5-8 mm. thick, sessile and capitate, or some of
them peduncled: spikelets numerous, oblong, 2-4 mm. long, yellowish, hearing
1 or 2 aclienes; fertile scales ovate, striate, nearly twice as long as the achene;
stamens 3; achene oblong to oblong-obovoid, 1.5-2 mm. long, 3-angled.
Grassy places and waste grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; St.
Thomas; St. Croix:-Louisiana; West Indies (except Bahamas); Mexico to Paraguay.
22. Cyperus granularis (Desf.) Britton, Bull. Dept. Agric. Jamaica 5: Suppl. 1.
9. 1907.
Kyllinga granularis Desf.; Boeckl. Linnaea 35: 432. 186S.
Alariscusgracilis Vahl, Enum. 2:373. 1805. Not Cyperus gracilis R. Br. 1810.
Cyperus nanus Boeckl. Bot. .lahrb. 1: 363. 1881. Not Willd. 179S.
Roots fibrous; rootstocks very short or wanting; culms tufted, weak, filiform,
smooth, 3-25 cm. long. Basal leaves linear-filiform, shorter than the culm or as
long, those of the involucre 1-3, similar, 6 cm. long or less; spikes solitary (rarely
2), globose or globose-oblong, 4-7 mm. long; spikelets about 1.5 mm. long,
bearing 1 or 2 achenes, spreading or reflexed; flowering scales ovate, obtuse,
striate, light brown; achene trigonous, obovoid-oblong, brown, a little shorter
than the scale.
Grassy places in dry districts at lower elevations, Porto Rico; Icacos; Virgin Gorda;
St. Croix:-Jamaica; Cuba; Ilispaniola.
23. Cyperus calcicola Britton, Bull. Torr. Club 42: 387. 1915.
Perennial by short rootstocks; culms slender, tufted, smooth, 1-2.5 dm. high.
Leaves shorter than the culm, 0.5-1 mm. wide; bracts of the involucre 2 or 3,
the longer sometimes 4 cm. long, similar to the leaves; head globose, solitary,
5-7 mm. in diameter; spikelets about 3-flowered, 3.5-4.5 mm. long; scales dark
brown, the lowest empty ones persistent on the axis after the fall of the rest of
the spikelet, lanceolate, the others ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute, faintly
striate-nerved.
Limestone rocks, Cayo Muertos, Indemic.
24. Cyperus fuligineus Chapm. Fl. 8. States 511. 1860.
Alariscus fuliginevs Clarke, New Bull. Add. Ser. 8: 16. 190S.
Perennial; culms very slender, smooth, tufted, 1-4 din. high, rather rigid.
Leaves revolute-margined, shorter than the cunl, those of the involucre usually 2,
unequal; spikelets linear, 6-10 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide, densely crowded in a
single Ierninal head; scales ovate to oval, about 2 mm. long, dark brown, striate,
nmcronulate; style 3-cleft; achenes oblong-obovoid, trigonous, about 1.5 mm.
long, dull brown.
On the rocky limestone plain of Anegada:-Florida; Bahamas; Cuban Cays; Bonaire;
Curacao.
25. Cyperus Urbani Boeckl. Cyp. Nov. 1: 10. 1888.
alariscus Urbani Clarke in Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 47. 1900.
Roots fibrous; culmns very slender, tufted, 2-5 dinm. long. Leaves 2-4 mm.
wide, the basal ones about as long as the culm, those of the involucre about 3:
up to 6 enM. long; head mostly solitary, subglobose to oblong, 5 mm. thick; spike-
lets about 2 mm. long, 1 mm. thick, densely capitate, bearing 2 or 3 achenes;
scales pale, greenish-brown, ovate, muicronate, little imbricated, faintly striate-
nerved; achene ellipsoid-obovoid, 3-angled, brown, about 4 as long as the scale.
Grassy hanks and woodlands, Porto Rico, at higher elevations; in woods on Vieques
at 150 m. altitude. Endemic.
CYPERACEAE
26. Cyperus tenuis Sw. Prodr. 20. 178S.
Mariscis tennis Clarke in Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 48. 1900.
Roots fibrous; rootstock very short or nown; culms tufted, filiform, 1-3 dm.
long. Leaves mostly shorter than the culin, smooth, 1 1.5 imml. wide, those of
the involucre similar to the basal ones; spikes short, usually solitary, 6-10 mim.
long; spikelets linear, 3-5 mim. long, bearing 2 or 3 achenes, at length dellexed;
scales ovate, obtuse, mueronulate, striate, brown; achene ellipsoid, trigonous,
a little longer than the scale.
Rocky or sandy soil at low elevations in the southwestern districts, Porto Rico;
Mona; St. Croix (according to Clarke):-Jamaica; Cuba; Hispaniola.
27. Cyperus ligularis L. Am. Acad. 5: 391. 1759.
Mariscus rufus H.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 216. 1816.
Cyperus Sintenisii Boeekl. Cyp. Nov. 1: 12. 1SSS.
Cyperus trigonus Boeckl. Cyp. Nov. 1: 11. 1SSS.
Mariscus ligularis Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 165. 1900.
Perennial; roots fibrous, thick; rootstock short or none; culms stout, 1.2 itm.
high or less. Leaves 8 20 nmmn. wide, pale green, rough-margined, the basal ones
often overtopping the culln, those of the involucre sometimes 7 dm. long; umnbel
4-12-rayed, large, compound; spikes oblong or subglobose, 8- 10 in1n. thick, 'very
dense; spikelets gray to brown, 4-6 amm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide, bearing 2-4
achenes; fruiting scales oval or ovate, striate, blunt, 2.5-3 mnm. long; achene
narrowly obovoid to ellipsoid, dark brown, dull, 3-angled, about 1.5 mm. long,
half as long as the scale. [Scirpus ferrnginens Bello, not L.]
Marshes and ditches at low elevations, Porto Rico, near the coast: Icacos; Cnlebra;
Vieques; Mona; St. Thomas; St. Jan; St. Croix; Tortola:-Florida; West Indies; con-
tinental tropical America; tropical Africa.
28. Cyperus incompletus (Jacq.) Link, Ifort. Berol. 1: 319. 1827.
Kyllinua incompletit Jacq. Coll. 4: t01. 1790.
Mariscus cltus Vahl, Etnim. 2: 377. 1805.
Mariscus Mutisii II.B.K. Nov. Gen. 1: 216. 1816.
Cyperus Mutisii Griseb. Fl. Br. W. 1. 567. 1864.
Cyperus compresso-triquter Boeckl. CyQp. Nov. 1: 10. 1888S.
Mariscus incompletus Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 165. 1900.
Perennial by rootstocks; culhns stout, 3-9 dIm. high. Leaves 6-1 ninm. wide,
the basal ones about as long as the culm, those of the involucre 4-7, the longer
much exceeding the inflorescence; unmbel compound, its rays 2 dm. long or less;
spikes narrowly cylindric, rather dense, 2-4 cm. long, 7-11 mmn. thick, digitate;
spikelets oblong, 3-G6 mm. long, bearing 1-3 achenes; scales yellow-brown,
ovate, obtuse; achene oblong to ellipsoid, 3-angled, about .3 as long as tile scale.
Banks and hillsides at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico:-Jamaica; His-
paniola; Martinique; continental tropical America
29. Cyperus confertus Sw. Prodr. 20. 1788.
Mariscus confertus Clarke in Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 50. 1900.
Perennial by short rootstocks; culms rather slender, 1-4 din. high, clustered.
Leaves 3-5 nmm. wide, the basal ones as long as the culm or shorter, those of the
involucre 2 dmin. long or less, the longer much surpassing the inflorescence; umbel
simple, 1-7-rayed; leads subglobose, about 1 cm. thick; spikelets greenish-
yellow, 5-7 innmm. long, about 2 nim. wide, hlat, bearing 5-9 achenes; fertile scales
ovate, keeled, strongly striate, tipped with short, somewhat curved awns;
stamens 3 or sometimes 2; achene oblong-obovoid, 3-angled, 1-1.5 mm. long,
about half as long as the scale.
Sandy or gravelly soil at lower elevations, Porto Rico; St. Thomas; St. Croix; Virgin
Gorda:-Janmaica; Hispaniola; St. Kitts to Martinique; northern South America; Ga-
lapagos.
CYPEIIACEAE
30o. Cyperus brunneus Sw. Fl. Ind. Occ. 1: 116. 1797.
Cyperus Kragii Boeckl. Cyp. Nov. 1: 8. 1888.
Alariscus briinneius Clarke ill Urban, Synil. Ant. 2: 51. 1900.
Cyperus discolor Bloecki. Cyp. Nov. 1: 7. 1888.
Perennial by stout rootstocks; culnims stout, 7 din. high or less. Leaves
4-10 nun. wide, palo green, the basal often overtopping the culm, those of the
involuere .3-5, the longer nmuch surpassing the inflorescence; umbel few-rayed,
or glomerate, simple or little compound, the rays up to 3 cm, long; spikelets
short-spicate, 1-2 cm. long, about 3 mill. wide, with 5 10 achenos; scales brown,
ovate, apicnulate, strongly striate-nerved; achene, i)oooid, 3-angled. about half
as long as the scale.
Coastal sands, Porto Rico; 'Mona; Icacos; Vieques; St. Thomas; St. Croix; St.
Jan: Anegada:-Florida; West Indies south to St. Vincent; Central America: Fernando
Noronha. Tile species consists of several slightly dittfering races.
31. Cyperus planifolius L. C. Richard, Act. Soc. lHist. Nat. Paris 1: 106. 1792
Cyperos purpirascens Vahll, Enim. 2: 359. 1805.
Mariscus purprii)ucens Clarke in Urban, Syml). Ant. 2: 51. 1900.
Mlariscus plaiifoliois Urban, Symn). Ant. 2: 165. 1900.
Perennial by short rootstocks; culins stout, S dim. high or less. Leaves
5-12 mm. wide, pale green, the basal ones often overtopping the culm, the longer
ones of the involucre iup to dinll. long, much surpassing the compound or de-
compound inflorescence; umbel-rays slender, 5-12 em. long; spikelets loosely
spicate, about I cm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, b)earing 8-12 achenes; scales red-brown,
ovate, obtuse, twice as long as the obovoid 3-angled acliene.
Pinita de la Tuna near annliaho; slopes of Mt. Yunqiue; border of mangrove swamp,
Culebra; Vieques; St. Thomas: St. Croix; Tortola; Virgin Gorda:-St. IKitts to Trinidad
and the Dutch Islands.
32. Cyperus filiformis Sw. Prodr. 20. 1788.
Cyperus unifolius Boeckl. Linnaea 36: 374. 1 S69.
ToIruliiium filiforiier Clarke in Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 57. 1900.
Perennial by slender or short rootstocks; culms slender, wiry, spreading or
erect, 1-7 din. long. Leaves about 2 imn. wide, the basal ones usually iemuch
shorter than the cnim, sometimes as long, those of the involucre 1 or 2, 1-15 cm.
long; spikes usually solitary, rarely 2, of 2 10, nearly digitate, terete spikelets
0.5-2.5 em. long, about I mm. thick; scales yellowish with a green keel, shining,
acutish, inlrolled; ovate in outline, the successive ones on each side of tile spikelet
not overlapping; achene ellipsoid, pointed at both ends, 3-anglel, shorter than
the scale.
iMoist sandy and rocky places at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; St.
Thomas; St. Croix:-Bahamnas; Cuba; Ilispaniola.
33. Cyperus ferax L. C. Richard, Act. Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris 1: 106. 1792.
Tuorliniimni ronfertum Hamilt. lProdr. 15. 1825.
Cyperus fastuiiosus Hamilt. PIrodr. 12. 1825.
(yperuis poeuides HIamilt. Prodr. 12. 1825.
(Cyperus Ehrenberuii Kttunth, Enim. 2; ,89. 1837.
Torilinium ferax Urban, Synfb. Ant. 2: 165. 1900,
Annual, fihrons-rooted; culnms stout, solitary, erect, 12 din. tall or less.
Leaves 5 15 nmm. wide, soft, the basal ones mostly shorter than the cuhn, those
of the involucre 4-7, the longer much surpassing the inflorescence; umbel coim-
pound, its rays sometimes 2 dmi. long, sometimes quite short; spikelets linear,
subterete, 1-2 cm. long, 1-1.5 mm. thick, loosely or rather densely sl)icate;
CYPERACEAE 89
yellowish or brownish; scales elliptic, convex, 2-3 mm. long, the successive ones
on each side the spikelet somewhat overlapping; achene oblong to oblong-obovoid,
3-angled, nearly black.
Wet soil at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; Vieques; St. Thomas; St.
Croix:-southeastern and southern United States; West Indies; tropical continental
AmerIca.
In his original description of Cyperus Eggersii Boeckeler (Cyp. Nov. 1: 53)
includes a specimen collected in Porto Mico by Sintenis (No. .1477); this species
is otherwise unknown from Porto Rico or the Virgin Islands. lMr. C. B. Clarko
subsequently (in Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 55) refers this number of Sintensis to
Cyperus ferax L. C. Richard (Torulinium confertum Hamilt.).
34. Cyperus Vahlii (Nees) Steud. Syn. P1. Cyp. 48. 1855.
Dircldinin Vahlii Nees in Mart. Fl. Bras. 21: 53. 1842.
Torulinium iaulii C('larke in Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 56. 1900.
Annual with fibrous roots; culms rather stout, smooth, trigonous, 2-8 dm.
high. Leaves smooth, 5-12 mm. wide, the basal ones as long as tho culm or
shorter, those of the involucre similar but shorter; umbel compound or simple, its
rays 2-10 cm. long; spikes short, dense; spikelets linear, red-brown, S-16 mm.
long, bearing few or several achenes, at length breaking up into 1-fruited joints;
scales ovate-oblong, obtuse, few-nerved, achene oblong, trigonous.
Moist or wet grounds, St. Thomas; St. Jan :-Cuba; Hispaniola; Antigua; Guade-
loupe; Martinique; South America; recorded from lMexico.
Cyperus ferrugineus P'oir., recorded from St. Thomas by Clarke, from a
specimen in the herbarium of the British 11 iseumL, is probably an error in locality,
as the plant is otherwise unknown in the West Indies.
Cyperus strigosus L., recorded by Schlechtendal as found in a garden on St.
Thomas, is probably an error in determination. The species is confined to
temperate North America.
3. ELEOCHARIS R. Br. Prodr. 1: 224. 1810.
Annual or perennial sedges. Culms simple, triangular, quadrangular,
terete, flattened or grooved, the leaves reduced to sheaths or the lowest very
rarely blade-bearing. Spikelets solitary, terminal, erect, several-nmany-flowered,
not subtended by an involucre. Scales concave, spirally imbricated all around.
Perianth of 1-12 bristles, usually retrorsely barbed, or wanting in some species.
Stamens 2-3. Style 2-cleft and achtoeno lenticular or biconvex, or 3-cleft and
achene 3-angled, tut sometimes with very obtuse angles and appearing turgid.
Base of the style persistent on the summit of the achene, forming a terminal
tubercle. [Greek, referring to the growth of most of the species in marshy
ground.] About 140 species, widely distributed, known as SPIKE-RUSH. Type
species: Scirpus palustris L.
A. Spikelet mostly not thicker than the tall stout culm; scales
rigid, not keeled.
Culm terete.
Culm nodose-septate. 1. E. interslincta.
Culm continuous. 2. E. cellulusu.
Culm 3-4-angled, continuous. 3. E. mutata.
B. Spikelet mostly thicker than the usually slender culm; scales
membranous, keeled.
a. Style-branches usually 2; achene lenticular or biconvex.
Upper sheath hyaline and serious at the summit; peren-
nials.
CYPERACEAE
Bristles about ;s long as the achene or longer. 4. E. flarcida.
Bristles shorter than the achene. 5. E. flavescens.
Upper sheath truncate, oblique, or 1-toothed, not scarious.
Annuals with fibrous roots: achenes black.
Bristles pale or white; achene 0.5 mm. long. 6. E. atropurpurea
Bristles brown; achene 1 mm. long. 7. E. caribaea.
Perennial. with rootstocks.
Culms stout, nodose-septate. S. E. nodulosa.
Culms filiform, continuous. 9. E. yunqauensis.
b. Style-branches 3; acheine trigonous.
Spikelet oblong, linear or ovoid.
Culms Illiform or capillary, continuous.
Achene cancellate. 10. E. retroflexa.
Achliene smooth. 11. E. microcarpa.
Culms stout, pseudoseptate. 12. E. qfeniculata.
Spikelet obovoid. 13. E. pachUstgla.
1. Eleocharis interstincta (Vahl) R. & S. Syst. 2: 149. 1817.
Scirpus interstinclus Vahl, Emmn. 2: 251. 1805.
Perennial by stout rootstocks; culms stout, terete, 4-10 dm. high, hollow,
nodose-septate. Basal sheaths mnembranous, oblique; spikelet terete, cylindric,
4 cm. long or less, not thicker than the culm, many-flow ered ; scales ovate to obo-
vale, faintly nerved, narrowly scarious-margined, rigid, not keeled; bristles rigid
retrorsely barbed, as long as the achene, or shorter; style 3-cleft, or rarely 2-cleft;
achene olovoid, )brown, shining, niany-striate andl with inany transverse ridges,
about half as long as the scale; tubercle conic, aente.
In water and wet soil at low altitudes, Purto Rico; St. Thomas; St. Croix:-eastern
and southern ITnited States; West Indies; tropical continental America.
2. Eleocharis cellulosa Torr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. 3: 298. 1836.
Perennial by long rootstocks; culms obscurely 3-angled below, terete above,
7 dim. tall or less, not nodose. Sheaths membranous, oblique; spikelet 1.5-3
cm. long, 2.5-4 mnun. thick, cylindric, somewhat thicker than the culm; scales
coriaceous, obtuse, imembranous-margined, many-slriate; bristles 0 or 7, nearly
or quite smooth, about as long as the achene; style 3-cleft; achene broadly obo-
void, trigonous, striate, coliously pitted; tubercle deltoid, aboul one-half as wide
as the achene.
Wet grounds, San Juan and Condado, Porto Rico; Tortola:-southern United
States; Bahamas; Cnba; Hispaniola; Jamaica; Yucatan.
3. Eleocharis mutata (L.) IR. & S. Syst. 2: 155. 1817.
Scirpus muotatus L. 1l. Jam. Pug. 6. 1759.
Perennial by stout rootstocks; cnlms rather stout, 1.3 m. high or less,
sharply 3-4-angled, continuous. Basal sheaths membranous, oblique; spikelet
cylindric, terete, 2-5 cmn. long, many-flowered, about as thick as Lhe culm;
scales firm in texture, obovate or broadly ovate, scarious-margined, faintly many-
nerved, not keeled; bristles rigid, retrorsely barbed, about as long as the achene;
achene obovoid, brownish, minutely cancellate, about twice as long as the conic
acute tubercle.
In swamps and pools at lower elevations, Porto Rico; Culebra; Vieques; St. Croix;
St. Jan (according to Eggers); Tortola:-eastern United States; Jamaica; Cuba to Trini-
dad; continental tropical America.
4. Eleocharis flaccida (Rchb.) Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 165. 1900.
Scirpus flaccidus Rlcib.; Spreng. Tent. Suppl. 3. 1828.
Eleocharis ochreata Stend. Syn. P1. Cyp. 79. 1855.
Eleocharis orhreata flaccida Boeckl.; Clarke in Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 63. 1900.
Perennial by very slender rootstocks; culms very slender, or filiform, some-
what 3-angled, 0.5-3 dmi. long. Upper sheath with a hyaline membranous limb;
CYPERACEAE
spikelet oblong or ovoid, G> nun. long or less, 2-3-times as thick as the culm;
scales elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, thin, pale green, with a faint mnidvein ; style
2-cleft, achone plano-convex, obovate, smooth, dark brown, about 0.5 mm. long,
2-4 times as long as the conic acute tubercle; bristles about as long as the achene
or longer, retrorsely barbed, sometimes wanting.
Wet grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico, ascending into the Luquillo
Mountains; St. Thomas:-southeastern Unit ed Slates; Bahamas; Jamaica; Cuba to
Trinidad; continental tropical America; Philippine Islands.
5. Eleocharis flavescens (Poir.) Urban, Symb. Ant. 4: 116. 1903.
Scirpus flavescens Poir. ill Lain. Encycl. 6: 756. 1804.
Perennial by very slender rootstocks; culms very slender, 2-12 cm. long,
striate. Upper sheath with a white membranous limb; spikelet ovoid to ovoid-
cylindric, 2-4 mnm. long; scales ovate, 1 mm. long, pale green or with a brownish
band on each side of the mnidvein, somewhat spreading when mature; achene
obovate, a little more than 0.5 mii. long, dull, greenish-brown, the conic-mitra-
form tubercle about one-sixth as long; bristles white, shorter than the achene or
as long.
Wet mud near Santurce and Dorado (Porto Rico is thie type locality):-Cuba;
San Luis Potosi to Guatemala; Australasia.
6. Eleocharis atropurpurea (Retz.) Kunth. Enum. 2: 151. 1837.
Scirpus atropurpurcus letz. Obs. 5: 14. 1789.
Hcleocharis Sintcnisii Boeckl Cyp. Nov. 1: 16. 1888.
IHeleocharis bahamensis Boeckl. Cyp. Nov. 2: 11. 1S90.
Annual; roots fibrous; culms tufted, very slender, 2 9 cm. high. Upper
sheath 1-toothed; spikelets ovoid, mnany-flowered, subacute, 3-4 mm. long, 2 mm.
in diameter or less: scales minute, ovate-oblong, persistent, green or purple-
brown with green midvein andl very narrow yuarious margins; stamens 2 or 3;
style 2-3-cleft; bristles 2-4, fragile, white, minutely downwardly hispid, about
as long as the achene; acihene jet. black, shining, 0.5 mm. long, smooth, lenticular;
tubercle conic, minute, depressed but rather acute, constricted at the base.
Wet grounds, Porto Rico.-United States; Bahamas; Cuba; Europe.
7. Eleocharis caribaea (Rottb.) Blake, Rhodora 20: 24. 1918.
Scirpis caribaens Rotth. Descr. 24. 1772.
Annual with fibrous roots; culms slender, tufted, striate, 0.5-3 dinm. long, the
upper sheath 1-toothed. Spikelet ovoid to ellipsoid, 3-6 nmm. long, much thicker
than the culn; scales ovate to elliptic, obtuse, yellowish-brown or whitish;
bristles retrorsely barbed, about as long as the achene; style 2-cleft; achene obo-
vate, plano-convex, black, shining, 1 mm. long; tubercle depressed-conic, much
shorter than the achene.
Wet grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico; Vieques; St. Thomas;
St. Croix; St. .ian; Tortola:-southeastern United States; West Indies; California to
Paraguay; Old World tropics and snbtropics.
The name capital has long bencu erroneously applied to this species.
8. Eleocharis nodulosa (Roth) Schultes, Alant. 2: 87. 1824.
Scirpus nodulosus Roth, Nov. Pl. Sp. 29. 1821.
Perennial by stout rootstocks, culms rather stout, 6 dim. high or less, terete
or nearly so, psetudoseptatc, upper sheath truncate or I-toothed; spikelet 1-2 5
cm. long, 5 mm. thick or less, ovoid-cylindric, acute, densely many-flowered;
CYPERACEAE
scales ovate-oblong, obtuse, brown or purple-brown, scarious margined; bristles
brown, about as long as the achene; style 2 cleft; achere ovate, plano convex,
1 mm. long, brown, much longer than the black, acute tubercle.
Lake Guanica (Sintenis 3833, ex Clarke); St. Croix (ex Eggers):-southern United
States: Cuba; Ilispaniola; Antigua; Mexico and continental tropical America. Mr.
N. E. Brown informs us that the Kew specimen of Sintenis 3833 is not this species; its
occurrence in 1'orto Rico is therefore in doubt; we failed to find it at Lake Guanica.
9. Eleocharis yunquensis 3Brittou, sp. nov.
Perennial by filiform rootstocks 7 cm. long or less; culms filiform, weak,
15 cm. long or less, very numerous, forming dense light green mats up to 2.5
dmn. in diameter or patches 1 m. broad or more; spikelet oblong acute, terete,
5-7 mim. long, much thicker than the culmi; scales several, oblong, acute, keeled,
dark brown: bristles about 6, white, unequal, the longer ones nearly as long as
the achenc and tubercle; achene obovoid, turgid, black, shining, the conic tub-
ercle sharply acute, about one-third as long as the achene; style-branches 2.
Catalina-El Yunqie Trail, Sierra de Luquillo, about 1,000 m. altitude (Britton and
Bruner 7619). Endemic.
10. Eleocharis retroflexa (l'oir.) Urban, Symb. Ant. 2: 165. 1900.
Scirpus rctroflexpis Poir. in Laim. Encycl. 6: 753. 18S04.
Eleocharis Chaetaria R1. & S. Syst. 2: 154. 1817.
Rootstock filiform, short or none; culms filiform-setaceous, weak, 2-20
em. long, sometimes proliferous and rooting at the tip, the upper sheath oblique,
somewhat inflated. Spikelet oblong, 2-4 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. thick, few-
flowered; scales pale, sometimes purplish, oblong-lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm. long;
bristles as long as the achene, or shorter, or wanting; style 3-cleft; achene oho-
void. trizonous, nearly white, cancellate; tubercle brown, pyramidal, acute,
nearly half as long as the achone.
Wet banks, rills and in mud, Porto Rico, ascending into the higher mountains;
St. Thomnas:-southcastern United States; Cuba to Trinidad; continental tropical
America and Old World tropics. Porto Rico is the type locality.
11. Eleocharis microcarpa Torr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. 3: 312. 1836.
Eleocharis mlinima Kinith, Eltnim. 2: 139. 1837.
Aninual, with fibrous roots, culms capillary, tufted, 5-20 cm. long, the
upper sheath with a triangular-lanceolate tooth. Spikelet ovoid to ovoid-oblong,
2-3 mni. long, 1.5 mm. thick, several-flowered, obtuse or bluntly pointed; scales
pale, ovate to oblong, obtuse or acutish; bristles 3-5, somewhat shorter than the
achene or wanting; style 3-cleft; achene grayish-white, trigonous, obovoid, about
0.5 111111. long, smooth or nearly so; tubercle conic, acute, much shorter than the
achene.
Krumbay, St. Thomnas (according to Clarke):-southeastern United States; Cuba;
continental tropical America.
12. Eleocharis geniculata (L.) R. & S. Syst. 2: 150. 1817.
Scirpus geniculatus L. Sp. 'l. 4S. 1753.
Perennial by short stout rootstocks; culms stout, 3-10 dnm. high, 4-10 mm.
thick, transversely pseudo.septate, constricted under the spikelet. Upper sheath
truncate, often dark-margined; spikelet 1-3 cm. long, 1 -9 mm. thick, consider-
ably thicker than the upper part of the culm, densely many-flowered; scales blunt,
ovate; bristles 7 or 8, reddish, retrorsely barbed, longer than the achene; style
3-cleft; achene 1-1.5 nmm. long, ellipsoid, yellowish-brown, trigonous; tubercle
conic, acute, about half as long as the achenc.
Wet grounds at lower and middle elevations, Porto Rico:-Jamaica; Cuba; His-
paniola; Guadeloupe; Dominica; SMartinique; Mexico to Paraguay.
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