North American species of Leptochloa

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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY—BULLETIN NO. 33.

B. T. GALLOWAY, Chief of Bureau.

NORTH AMERICAN SPECTES OF LEPTOCHDOA.

BY

. A. §. HITCHCOCK,

ASSISTANT AGROSTOLOGIST, IN CHARGE OF COOPERATIVE -
EXPERIMENTS,

GRASS AND FORAGE PLANT INVESTIGATIONS.

jIssuED FEeBruaArRY 10, 1903.

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WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
19038.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY,
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF,
Washington, D. C., October 18, 1902.

Str: [have the honor to transmit herewith a technical paper entitled
‘North American Species of Leptochloa,” and respectfully recommend
that it be published as Bulletin No. 33 of the series of this Bureau.

This paper was prepared by Mr. A. 8S. Hitchcock, Assistant Agros-
tologist, in Charge of Cooperative Experiments, Grassand Forage Plant
Investigations, and has been submitted by the Agrostologist with a
view to publication.

Respectfully, a ed
. T. GALLOWAY,

Chief of Bureau.
Hon. JAMES WILSON,
Secretary of Agriculture.

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PEEPACE.

There is much confusion in the names applied to our North Ameri-
can grasses. This is partly due to the fact that much new material
has been collected since the revision of some of the important genera.
The practice, formerly more prevalent than at present, of erecting
new species on the basis of a single specimen or of a very few speci-
mens at most, has added tothis confusion. The economic importance
which the grasses have assumed in the last two decades has made this
confusion all the more embarrassing. It therefore seems desirable
that the bibliography, synonymy, and systematic relationships of
American grasses be worked out as rapidly as possible. The present
paper by Professor Hitchcock is an attempt to do this for the genus
Leptochloa. It is based chiefly upon the material in the herbarium of
the U.S. National Museum and that of the U.S. Department of Agri-
eulture, but all the important public herbaria in this country were
consulted during its preparation. The descriptions of the species are
diagnostic rather than complete, but it is hoped that these will serve
the purpose of students of systematic botany. Much time has been
spent in working out the proper relationship of the species and it is
hoped that the short descriptions, the text figures illustrating the
spikelets of each species, the plates taken from herbarium specimens
of several species, and the key to our United States species will take
the place of more complete descriptions and render this paper valua-
ble to students of this genus.

The species of Leptochloa are inhabitants of the warmer regions,
only one or two of our species extending as far north as New York
and Illinois. One of the species, Leptochloa dubia, called sprangle, is
an important range grass in the Southwest, and recent experiments
indicate that it will prove a desirable grass for cultivating in semiarid
regions.

"W. J. SPILLMAN,
Agrostologist.
OFFICE OF THE AGROSTOLOGIST,
Washington, D. C., October 14, 1902.

CONTENTS.

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PLATES.
Page.
PLATE J. Fig. 1.—Leptochloa mucronata. Fig. 2.—Leptochloa viscida__- 24
Il. Fig. 1.—Leptochloa domingensis,from Florida. Fig. 2.—Lepto-
ChLOG, GOMINGENS1S» TEOMA exces ees ee eee 24
Ill. Fig. 1.—Leptochloa scabra. Fig. 2.—Leptochloa nealleyi _____- 24
IV. Fig. 1.—Leptochloa fascicularis (Diplachne procumbens Nash).
Fig. 2.—Leptochloa fascicularis (Diplachne tracyt Vasey) -._- 24
V. Fig. 1.—Leptochloa fascicularis (ordinary form). Fig. 2.—Lep-
LOCKLOG TOT 1OMED 2 Oa en ee on oe A eee ee 24
Vi; Leptochloa floribunda 2 ee ey ee eee 24
TEXT FIGURES.
[All five times natural size. ]
Kia. 1:-Spikelet ot Leptochloa-attenuatg. ==. eee ee eee 11
2; ppikelet of Leptocloammero nad Gea ee sae ene ae eee 11
3. Hpikelet of Leptochloa virgaltas =a. = 5s ee ee eee 12 ;
4, Spikelet of Leptochloa domingensis, from Texas______._.2__...._--- 13 5
5. Spikelet of Leptochloa domingensis, from Florida ______.___----_-- 13 f
6. Spikelet of Leptochloa domingensis, from Central America -___----- 13 4
7 Spikelet of Leptochiog nealley: ses a eee ee eee aH 14 ‘
8: Spikelet of Leptochlow scabra = sae ae ee eee ee 14
9) Spikelet of Leptochlog viscid aie mee == sae eee 15 :
10. Spikelet of Leptochloa dubia sae ee een 15
Ii Spikelet of Leptochloa floribunda sees ee eee eee 16
12; Spikelet. of Leptochlog aquatica 2a se eee lies
13. Spikelet.of Leptochlow fascicularis i= 5. a ee eee ale
14. Spikelet of Leptochlog imbricata ss eee 19
15. Spikelet of Leptochloa spicata ____.._...___-- Bese pee See a ee 19
1G. Spikelet of Gouinita brandege:. = 2 ee ee 21

8

B. P. I.—42. Gf... i

NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA.

INTRODUCTION.

In presenting the following review of the genus Leptochloa I have
been able to bring together our knowledge of this group of grasses
without describing any new species. In regard to the latter, botanists
will probably be thankful. But, on the other hand, I have been con-
strained in several cases to unite species kept separate by others.
All will not agree with me in the course I have taken in this respéct.
It is always difficult to decide where specific lines shall be drawn, but
I have been governed by this rule: When two or more forms are con-
nected by numerous intergrading specimens they are to be considered
as the same species, although typical specimens of the extreme forms
may be easily distinguished.

The notes are based mainly upon the Herbarium of the U. S.
Department of Agriculture, but through the kindness of those in
charge I have had the opportunity to examine the collections at the
Missouri Botanical Garden, the Gray Herbarium, the New York —
Botanical Garden, and the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science.
I have also examined the specimens in the larger European herbaria,
to the directors of which I wish to express my thanks for the privilege.

For the purpose of this paper it seemed not worth while to enumer-
ate all the specimens examined, but a number of representative
Specimens from numbered sets have been indicated for easier refer-
ence.

KEY TO SPECIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

1. Spikelets usually short-pediceled (sessile in L. spicata,but flowers several),
arranged somewhat distantly along the branches of the panicle. not so con-
spicuously one-sided as in the following group; 4 to several flowered (2-flow-
eeer men Seren er I OE, UDR ae ne ee ee LL 2

Spikelets nearly sessile in two or more rows on one side of the branches of the
panicle, 2 to 4 flowered and usually closely imbricated (more distant in
i FP i eg eS” ee i

ear

2. Panicle simple or often reduced to a single branch or spike.___ .____- spicata.
6 Se Le ae ee eS 7 1 cay. 2k ee 3
Penne ee eh O MOWELCR 2 eee. 2 enc... 4

wo oo

. Spikelets many flowered, elongated __.____._________- wo) 2. oa 6

10 NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA.

4, Flowering glume broad, truncate and more or less emarginate; sometimes

slightly awned from the protrusion of the mid-nerve ______----___-- dubia.
4, Flowering glume rounded at apex and short-awned or mucronate____-_-__-_- 5
5. Panicle 2 to 3 inches long. Plant with numerous culms, a few inches to a foot

high; leaves 3 ior finches Vomit eee ee eee ee eee eee viscida.
5. Panicle larger, culms 2 to 3 feet tall, leaves a foot or more long__ floribunda.
6. Flowering elume BWwHed ose Leica 7 8 ie ee een ne ear aa ie eee fascicularis.
6. Flowering glume awnless on mucronate. ee ae a imbricata.
7

. Spikelets usually 2-flowered, sometimes 3 or even 4 flowered, 1 to 2 mm. long,
branches of panicle very slender, upper empty glume as long as or longer
than the first flowering glume, latter obtuse ___________ _____- mucronata.

. Spikelets usually 3 to 4 flowered, rather closely imbricated, spikes shorter and
close set on the axis. forming a narrow panicle; empty glumes shorter than
the first flowering: clumie. 1013 ee he Seg area 8

8; Sheaths scabrous, glumes) Sharpspoimied Ses aes ee eee scabra.

8. Sheaths smooth: flowering glumes rounded or truncate at apex___________- 9

9. Sheath ciliate on margin above; flowering glume more or less awned.

domingensis.

9: Sheath not ciliate: flowerine*elumeyawmless se: oe ee ene nealleyi.

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HISTORY OF GENUS.

The genus Leptochloa was established by Palisot de Beauvois.¢ To
his new genus he refers Cynosurus capiilaceus, Hleusine filiformis,
and EH. virgata. The last of these species is figured? and in the
description’ of plates he uses the name Leptochloa virgata. It may
be inferred that he intends to make the new combination for the
other two species, as in the index, page 166, he indents under Lep-
tochloa the three names, capillacea, filiformis, and virgata. It may
be remarked that if one intends to be very accurate in regard to cita-
tions these three species of Leptochloa should be referred to page 166
(the index) rather than page 71 in the body of the work, where the
genus is described. The same remark would apply to the most of
Beauvois’s species.

Beauvois also established the genera Diplachne,“ to which he refers
Festuca fascicularis Lam., and Rabdochloa,’ to which he refers Cyno-
surus monostachyos, virgatus, domingensis, cruciatus?, mucronatus ?.

Kuntze substitutes Rabdochloa for Leptochloa because Beauvois
assigns five species to the former and only three to the latter.

Professor Scribner unites these under the genus Leptochloat Pro-
fessor Gray also placed Diplachne under Leptochloa as a section.’
Nuttall” proposed the genus Oxydenia to inelude O. attenuata (Hleusine
mucronata).

I have accepted the genus as delimited by Seribner, U.S. D. A. Div.
Agros. Bul. 20:110. Our species all are annuals except L. dubia.

a@Kssai d’une nouvelle Agrostographie, 71. 1812. ¢1.c..p. 84.

Orewa tas, pl. xv, figs. Ff Proc. Acad. Phil., 1891: 303.
él. c., Atlas, 10. g Man., Ed. I, 588.

aero. hGen. 1: 76, 1818.

NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA. rT

NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES.

A.—LEPTOCHLOA proper. Spikelets 2 to 4 flowered, arranged close together on one side of the
branches of the panicle.

LEPTOCHLOA MUCRONATA Kunth. Rev. Gram. 1: 91. 1835. Transfers
Eleusine mucronata Michx. (PI. 1. fig. 1: text fig. 2.)

Eleusine mucronata Michx. Fl. 1:65. 1803. ** Hab. in cultis [linoensibus.”’

Festuca filiformis Lam. Ill. 1: 191. n. 1044. 1791. ** Ex Amer. Merid. Comm. D.
Richard.”’

Eleusine filiformis Pers. Syn. 1: 87. 1805. ‘* Hab. in Americ. meridion.”’
Eleusine sparsa Muhl. Deser. Gram.135,1817. ** Habitat in Carolina et Georgia.”

Oxydenia attenuata Nutt. Gen. 1: 76. 1818. ‘‘On the banks of the Mississippi
near New Orleans.’’ Mr. Nuttall says: ** To this genus belongs the Eleusine
jiliformis of Persoon, growing in the tropical regions of America, nearly
allied to the present species.” and is often quoted as the author of Oxydenia
jiliformis, but he does not make this combination.

Leptochioa filiformis Beauv. Agros. 71 and 166,1812. Transfers Eleusine fili-
formis Pers. Roemer and Schultes (2: 580. 1817), also transfer Eleusine fili-
formis Pers. Presl. Rel. Haenk. 1: 288. 1830, gives as the locality *‘ Hab. in
Mexico, ad Sorzogon Luzoniae.”’ In the herbarium of the U. 8. Department
of Agriculture are several specimens from India. I am unable to distinguish
these from the Americzn plant. Hooker includes these under L. filiformis
R. & S. (Flora Br. India, 22: 298. 1896.) I have examined the Asiatic
material in European herbaria and feel satisfied that L. mucronata occurs in
southern Asia. It can be distinguished from the allied L. chinensis by the

papillose sheaths.

Fiac.1.—L. attenuata. : Fia. 2.—L. mucronata.

Eleusine elongata Willd. ex. Steud. Nom. ed. 2, 1: 549, 1840. Labelled ** Habitat
in America meridionalis Humboldt."” Types of this and the next examined
in herbarium Willdenow. ;

Eleusine stricta Willd. 1. c. Labelled ** Habitat in San Domingo.”

Leptochioa attenuata Steud. Syn. 209. 1855. Transfers Oxydenia attenuata
Nutt. This is kept separate by Mr. Nash in Britton’s manual, but the char-
acters do not seem to me to be sufficiently constant for separation. This form
is represented by Bush, Nos. 590, 403, 792, 793, and Eggert, 219a. from Mis-
souri, and Palmer, 392, 401, from Indian Territory.

Leptochloa pellucidula Steud. 1l.c. ** Duchaissing legit in Panama.”

Leptochloa pilosa Scribn. U.S. D. A., Div. Agros. Cir. 32: 9. 1901. **Type
specimen collected in sandy soil, Dappan, Travis County. Tex., 294. J. E.
Bodin, September, 1891.’ Professor Scribner states that ** This species is closely
related to Leptochloa mucronata, but it is at once distinguished by its rigid
leaves and papillate-pilose sheaths.’’ The leaves are somewhat more rigid
than is usual in this species, but the papillate-pillose sheaths are found com-
monly in L. mucronata.

Stems tufted 6 to 10 dm. high, erect or occasionally more or less decumbent at
base and rooting at the nodes. Leaves numerous, flat and rather soft, vary-
ing from 1 to 3 or more dm. in length and as much as } cm. wide. Sheaths
more or less pilose from a papillate base. Panicle often 3 dm. or more in
length, consisting of numerous slender spikes, arranged along a central axis;

IY NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA.

spikes usually 8 to 15 cm. long. Spikelets 3 to 4 flowered, 1 to 2 mm. long,
rather distant on the axis, that is, scarcely overlapping. Empty glumes about
equal, lanceolate, acute or acuminate, nearly as long as the spikelet, or some-
times longer, lower slightly narrower. Flowering glumes thin, awnless,
smooth or somewhat pilose on the nerves.

The form separated as L. attenuata has large panicles, with acuminate empty
glumes and flowering glumes pilose on nerves.

DISTRIBUTION.— Virginia to Florida and west to California: Hall, 777.778; Wright;
765: Bush, 468, 590; Curtiss, 5998; Coulter, 785; Lindheimer, 212. Mewzxico:
Palmer, 248, 22, 694, 749, 1864, 117, 50 (in part); Rose, 1542; Schott, 739, 590.
Yucatan: Gaumer, 8538. Cuba: Wright, 740 (in part), 741 (in part). Porto
Rico: Sintenis, 3550.

Var. PULCHELLA Scribn. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 9: 147. 1882. ‘*Santa Cruz
Valley, near Tucson.”

DISTRIBUTION.—Texas to Arizona: Heller, 1884; Hall, 777, 778; Coues & Palmer, —
511; Jones, 4176. Mexico: Palmer, 50 (in part), 504, 694, 8; Wright. 1316.
Differs from the type in the short branches of the panicle, 2-3 cm. long, and
the short narrow leaves.

LEPTOCHLOA VIRGATA Beauv. Agrost., 166; Atlas, p. 10. 1812. Refers
Eleusine virgata to his new genus Leptochloa (1.c. p. 71). (Fig. 3.)

Fig. 3.—L. virgata, from St. Croix.

Cynosurus virgatus L. Syst. Nat., Ed. X: 1759. No locality is given, but he
refers to Sloan jam., t. 70., f. 2, which is probably this species. In Spec. Pl.,
Ed. 2, the locality is ‘‘ Habitat in Jamaica.’’ See Munro, ‘* The Grasses of
Linneus’s Herbarium,’’ Proc. Linn. Soc. Bot. 6: 33-35. 1862. Linnzus
mentions that the lower flowers are subaristate.

Festuca virgata Lam. Ill. 1: 189. 1791. ‘* Ex ins. Domingi.”’ States that the
spikelets are aristate and ** floscul. ultimis submuticis.”’

Eleusine virgata Pers. Syn. 1:87. 1805. Description taken from Lamarck, 1. c.

Oxydenia virgata Nutt. Gen. 1: 76. 1818. This is the citation often given, but
is an error, as Nuttall merely says, ‘‘ Tothis genus belongs Eleusine filiformis
of Persoon . . . and we may probably add the Eleusine virgata of Jamaica.”

Chloris polystachya Lag. Nov. Gen. 4. 1816. The short description scarcely
suffices to determine this plant. ‘*Spicis pluribus, patentibus: calycibus flos-
culisque glabris, muticis: culmo compresso. H. in N. H. unde semina missit
D. Sesse.”’

Chloris poceformis H. B. K. 1: 169. 1815. ‘* Crescit in calidissimis humidis flu-
minis Magdalene prope Mompox: item prope Guayaquil et San Bowndon
Quitensium.”’ As synonyms are given Cynosurus virgatus L., Eleusine vir-
gata Willd.. and Leptochloa virgata Beauy.. but a new specific name isapplied —
because there is already a Chloris virgata Sw. In the description it is stated
that the awn is very short.

Leptochloa procera Nees in Syll. Ratisb. 1: 2. 1828. Type examined at Berlin.

Leptochloa digitaria Willd., ex Steud. Nom. Ed. 2. 1: 549. 1840. Types of this
and the next examined in herbarium Willdenow. Both specimens labelled
‘** Habitat in America Meridionalis, Humboldt.”’

Leptochloa unioloides Willd., 1. ¢c.

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NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA. 13

Leptochloa mutica Steud. Syn. 1: 208. 1854. ‘‘Surinam Am. Austr.’’ Type
examined.

DISTRIBUTION: Ruatan Island: Gaumer. Mexico: Liebmann 251, 252; Nelson
2768. 2483. Cuba: Rugel 193: Wright 3486, 740 (Gin part), 741 (in part);
Combs 256. Porto Rico: Heller 4535: Sintenis 844. Martinique: Bourgeau
2375; Hahn 168. St. Vincent: Smith 577. St. Croix: Ricksecker 258. Sét.
Thomas: Eggers 68. Galapagos: Anderson 44. Brazil: Riedel, Traill 1274.
Paraguay: Morong 970.

LEPTOCHLOA DOMINGENSIS Trin. Fund. Agrost., 133. 1820. Transfers
Cynosurus domingensis Jacq. (Pl. II, figs. 1, 2; text figs. 4, 5, 6.)

Cynosurus domingensis Jacq. Misc. 2: 363, 1781. ‘* Facie infra medium pilosa
dorsa glabra.”’

Bromus capillaris Moench. Meth. 194,1794. **Sub nomine Poae capillaris semina
accepi,’’ no locality given. Kunth refers this to L. domingensis (Enum. 1:
269) and the description applies, especially, *‘ Folia lata infra glabra, supra
deorsum scabra, basin versus pilosa,’’ but Moench also says, *‘ vagine glabre.”’
However, the pubescence is confined to the margin of the sheath.

Eleusine domingensis Pers. 1: 87. 1805. ‘* Hab. in Jamaica, St. Domingo.”’

Rabdochloa domingensis Beauv. Agrost. 176. 1812. Transfers Cynosurus dom-
ingensis, p. 84. He aiso refers Poa domingensis Pers. Syn. 1: 88 to his genus
Rabdochloa, and in this is followed by Kunth (1. ¢.).

y

Fia. 4.—L. domingensis, Fig. 5.—L. domingensis, Fig. 6.—L. domingensis,
from Hidalgo, Tex. from Florida. from Central America.

Leptostachys domingensis Meyer. Esseq. 74. 1818. Transfers Hleusine domin-
gensis Pers.

Leptochloa gracilis Nees. Syll. Ratisb.,1: 4. 1824. Transfers Chloris gracilis
H. B. K. See note under L. dubia. Nees in Agrost. Bras., 433. 1829, gives
‘* Habitat in Brasiliis . . . (Sellow. Vidiin Herb. Reg. Berol.)”’

Chloris gracilis H. B. K. Nov. Gen. 1: 168. 1815. ‘*Crescit in calidis Pro-
vincie Jaen de Biacamoros prope Tomependa, alt.. 207 hex.’’

Leptostachys gracilis Meyer. Fl. Esseq., 74. 1818. Transfers Chloris gracilis

» to hisnew genus Leptostachys.

Our plants have the rigid, glaucous appearance of L. virgata, with involute
leaves, but resemble L. domingensis in having the margin of the sheaths and
the upper surface of the lower part of the blades ciliate or pilose. The awns
are almost the length of the flowering glume. Grisebach distinguishes these
by the length of the spikes and of the awns (Fl. Br. W. I.). thus, L. virgata
with spikes 3-6 in. long and awns short or none; var. gracilis, awns about as
long as glume, spikes 14-2 in. long; var. domingensis, spikes 3-5 in. long and
awns longer. The length of the awn can not be depended upon to distinguish
these forms.

Stems ¢ to 1 m. high, smooth and somewhat shining or glaucous, leaves long and
narrowed to a slender point, involute: the tropical specimens have softer, flat
leaves. Our specimens are probably introduced as the plant is not common
within our borders. The drier climate would account for the involute leaves.
The upper surface of blade near base is sparsely pilose with long weak hairs,
the margin of the sheath is more densely ciliate. Panicles 1 to 2 dm. long

14 NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA.

with numerous ascending branches 4to8cm. The tropical specimens often
have more ample panicles. Spikelets crowded, about 2 mm. long. 3 to
5-flowered. Empty glumes acute, lower narrow and shorter, about 14 mm.;
lower flowering glumes bear awns about their own length, upper with shorter
awns or awnless.

DistRIBUTION: Florida along the coast south of Tampa, Simpson. Texas, Cor-
pus Christi, and Hidalgo,® Nealley. South America and West Indies.

LEPTOCHLOA NEALLEYI Vasey. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 12:7. 1885. ‘‘Col-
lected in Texas by Mr. G. C. Nealley, for whom it is named.”’

Leptochloa stricta Fourn. Pl. Mex. 2: 147. 1886. I have examined the type in
Paris. ‘‘ Vera Cruz (Gouin, n. 73).”’

Fig. 7.—L. nealleyi.

Stems + to 14m. high. smooth. Leaves elongated or on the smaller plants only 5
to 10 cm. long, 3 to 5 mm. wide, involute, somewhat scabrous; sheaths smooth
or very slightly scabrous. Panicles narrow, 2 to 4 dm. long, branches numer-
ous, crowded, appressed. 2 to 6 cm. long. Spikelets crowded, about 2 to 3
mm. long, 3 to 4-flowered. First empty glume about one-half the length of
the second and narrower; flowering glumes obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION: Texas: Nealley 2501: Bush 1363; Buckley, Drummond 291; Tracy
7368. This has the aspect of L. scabra, but the glumes are rounded at the
apex, while in the iatter they are acuminate or slightly awned. (PI. III, fig.
2; text fig. 7.)

LEPTOCHLOA SCABRA Nees. Agrost. Bras. 435. 1829. ‘‘ Habitat in ripa
inundata fluminum Amazonum, Tagipuru et Tocantins, provincize Paraensis
(Mart.).’? Nees remarks that this differs from L. virgata in having the leaves
and sheaths very scabrous and the small, whitish, slender spikelets entirely
unawned. (Pl. IIT, fig. 1; text fig: 8:)

iG) 8:— i SCapra.

L. langloisit Vasey. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 12: 7. 1885. ‘‘ This large and
showy species was found in Louisiana by Rey. A. B. Langlois, for whom it
is named.’’ :

Resembles L. nealleyi in habit. Differs in having distinctly scabrous sheaths;
the branches of the panicle longer and more or less curved; the spikelets 3mm.
or more long, the glumes acute or acuminate. Our plants are probably intro-
duced from further south.

DISTRIBUTION: Lowisiana: In ditches and fields, Station Michaud, 13 miles from ~
New Orleans, Langlois. Brazil: Rusby 235. British Guiana: Jenman 4441.

Costa Rica: Tonduz 2604; Spruce 424.

aThe specimen from Hidalgo (fig. 4) differs from the others in having the flowering glumes
awnless. Itis in an unsatisfactory condition, but may be L. virgata, Beauv.

NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA. 15

B.—Intermediate between Leptochloa and Diplachne.

LEPTOCHLOA VISCIDA Beal. Grasses N. A. 2: 434. 1896. Transfers
Diplachne viscida Scribn. (Pl. I, fig. 2; text fig. 9.)

Diplachne viscida Scribn. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 10: 30. 1883. ‘Santa Cruz
Valley. near Tucson, Arizona.’’ Collected by Pringle.

Growing in tufts in moist places, 1 to3dm. high. Leaves a few cm. long, 2 to 3
mm. wide. Panicle short, 1 to 4cm.long, more or less enclosed in the sheaths.
Spikelets 3 to 4 mm. long, 5 to 7-flowered. First glume about one-half the
second, mm. long. Flowering glumes short awned, somewhat viscid on the
back.

Fig. 9.—L. viscida.

eS TT EE

DISTRIBUTION: Arizona: Pringle; Mearns 793, 833; Griffiths 1988. New Mexico:
Wright 2041, 2044. Mexico: Pringle 814; Palmer 748, 748}, 692, 1789;
Brandegee 5; Wright 1086.

LEPTOCHLOA DUBIA Nees in Syll. Ratisb. 1: 4. 1824. In an article entitled
‘* Nove plantarum species in horto botanico Bonnensi cultz,’’ Nees ab Esen-
beck. who signs the portion relating to Leptochloa, describes L. procera, and
states that it differs from ‘* Leptochloa gracile, Humb. et Kunth n. gen. et
sp. I. p. 168 (sub chlori), vaginis glabris, valvulis corollinis nudis, nec ciliatis,
apice integris, mucronatis, nec aristatis, flosculorum numero minore.. .

A Leptochioa (Chlori) dubia Humb. et Kunth 1. c. p. 169; panicula aequali, nec
subfastigiata, flosculorum numero minore, valvulis nudis, nec ciliatis . . .”
He thus incidentally transfers these two species of Chloris to Leptochloa.
(Fig. 10.)

——

——

————————

eA PE I GE

Fia. 10.—L. dubia.

Chloris dubia H.B.K. Noy. Gen.1: 169. 1815. ‘‘ Crescit in apricis subhumidis
_ prope rupem porphyriticam el Penon, in convalle Mexicana, alt. 1168
hexap.”’
_ Leptostachys dubia Mey. Fl. Esseg. 74. 1818. Refers Chloris dubia doubtfully
to Leptostachys.
Festuca obtusifiora Willd. in Spreng. Syst. 1: 356. 1825. ‘‘ Mexico.”’ Type

seen.
Uralepis brevispicata Buckley. Proc. Acad. Phil. 1862:93. 1863. *‘‘ Northern
Texas.’ I have examined Buckley’s specimen in the herbarium of the

Philadelphia Academy.

16 NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA.

Diplachne dubia Scribn. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club. 10: 30. 1883. Transferred to
the genus Diplachne.

Leptochloa pringlei, Beal Grasses N. A. 2: 436. 1896. ‘‘D. pringlet Vasey
ined. Arizona, Pringle, 1884.’’ In the Department herbarium is a specimen
collected by Pringle in 1884 in Tucson (No. 13), which answers to the
description given in Beal’s Grasses, but seems to me to be a small form of
L. dubia. This is figured in U.S. D. A. Div. Agrost. Bull. '7: 224, fig. 218.

Diplachne dubia Pringleana O. K. Rev. Gen. Pil. 37: 348. 1898, transferred
to Leptochloa by Scribner and Merrill, U.S. D. A. Div. Agrost. Bull. 24: 27,
1901, is a robust variety from Chihuahua, Mexico (Pringle 422).

Stems 3 to 10 dm. high from a perennial root. Leaves long and narrow, tapering to
a slender point as in L. fascicularis Gray, usually not over one-half cm. wide.
Panicle, consisting of several or many more or less spreading spikes, 5 to 15
cem.long. Spikelets,5 to 10 mm. long,5 to 8 flowered, or in the smaller forms
only 2-flowered. Empty glumes acute, upper 4 mm. long, lower a little
shorter and narrower; flowering glumes broad and obtuse or emarginate at
apex, the midrib sometimes extending into a short point. This species is
readily distinguished by the broad, scarious emarginate apex of the flowering
glumes. This isa valuable forage plant in the Southwest, where it is called
‘‘sprangle.’’ Experiments indicate that it may prove valuable under culti-
vation in the arid regions of our Western States.

DISTRIBUTION: Arizona: Lemmon 368. New Mexico: Wooten 418. Texas: Jones
4210; Wright 767. Florida: Garber 33; Curtiss 3450; Simpson 302; Tracy 6453.
Mexico: Palmer 270, 273, 530, 381, 482, 468: Bourgeau 533; Brandegee 6;
Schaffner 671, 1079, 933; Pringle 422; Xantus 119; Botteri 690.

C©.—DIPLACHNE. Spikelets several flowered, arranged more distantly on the branches of the

panicle and not conspicuously one-sided.

LEPTOCHLOA FLORIBUNDA Doell in Mart. FI. Bras. 2°: 89. 1878. Type
locality: *‘ad ripas fluminis Amazonum inter Manaos et Santarem (Spruce).”’
CEL Vale sie lt Gite xt toa ele)

Diplachne halei Nash. Bull. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 1: 292. 1899. Type collected in
Louisiana by Hale. Co-type in herbarinm U.S. D. A.

Fia. 11.—Z. floribunda.

Leptochloa halei Scribn. & Merr. U.S. D. A. Div. Agrost. Bull. 24: 27. 1901.
Transfers Diplachne halei. The relation of L. halei to L. floribunda is dis-
cussed in the article last cited. Going over the same evidence I believe that
we are safe in making the present disposition.

Plant with the aspect of L. fascicularis Gray. Panicle oblong, rather compact,
with numerous branches 4 to 6 cm. long. Spikelets 4 to 5 mm. long, 5 to
7 flowered. Empty glumes slightly unequal, upper about 2 mm., lower
shorter. Flowering glumes with a very short point.

Probably introduced in the United States from farther south.

DisTRIBUTION: Texas to Brazil. Key West: Blodgett; Mississippi: Tracy 7401;
Louisiana: Hale; Texas: Drummond 322; Brazil: Spruce 1112.

NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA. 17

LEPTOCHLOA AQUATICA Scribn. & Merrill. U.S. D. A. Div. Agrost. Bull.
24: 26.1901. ‘* Type specimen collected in shallow water near Cuernavaca,
State of Morelos, altitude 1700 m., C. G. Pringle, 6664 August 22, 1897.”
Resembles L. floribunda, but differs in having more unequal outer glumes,
longer spikelets, with more distant flowers and obtuse flowering glumes. In
L. floribunda the flowering glumes are distinctly short-awned. (Fig. 12.)

Fig. 12.—L. aquatica.

LEPTOCHLOA FASCICULARIS Gray. Man. Ed. 1.588. 1848.

Festuca fascicularis Lam. Tabl. Enc. 1: 189. 1891. ‘* Ex. Amer. merid. Comm.
D. Richard.”’ (PI. IV, figs. 1, 2; Pl. V. fig. 1; text fig. 13.)

Bromus poeformis Spreng. Nach. Bot. Gart. Halle 15. 1801. Dr. Dammer, of
the Royal Botanical Museum of Berlin, has kindly sent me a transcript of
Sprengel’s description. ** Bromus poceformis mihi Pyrenzen.”’ with refer-
ence to a footnote which says ‘*‘Poa digitata Michaux. Sed est certissime
Bromus, atut repugnet habitus: namque ariste manifesto infra apicem glume
oriuntur. Br. panicula erecta stricta composita, spicatis sex floris sub secun-

dis, fol. longissimis involutis.’”’

Fic. 13.—L. fascicularis.

Festuca polystachya Michx. Fl. 1: 66. 1803. ‘*In arvis Dlinoensibus.** Type
seen.

Diplachne fascicularis Beauv. Agrost. 80 and 160. Atlas, p. 11, pl. xvi, fig. 9.
1812. Made type of new genus without description of species.

Festuca procumbens Muhl. Gram. 160. 1817. A prostrate form with longer
awns, but the characters are not constant, and it does not seem best to sepa-
rate this as a species, as is done by Mr. Nash.

Diplachne procumbens Nash in Britton Man. 128. 1901. Transfers Festuca pro-
cumbens Muhl. There is a South American species by this name, Diplachine
procumbens Arech. Gram. Urug. 354. 1894.

11068—No. 33—03——2

18 NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA.

Leptochloa polystachya Kunth. Rev. Gram. 1: 91. 1835 (orearlier?). Transfers
Michaux’s Festuca polystachya. Under the rule once a synonym always a
synonym the Australian species should receive another name (Leptochloa
polystachya Benth. Fl. Austr. 7: 617. 1878). Bentham says (p. 618), ‘‘I
have been able to retain Brown’s specific name, as the American Diplachne
panicularis [ fascicularis| named Leptochloa polystachya by Kunth is gener-
ally retained under the former genus. Syn. Cynodon polystachya R. Br. Prod.
187. C. virgatus Nees in Steud. Syn. 1: 218. C. Neesit Thw. Enum. Pl. Ceyl.
Siler

Diplachne acuminata Nash in Britton Man. 128. 1901. Represented from
Nebraska, Rydberg 1713; Arkansas, Coville 87; Colorado, Clements 263.

Uralepsis composita Buckley. Proc. Acad. Phil. 1862: 94. 1863. ‘* New Mexico.
Dr. Woodhouse.”’ I have examined this specimen in the herbarium of the
the Academy.

Diplachne tracyi Vasey. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club. 15: 40. 1888. ‘*‘In clumps
growing in ditches at Reno, Nevada.’’ Tracy No. 216. Dr. Vasey remarks
that this is “‘ Near D. fascicularis.”” In the type specimen which is in the
herbarium of the Department of Agriculture the lateral nerves are more con-
spicuously excurrent than is usual in D. fascicularis, but there seem to be no
constant characters by which this form can be separated. It is a large form,
with more exserted panicles, found from Nevada to Mexico, Pringle 813;
Palmer 691.

Leptochloa tracyi Beal. Grasses N. A. 2: 486. 1896. Transfers Diplachne tracyit.

Festuca multifiora Walt. Fl. Car. 81. 1788.

‘*Repens, paniculis erectis ovatis, spiculis 8 ad 40-floris acutis, floris angustis,
acutis, fauce subplumosis.’’ This may refer to L. fascicularis, but the
description is scarcely sufficient. This plant is not represented in Walter’s
herbarium, which is at the British Museum.

Stems tufted, smooth. 3 to 12 dm. high, erect or procumbent. Leaves narrow,
usually involute, 1 to 3 dm. long, 3 to 5 mm. wide; sheaths smooth or slightly
scabrous. Panicles from a few cm. to 2 dm. long, more or less included in
the upper sheath; branches of panicle few or several and of variable length,
in the larger forms as much as 1 dm., appressed or ascending, or at maturity
spreading. Spikelets usually somewhat overlapping, 7 to 12 mm. long, 6 to
12 flowered. Empty glumes narrow, acute, lower 2 to 3 mm. long, about
one-half the upper; flowering glumes 4 to5 mm. long, with an awn of variable
length, sometimes, especially in the procumbent form, as long as the glume;
lateral nerves pubescent below.

DISTRIBUTION: Maryland to Florida and west to South Dakota and New Mexico.
Texas: Jones 4203; Drummond 387. Kansas: Hitchcock 920. Florida: Nash
2306. St. Croix: Ricksecker 306. Cuba: Wright 3822, 3812. Mexico: Pringle
813; Palmer 254, 691; Schaffner 683 (D. procumbens).

LEPTOCHLOA IMBRICATA Thurb. Bot. Calif. 2: 293. 1880. ‘‘ Larkins
Station, San Diego County (Palmer No. 404): Fort Yuma (Major Thomas);
and through the Gila Valley to the Rio Grande.”’ (PI. V, fig. 2; text fig. 14.)

Diplachne imbricata Scribn. in Vasey Til. N. A. Grasses 1?: No. 42. 1891. Trans-
fers Leptochloa imbricata ané gives a plate.

Diplachne verticillata Nees& Mey. Novy. Act. Nat.Cur.19. Suppl. 1: 158. 1843.
(Not Leptochloa verticillata Kunth, 1835.) ‘‘AdCopiapo in republica Chilensi,
Martio 1831,et ad Aricam Peruvie.’’ The authors remark that this species
differs from Diplachne virens of Brazil (presumably Tridens virens Nees)
and D. fascicularis in having the glumes not awned from the apex but very
shortly mucronate and from the first in its larger spikelets. I have examined
T. virens Nees and think it is not identical with L. imbricata Thurb.

NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA. 19

Leptochiloa virletii Fourn. Pl. Mex. 2: 147, 1886. San Luis de Potosi’’ (Virl.,
n. 1404). Type specimen examined at Paris.

Rabdochloa imbricata Kuntze. Rey. Gen.3: 788, 1891. Transfers Leptochloa
imbricata Thurb.

Resembles in habit L. fascicularis Gray. The panicle is more oblong in outline,
being more compact and with shorter branches, and often dark colored and
more exserted. Spikelets also resembling L. fascicularis, but the empty
glumes are broader and more obtuse, and the flowering glumes are somewhat

apiculate but not awned.

Fia. 14.—L. imbricata.

DISTRIBUTION: Arizona: Palmer 548, 51: Lemmon 360; Vasey 540. California:
Wright 2118; Coulter 776. Texas: Tracy 7367. Mexico: Palmer 47, 134, 331,
216,5; Mearns 2741. Argentina: Hieronymus 1088. Paraguay: Morong 981.

There is a Leptochloa verticillata from the East Indies (Kunth Gram. 1: 91, 1835.
Eleusine verticillata Roxb., Hort. Beng. 8. 1814).

Diplachne tarapacarum Philippi from Chili appears to belong here, judging from
the specimen in herbarium U.S.D.A. (Anal. Mus. Nac. Chili. Bot. 88. 1891.)

LEPTOCHLOA SPICATA Scribn. Proc. Acad. Sci. Phila., 1891. 304. 1891,
Transfers Diplachne spicata. (Fig. 15.)

Fig. 15.—L. spicata.

Bromus spicatus Nees. Agrost. Bras., 471. 1829. ‘*‘ Habitat in campis. campo
mimoso dictis, provincize Piauhianz.’’ Nees observes that in habit this
forms a transition to Brachypodium or Agropyron. but differs in the few
nerved glumes: nor does it fit in Diplachne any better, since the native species
has the glumes not at all apiculate, and foreign species differ much otherwise.

20 NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA.

Tricuspis (Triplasis) simplex Griseb. Mem. Acad. Sci. and Arts. N. Ser. 8:
582, 1862. Plant. Wright. 2. ‘* In rupibus aridis,’’ Wright, 1551.

Diplachne simplex Doell in Mart. Fl. Bras., 2°: 97. 1878. ‘* Habitat in prov.
Piauhy (Gardner n. 2367).”’

Diplachne spicata Doell 1. c., 159. 1878. Thisisa correction. ‘‘Pag.97. Delea-
tur Diplachne simplex; legatur Diplachne spicata, ut conservetur nomen
specificum.

Triodia schaffneri Wats. Proc. Am. Acad.,18: 181. 1883. ‘* In the Escabrillos
Mountains. San Luis Potosi (1077 Schaffner) closely resembling in habit the
Cuban Tricuspis simplex of Grisebach and Diplachne spicata Doell of Brazil.
It is clearly a Triodia as the genus is defined by Mr. Bentham.’’

Diplachne reverchoni Vasey. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club. 13:-118. 1886. <* Collected
on granitic rocks, Llano Co., Texas, by Mr. J. Reverchon.”

Triplasis setacea Griseb. in Goett. Abhandl., 24: 304. 1879. Plantee Lorentz-

iane). ‘‘Pr. la Merced. S.: ad fl. Juramento.”’ In his remarks upon this
species Grisebach says: ‘‘ Species 7. simplici Gr. (Pl. Wright. Cub., IT. p. 532)
proxima.

Stems tufted, slender, 1 to3 dm. high. Leaves usually about one-half the height
of the flowering culm, numerous, narrow, slender. andinvolute. Infloresence
reduced to a single spike, 5 to 10 cm. long. Spikelets 4 to 7 mm. long, several
flowered. Empty glumes acute, flowering glume short awned.

DISTRIBUTION: Texas: Reverchon, 16138; Nealley, 78. Mexico: Pringle, 3267.
Argentina: Hieronymus, 337. Brazil: Gardner, 2367.

Diplachne loliiformis F. von M. of Australia closely resembles this.

Besides those species mentioned above are three described by Four-
nier, which I have not seen. Copies of the original descriptions of
these are here appended.

LEPTOCHLOA LIEBMANNI Fourn. Pl. Mex., 2: 147, 1886.

Culmo elato 2-8 pedali, valde ramoso, stramineo, glabro; foltis infra longe vaginan-
tibus mcllibus lanceolatis, 4-5’ latis, ligula fimbriata; panicula longa stricta,
radiis appressis, secundifioris: spiculis 4-floris, glumis inequalibus, inferiore
aucta dimidio breviore, superiore obtusa obscure trilobata, lobo medio mucro-
nato; palea exteriore acuta carinata.

Antigua, februario (Liebm., n. 248): absque loco (Liebm., n. 244).

DIPLACHNE PATENS Fourn. PI. Mex., 2: 148. 1886.

Culmo a basi ramoso, ramis circulariter ascendentibus glabro, striato. stramineo,
nodis brunneis, ligula hyalina acuta spe laciniata, foliis longis linearibus
angulo recto divergentibus, acutis; panicula invaginata, radiis alternis patulis
flexuosis scabris, spiculis 7-floris; gluma inferiore dimidiam superiorem non
equante, exteriore violacea acuminata carinata scabra: rhachi inter flores
flexuosa; palea inferiore carinata, nervo medio prominente acuminata, supe-
riore duplo minore, bicarinata, obtusa, apice integra.

Vera Cruz (Gouin, n. 93).

LEPTOCHLOA PANICULATA Fourn. Bul. Soc. Bot. France (ser. 2), 27:

296. 1880.

Culmo 3-pedali, cum nodis glabro: foliis latis brevibus. acuminatis, ligula brevi
laciniata: inflorescentia pedali, axi panicule et radiorum scabro; radiis
primariis primum patulis, dein divaricatis, in dimidia inferiore parte radiolos
semipollicaresemittentibus; spiculis 3-4 floris muticis, floribus remotis, glumis
eequalibus. palea exteriore bidentata mutica.

Absque loco (n. 1079).

NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF LEPTOCHLOA. 21

SPECIES EXCLUDED.

LEPTOCHLOA BRANDEGEI Vasey =GOUINIA BRANDEGEI Hitche.
(Fig. 16.)

Fic. 16.—Gouinia brandegei. Callus on right.

This was first described by Vasey (Proc. Calif. Acad., ser. 2,2: 213. 1889). This
agrees with the other species of Gouwinia in habit and in general floral struc-
ture, such as the i-nerved unequal empty glumes, the 3-nerved flowering
glume, the rather long-pediceled rudimentary flower, and the hairy callus of
the lower flower. It differs from the other species chiefly in the very short
awn to the flowering glume.

DISTRIBUTION: Lower California; Brandegee 7,9,11,38. Carmen Island, Mexico:
Palmer, 362.

Leptochloa rigida Manro= Eragrostis sessilispica Buckley.

Leptochloa palmeri Vasey ined.= Gouinia virgata Scribn.

Leptochloa mexicana Scribn.=Gouinia mexicana Scribn.

j call Bs Na en co

Prare I:

II.

TT:

PVE

Vi:

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

Fig. 1.—Leptochloa mucronata Kunth. Athens, Ul. The usual form.
Fig. 2.—Leptochloa viscida Beal. Mexican Boundary Survey,
Mearns No. 793.

Fig. 1.—Leptochloa domingensis Trin. Florida, Simpson. Fig. 2.—
Leptochloa domingensis Trin. Hidalgo, Tex., Nealley.

Fig. 1.—Leptochloa scabra Nees. Louisiana, Langlois. This is the
specimen upon which was based Leptochloa Langloisii Vasey. Fig.
2.—Leptochloa nealleyi Vasey. Texas, Nealley. Type specimen.

Fig. 1.—Leptochloa fascicularis. The prostrate form that has been
named Diplachne procumbens Nash. Denver, Colo., Letterman.
Fig. 2.—Leptochloa fascicularis. The western form which has been
named Diplachne tracyi Vasey. Reno, Nev., Tracy, 216. Typespeci-
men of D. tracyi Vasey.

. Fig. 1.—Leptochloa fascicularis Gray. Sheffield, Mo. Bush No. 804.

The ordinary form. Fig. 2.—Leptochloa imbricata Thurb. Culti-
vated in Grass Garden, U. 8. Department of Agriculture.

Leptochioa floribunda Doell. The cotype of Diplachne halei Nash.
Louisiana, Hale. A fragmentary specimen, but interesting because
of its history.

24

E

PLAT

U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.

Bul. 33, Bureau of Plant Industry,

North American Ficra
pal
Pad Sy

Grown from Beod at Ath nh, I, 166

wati.-r at

PLATE Il.

. 33, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.

Bul

FiG. 1.—LEPTOCHLOA DOMINGENSIS, FROM FLORIDA.

rw wr “ve

| el

‘VYEVOS VOTHOOLd]A

IAS TIVAN VOTHOOLdSA]1—'S ‘DIS

PLATE III.

PLate IV.

Bul. 33, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.

Filia. 1.—LEPTOCHLOA FASCICULARIS (DIPLACHNE PROCUMBENS NASH).

Fia. 2.—LEPTOCHLOA FASCICULARIS (DIPLACHNE TRACY! VASEY).

Bul. 33, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. : PLATE V.

“(WHO AYVNIGHUO) SIYVINOIOSVA VOTHOOLd3a]1—' | “SI

‘VLVOINAW! VOIHOOLda—'S “DI

a

Bul. 33, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. PLATE VI.

Fia. 1.—LEPTOCHLOA FLORIBUNDA.

a