6U44
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Library of the
Museum of
Comparative Zoology
S4N
THE GRASSES OF BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
FRANK W. GOULD
AND
REID MORAN
SAN DIEGO
SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY
MEMOIR 12
1981
THE GRASSES OF BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
FRANK W, GOULD
AND
REID MORAN
SAN DIEGO
SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY
MEMOIR 12
10 November 1981
'• ■<
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...__ 5
Phytogeographic Regions 5
The Grass Flora 7
Collectors _ 8
Earlier Accounts 9
Present Treatment 9
Acknowledgements 10
THE CLASSIFICATION: SubfamUies, Tribes, Genera 1 1
KEY TO GENERA 1 3
SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT 21
REFERENCES CITED 132
INDEX 134
The Grasses of Baja California, Mexico
Frank W. Gould' and Reid Moran-
INTRODUCTION
The peninsula of Baja California lies along the
west coast of Mexico, separated from mainland
Mexico by the Mar de Cortes, or Gulf of California
(Fig. 1). The political entity of Baja [ = Lower] Cal-
ifornia extends slightly north of the peninsula prop-
er, to the southern boundary of the United States
and of Aha | = Upper] California — which has largely
usurped the name of California. This northern
boundary of course is arbitrary biologically, as is
the short northeastern boundary with Arizona and
Sonora at the Rio Colorado. In large part, however,
Baja California is a separate unit biologically; and
its separateness makes it an inviting unit to deal
with.
Baja California is just under 1300 km long in a
nearly NNW-SSE direction, extending from 32°44'
to 22°5r north latitude. It is about 40 to 230 km
wide, with an area of about 143.600 km-. Politically,
it is divided at the 28th parallel into Baja California
Norte [ = north], with capital at Mexicali, and Baja
California Sur i=south], with capital at La Paz.
The backbone of the peninsula is a series of
mountain ranges with generally steep escarpments
to the east and somewhat gentler slopes to the west
and with crests closer to the east coast (Fig. I). In
the north are the Sierra Juarez, with several sum-
mits between 1900 and 2000 m, and the Sierra San
Pedro Martir, highest range in Baja California, with
a large area above 2000 m and with El Picacho del
Diablo reaching 3095 m. Next southward after some
lower peaks are the Sierra San Luis (or Sierra de
la Asamblea), with a summit of about 1650 m, and
the Sierra San Borja, with Cerro la Sandia reaching
1820 m. Northernmost in Baja California Sur, north
of San Ignacio, is the Sierra San Francisco, with
Cerro de ia Laguna at about 1600 m. East of it is
the isolated Volcan las Tres Virgenes, at 1995 m
possibly the highest peak south of the Sierra San
Pedro Martir. Southward along the east coast are
the Sierra Santa Lucia and/or Sierra de las Palmas
and the Sierra de la Giganta. with Cerro la Giganta
reaching about 1767 m. In the Cape region south of
' Late Distinguished Professor of Range Science. Texas AiS;M
University.
■ Curator of Botany, San Diego Natural History Museum.
La Paz is a granitic range with one peak above 1900
m, in a separate system with the steeper escarpment
to the west: this is sometimes called the Sierra Vic-
toria, though the northern part is more commonly
known as the Sierra de la Laguna.
Phytogeographic Regions
Although biologists have variously subdivided
Baja California, many now agree in the main on
three regions. Shreve (1951: map 1) marked these
off in delimiting the desert on the basis of the vege-
tation, and Wiggins (1960: fig. 1) named them as
phytogeographic or floristic areas: the northwest or
Californian region, the Cape region, and the desert.
Though boundaries of course are indefinite and de-
batable, this breakdown seems both natural and
useful.
The northwest region is west of the San Felipe
Desert, from the upper east slopes of the Sierras
Juarez and San Pedro Martir to the Pacific, and
south about to El Socorro (Shreve, 1936). It also
includes the inshore Islas los Coronados, Todos
Santos, and San Martin, and the oceanic Isla Gua-
dalupe, 252 km offshore. The eastern boundary, at
the steep eastern escarpment of the sierras, is rel-
atively sharp: but the transition southward to desert
is gradual and hence the boundary there more ar-
bitrary. Rainfall is mainly from the northwest, in
winter and early spring, decreasing southward into
the desert. On the western slope is the broad band
of dense shrubby evergreen vegetation known as
chaparral, its lower limit near sea level on north
slopes in the north and ascending southward.
Above about 1300-1800 m is coniferous forest—
which some prefer to treat as a fourth major unit.
Below the chaparral is a lower, more open, and less
woody vegetation known as coastal sage scrub,
with many of the bushes drought-deciduous; south-
ward in the transition to desert it becomes still more
open, with more cacti and other succulent plants
(Shreve, 1936; Mooney and Harrison. 1972).
Plants characteristic of the northwest region oc-
cur southward above desert vegetation on scattered
higher peaks to form outposts of this region (but
also with some southern plants) as far south as Isla
Gould and Moran
Fig. I. Baja California.
Grasses of Baja California
Cedros (28°08'N) and Volcan las Tres Virgenes
(27 29'N) — and individual species extend farther.
Before the origin of the deserts in late Quaternary,
presumably the southern outposts were more nearly
continuous with the northwest region: now they
underscore the difficulty of drawing boundaries.
The northwest region is the southern end of the
California Floristic Province, which extends through
California west of the Sierran axis, to southwest
Oregon (see Raven and Axelrod, 1977).
The Cape region of Baja California, in the usual
sense, is the largely mountainous area straddling
the Tropic of Cancer at the southern end tif the
peninsula. Rainfall is mostly in summer and from
the east and is substantially greater than in the des-
ert. The vegetation has not yet been studied in de-
tail. At lower elevations is a rather varied xeric de-
ciduous woodland, less uniform and less spiny than
the thorn scrub of the adjacent mainland, with many
shrubs, cacti, yuccas, and vines, and so with the
"air of an impoverished tropical jungle" (Shreve.
1937). At higher elevations is oak woodland, which
slightly higher, about La Laguna. is dominated by
pinon [Pinits ceinhroides Zucc). with Arbutus and
Ndima. Here are many northern plants: according
to Brandegee (1892). of 148 montane species. 42
occur also in Alta California.
The Cape region is separated from the rest of the
peninsula by a low isthmus with marine deposits.
Apparently it was an island through much of the
Tertiary and a refugium from which many plants
later spread northward. For tropical plants it is still
an island. It has many endemics, and the ratio of
species to genera is low — about 1.9:1 (Brandegee.
1892).
Desert vegetation extends south on the coasts of
the Cape region, and many mainly desert plants oc-
cur locally inland. On the other hand, the xeric
woodland and oaks extend north through the Sierra
de la Giganta (Shreve, 1937) and various species on
through the Sierra Santa Lucia and to the Sierra
San Francisco, as well as to some offlying islands.
Thus the Cape region in the usual geographical
sense is no longer the neatly delimited phytogeo-
graphical region that it may have been as an island.
The boundary has blurred, and the present hiot^co-
gmphical Cape region is variously defined. Perhaps
it is best taken as the area of xeric woodland and
montane vegetation above, as shown by Wiggins
(1960: fig. 1). However, this more natural area is
harder to delimit and so in a way less practical than
the Cape region in the usual geographical sense.
The rest of Baja California, about 70 percent of
the area, is the desert region, extending full width
in the central part and nearly full length on the east
side. Rainfall is low and uncertain, in some years
none, and is variously distributed through the year.
The diurnal and yearly range of temperatures is
great, and daytime summer temperatures are high.
Shreve (1951) characterized the desert vegetation
as ( I ) generally low. but the plants of very unequal
stature; (2) open, the spacing of the perennials in-
creasing with aridity; and (3) diverse, with many
life forms — he distinguished 2."^ — among the domi-
nant plants. The desert region is part of the Sonoran
Desert (Shreve. 1951). for which on the basis of the
vegetation. Shreve distinguished eight subregions,
four of them at least partly in Baja California. Has-
tings and Turner (1965) thought the vegetational
differences among these four subregions due largely
to relative seasonal differences in amount and reli-
ability of rainfall.
Axelrod (1979) concluded that the Sonoran Des-
ert was formed with increasing aridity during the
interglacials of late Quaternary, its flora derived
from plants of scattered semiarid habitats.
The Grass Flora
Beetle (1977/?) analyzed the reported grass flora
of Baja California in terms of (1) where the species
occur in Baja California and especially whether in
the northern or southern half or both, and (2) where
they occur outside Baja California. He found 116
grasses reported for Baja California Norte but not
for Baja California Sur, 67 for Baja California Sur
but not for Baja California Norte, and 60 for both.
For the northwest region he listed 16 native and 12
introduced grasses as confined to the area of Med-
iterranean climate; 13 natives as associated with
oak forest and 7 with mezquite woodland, these 20
all with Great Basin affinities; and 12 natives as
confined to the higher mountains. He listed 18
grasses as elements of the Sonoran Desert flora.
And finally, he listed 84 grasses as elements of the
flora of the Mexican mainland south of the Sonoran
and Chihuahuan Deserts. He concluded that the
grass flora of southern Baja California is derived
mainly from that of the Mexican Highland, appar-
ently through chance overwater arrivals.
We describe 96 genera and 274 species of native
and introduced grasses for Baja California, with
brief notes on a few other reported species. Many
parts of Baja California, but particularly the central
and southern mountains, still are little explored bo-
Gould and Moran
tanically. Notably. 5 genera and 50 species of grass-
es are known to us in Baja California from only one
collection each and 3 genera and 15 species from
only two collections each. This fact suggests not
only how close these species came to being over-
looked but also how many others must still remain
to be found.
Of our 274 species, 60 or more are introduced —
it is hard to know whether some weedy tropical
grasses are native or not. A few cultivated grasses
such as Zeci nuiySi and Saccharum ojjicinanaii are
not known to escape; and a few others like Hor-
ck'iini \iili>are, Si>ri;huin hicolor. and Triticum acs-
tiviiin become occasional roadside waifs but do not
persist.
We tentatively retain seven species and one va-
riety as endemic to Baja California: Arislida pur-
pusiana, Bouteloiui an mm, Chloris hrandegci.
Miihlenhergia hrandei>ci. Onuttia frai^ilis, Sctaria
paliucri, Slipa hraclcata. and Triseliiiu intenuptiiin
var. californicuiu. The Stipa and the Trisetum are
in the northwest region: the Bouteloua and the
Muhlenbergia in the central desert: the Orcuttia on
the Llano de Magdalena: the Chloris and the Setaria
in southern Baja California, from the desert into the
Cape region: and the Aristida from San Jose del
Cabo, in the Cape region. The Stipa is known from
only one collection, the Trisetum from two. the
Muhlenbergia from three, and the Aristida from
three but all from one place. At least the Aristida,
the Chloris, and the Setaria are doubtfully distinct
from nearest relatives.
We can make a few generalizations about grass
distributions in Baja California. Some 44 native
species are known to us in Baja California only in
the northwest region and 15 of these only in the
Sierra San Pedro Martir. Another 10 grow at the
desert edge or mainly in the northwest with a few
desert occurrences. Some 35 of the introduced
grasses, chiefly European weeds, likewise are main-
ly in the northwest, though a few of these are mak-
ing their way southward into the desert. Another 19
natives occur in the northwest but also southward
in the mountains to midpeninsula or farther. About
38 natives are known in Baja California only in the
Cape region, south of La Paz, and 22 of these only
in the mountains. Another 8 are known in Baja Cal-
ifornia only in the mountains of the southern half.
For lack of information both as to grass distribu-
tions and as to boundaries of the biogeographical
Cape region, it is hard to pursue correlations fur-
ther.
Collectors
We mention a few of the principal collectors who
have added records of grasses from Baja California.
For further information on the botanical exploration
of the peninsula, see Nelson ( 1921 ). Lindsay (1955),
and Wiggins (1980).
Richard Hinds and George Barclay on H.M.S.
Sulphur collected at San Quintin, San Bartolome,
Bahia Magdalena, and Cabo San Lucas in 1839: and
the plants were described by Bentham (1844), who
proposed four new species of grasses, the first de-
scribed from Baja California (collections at BM')-
The most important early plant collector in Baja
California was T. S. Brandegee (1843-1925), who
made six trips between 1890 and 1902 into the
mountains of the Cape region, one in 1889 overland
from Bahia Magdalena to San Quintin, one in 1893
from San Diego high into the Sierra San Pedro Mar-
tir, and one in 1897 to the west coast islands (UC,
CAS: also US) (Moran, 1952).
Other collectors of this period were Palmer, Or-
cutt, Purpus, and Jones. Edward Palmer (1831-
1911) made large collections on several trips to Baja
California between 1869 and 1890, as on Islas Car-
men and Guadalupe, in the Sierra Juarez, and on
both coasts of the central peninsula — where com-
monly he was the first collector (GH, US) (Mc-
Vaugh, 1956). Charles R. Orcutt ( 1864-1929) of San
Diego made many collecting trips into NW Baja
California between 1882 and 1919, at least nine of
them into the Sierra Juarez, one in 1886 south be-
yond El Rosario, and one in 1899 across the pen-
insula from Santo Domingo to Santa Rosalia (DS,
MO, US, &c.). Carl A. Purpus (1851-1941) collect-
ed from Santo Domingo to Calmalli and the Sierra
San Francisco in 1898 and in the Cape region in
1900 and 1901 (UC) (Sousa Sanchez, 1969). Marcus
E. Jones (1852-1934) made short trips in NW Baja
California in 1882 and in 1923-1927: and between
1926 and 1930 he collected several times in Baja
California Sur, including the Sierra de la Giganta
and Sierra de la Laguna (POM) (Blake, 1945; Mor-
ton. 1945).
Among recent collectors, perhaps the most active
have been Ira L. Wiggins (DS), Annetta Carter
(UC). and Reid Moran (SD). Others who have
added significantly to the grass records are Howard
Scott Gentry (DES, LAM), John H. Thomas (DS),
Alan A. Beetle (RM), Frank W. Gould (TAES),
' Herbarium abbreviations throughout are the standard ones
from Holmgren and Keuken (1974).
Grasses of Baja Califotn
Peta J. Mudie (SD), and John and Charlotte Reeder
(ARIZ). With paved roads and easier access, many
other botanists have visited Baja California in the
last years; but their collections are scattered in
many herbaria which we have not checked.
Earlier Accounts
Fournier (1886) treated the grasses of Mexico be-
fore much was known of Baja California. The first
treatment with many references to Baja California
was that of Hitchcock (1913) of the grasses of Mex-
ico as represented in the U.S. National Herbarium.
Based mainly on collections of Brandegee. Palmer.
Orcutt. and Purpus, he cited 59 genera and 117
species from Baja California.
In his annotated list of grasses reported from
Mexico. Beetle (1977«) specified Baja California for
120 species and 5 varieties and seemed to imply
Baja California by more general statements for 92
others. However. Beetle (\911h) gave figures total-
ling 243 species and varieties for Baja California.
The first treatment of the grasses just of Baja Cal-
ifornia was that of Wiggins (1980). in the first Baja
California flora. He treated 83 genera and 197
species as occurring in Baja California and two gen-
era and 22 species as probably or possibly there.
With a concise format, he keyed and described gen-
era and keyed species but gave no synonyms, cited
no specimens, and often gave only a very general
statement of distribution in Baja California or some-
times none. His 87 line drawings of grasses show
at least one species for each genus. For a review of
this treatment, see Reeder and Reeder (1981).
Meanwhile, knowledge of grasses that occur in
Baja California grew and was refined in treatments
for nearby regions, including Hitchcock ( 1935«) for
the United States, revised by Chase (1951); Gould
(1951) for the southwestern United States and
(1975) for Texas; Swallen (1951. revised 1964) for
Arizona and ( 1955) for Guatemala; Munz and Keck
(1959) for California and Munz (1974) for southern
California; and Valdes Reyna ( 1977) for Chihuahua.
Swallen and Hernandez (1961) and Gould (1979)
made keys to the genera of Mexican grasses. And
Swallen (1964) treated the grasses of the Sonoran
Desert, including the desert parts of Baja Califor-
nia.
Present Treatment
For the most part, our treatment is based on the
publications mentioned above and certain mono-
graphs cited below and on the study of numerous
herbarium specimens at the California Academy of
Sciences, the Dudley Herbarium of Stanford Uni-
versity (now at the California Academy of Sci-
ences), the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de
Mexico, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the New
York Botanical Garden, the San Diego Natural His-
tory Museum, the Tracy Herbarium of Texas A&M
University, the University of California at Berke-
ley, and the United States National Herbarium. The
original manuscript was chiefly the work of Gould,
who in his study of Mexican grasses in general was
collecting information on Baja Californian grasses
in particular. Meanwhile. Moran was collecting
grasses and information, more or less throughout
Baja California and on all the islands but especially
in the northwest region. Frank Gould died March
11, 1981, after an illness extending back to the pre-
vious summer.
Among the 197 species of grasses listed by Wig-
gins (1980) for Baja California are 26 for which we
find no other Baja California record, including none
in the Dudley Herbarium, where Dr. Wiggins" spec-
imens are deposited. Some of the reports may re-
flect differences in identification, and some may be
based on specimens in herbaria we have not
checked. Without seeing specimens, we cannot
evaluate these records. However, we include de-
scriptions of most of these species and notes on
various others.
We list only such synonyms as for some reason
seem pertinent to this regional treatment, and we
give references for synonyms only when they are
based on Baja Californian types. We have few com-
mon names actually recorded in Baja California but
give some Spanish and Mexican names from Rojas-
Mendoza (1965). As with the English common
names that we include, various of the specific ones
seem contrived and unlikely to be met with in Baja
California; so their usefulness may be questionable.
For grasses very common in Baja California, we
may give only a general statement of range. For
those that are more restricted but still commonly
collected, we often cite enough localities to show
the known range but do not cite individual collec-
tions. But for those known in Baja California from
one or few collections, we commonly cite the col-
lections. For any of which we have seen no speci-
mens, we cite a reference to the literature. We
generally include what information we have on
elevations — though the fewer the specimens on
which this is based, the less warranted the impres-
sion of precision that may sometimes result.
10
Gould and Moran
fibrous roots
Fig. 2. Structure of grass plant: A, general habit {Bromus uni-
oloides): B, rhizomes iHicrmhliic odnraia): C. stolon [Hilcirici
belangeri); D. rhizome and stolon intergradation [Cynndun dac-
tylon); E, leaf at junction of sheath and blade; left, adaxial sur-
face; right, abaxial surface. From Gould. 1951.
We give some order to what might otherwise be
a jumble of often obscure place names by listing
localities generally from north to south and from
west to east and. where appropriate, grouping them
by mountain ranges or other natural areas. Island
occurrences we list separately. Since the northwest
region and the Cape region are more or less distinct
phytogeographically from desert parts of Baja Cal-
ifornia, it has often seemed practical to set off these
areas in the statements of distribution. For the
northwest region we have proportionally more rec-
ords and Moran has more first-hand knowledge.
Since the Cape region is less known and more dif-
ficult to delimit phytogeographically, we avoid this
problem and refer to the Cape region in the usual
geographical sense as the mostly mountainous area
SE of the low isthmus between La Paz and Todos
Santos.
At the risk of insulting practiced plant taxono-
mists, we include Figs. 2-4 to review grass termi-
nology for others.
Fig. 3. Grass inflorescence: A. open panicle {PaiiUum rapH-
larc): B. spicate panicle (Lycurus phlcmdcs): C. spicate raceme
with sessile and short-pedicellate spikelets (Atidri>pi>gt}n): D,
spike with three spikelets at each node {Hitariu): E, spike with
one spikelet at each node iLoliiim): F. raceme {Brnmus iini-
oloidcs): G. unilateral raceme of spicate branches {Boiitctoua).
From Gould, 1951.
Acknowledgements
Lucile Gould has helped in many, many ways, of
which typing and retyping manuscript and assem-
bling illustrations were only the most mechanical
and obvious; and we dedicate this memoir to her.
FLOWERING BRANCH
Idiogrommoltc)
glum* ^'^^-'^^l^'glume
SPIKELET WITH 4 FLORETS SPIKELET WITH I FLORET
(diogrommolic) (diogrommalic)
-2"" glume
glume
PANICUM SPIKELET
PANICUM
FERTILE FLORET
STAMir
SPIKELET SPIKELET
HETEROPOGON
Fig. 4. Grass spikelets and florets. From Gould. 1951.
Grasses of Baja California
We thank Charlotte G. Reeder for her careful
treatment of Mnhlcnhcrii'm and for other help and
Dr. Alan A. Beetle for his review of the manuscript.
We thank Annetta Carter, Dr. Martin Cody, and
Dr. Raymond M. Turner for suggestions for the in-
troduction. And we thank Dr. Stephan L. Hatch for
recent help and advice to the less agrostological
member of the team.
We are grateful to the curators of the herbaria
mentioned above for making their collections avail-
able to Gould during his visits. We further thank
Dr. Jose Sarukhan, Director of the Institutode Biol-
ogia. Dr. Ernesto Moreno, Head of the Departa-
mento de Botanica, and Dr. Mario Sousa. Curator
of the Herbarium, Universidad Nacional Autonoma
de Mexico, for their many courtesies to Gould and
for making time available to him for working on this
manuscript.
Judy Farnsworth and Deanne Demere did much
of the typing. And Linda Allen, Claire Brey. and
Duffie demons have helped with boring chores like
proofreading. We thank them all.
We are grateful to the several artists, some old
friends, who made our drawings for other works,
little supposing them to be for this one. And we
thank the following for kindly providing and allow-
ing us to use these drawings (from the works
shown): University of Arizona Press (Grasses of
Southwestern United States. 1951, by Frank W.
Gould); Texas A&M University Press (Grasses of
the Texas Coastal Bend. 1965, by Frank W. Gould
and Thadis W. Box, and The Grasses of Texas.
1975, and Common Texas Grasses. 1978, both by
Frank W. Gould); Hunt Institute for Botanical Doc-
umentation and particularly Mr. James J. White
(Manual of the Grasses of the United States. 1935,
by A. S. Hitchcock, and second edition, 1951, by
Agnes Chase: U.S.D.A. Bulletin): Dr. Jason R.
Swallen, Field Museum of Natural History, and
Hunt Institute (Grasses of Guatemala. 1955, by Ja-
son R. Swallen): Dr. Richard W. Pohl and Field
Museum (Flora costarieensis. Family Gramineae.
1980, by Richard W. Pohl); Dr. Herbert L. Mason
and University of California Press (A Flora of the
Marshes of California. 1957, by Herbert L. Mason);
the editor (MADrono). The source of each drawing
is shown by author and yeardate. We particularly
thank Takashi Ijichi for the sumi-e of Distichlis pal-
meri on the title page and Marie Cox for the map,
both done just for this one.
Finally, we are grateful to each other for constant
support and encouragement during this work,
which neither could have done without the other,
except possibly for Gould.
THE CLASSIFICATION:
Subfamilies. Tribes. Genera
(With number of species described here)
Subfamily I. ORYZOIDEAE
Tribe I. Oryzeae
1 . Leersia ( I )
Subfamily II. ARUNDINOIDEAE
Tribe 2. Arundineae
2. Arundo ( I )
3. Phra,u'mites (1)
Tribe 3. Danthonieae
4. Schismus (1)
Subfamily III. POOIDEAE
Tribe 4. Meliceae
5. Meliea (2)
Tribe 5. Stipeae
6. Stipa (8)
7. Oryzopsis { 1 )
8. Piptochaetium ( I )
Tribe 6. Poeae
9. Bromus (12)
10. Brachypodium (2)
11. Vulpia (4)
12. Festuca (1)
13. Lolium (2)
14. Poa (5)
15. Lamarekia ( 1)
16. Briza (I)
17. Daetylis (1)
Tribe 7. Aveneae
18. Koeleria (1)
19. Sphenopholis (1)
20. Trisetum ( 1 )
21. Arena (3)
22. Aira (1)
12
Gould and Moran
23. Deschainpsici (3)
24. Pcyiitsclua (1)
25. Hole us (1)
26. Dissanthelium (1)
27. Ciilanuii^'rostis (I)
28. Ag/t«7/i- (6)
29. Alopecurus (2)
30. Polypo^on (3)
31. Pluilaris (6)
32. Gastridium (1)
Tribe 8. Triticeae
33. Hordciim (9)
34. Ely runs (5)
35. Tnticiim (1)
36. Agropyniii (2)
37. 5£'c«/<' (1)
Tribe 9. Monermeae
38. Parapholis (1)
39. Monenua ( 1 )
Subfamily IV. ERAGROSTOIDEAE
Tribe 10. Eragrosteae
40. Eragrostis (13)
41. TnW('/!.s (1)
42. Erioiic'Kion ( 1 )
43. Eleusinc ( 1)
44. DcictyloctcniuDi (1)
45. Leptochloa (6)
46. PereiU'iiui ( 1 )
47. Ly CUIUS (1)
48. Muhlenhergia (22)
49. Sporobolus (7)
50. Blepharoneuron ( 1 )
51. Crypsis (2)
Tribe 1 1 . Chlorideae
52. Cynoclon (1)
53. Miciochloa (1)
54. C/i/oWi- (5)
55. Bouteloua (11)
56. Aegopogon (2)
57. Spartina (1)
58. //(■/«/■(« (5)
Tribe 12. Zoysieae
59. Tragz/i ( 1 )
Tribe 13. Aeluropodeae
60. Monanthochlo'c (1)
61. Distichlis (2)
62. Jouvca ( 1 )
Tribe 14. Unioleae
63. (;///<)/« (1)
Tribe 15. Pappophoreae
64. Pappophoruin (1)
65. Enneapogon (1)
Tribe 16. Orcuttieae
66. Onuttia (2)
Tribe 17. Aristideae
67. Aristida (14)
Subfamily V. PANICOIDEAE
Tribe 18. Paniceae
68. Digilaria (5)
69. Brachiaria (3)
70. Enoihloa (1)
71. Pdiiidiiii (7)
72. Dicluinlhdium (1)
73. Stcnotapluuni ( 1)
74. Paspcdidiuin ( 1)
75. Piispalum (8)
76. Lasiascis (2)
77. Oplisiucnus (2)
78. Echinochlod (3)
79. Rhynchelytmin (1)
80. Setariopsis ( 1 )
81. 5('?(;m/ (9)
82. Ccnchrus (6)
83. Aiuhcphora (1)
Tribe 19. Andropogoneae
84. linperata (1)
85. Saccharuni ( 1)
86. Sorghum (2)
87. Andropogon (1)
88. Bolhiiochloa (1)
89. Sihizuchyiium (3)
90. Tmchypogon (1)
91. Elyonurus (1)
92. Hcteropogon (2)
93. Hackelochloa (1)
94. Oj/.v (1)
95. Tripsacum (1)
96. Z('(; ( 1 )
Grasses of Baj;i California 13
KEY TO GENERA
1. Leaf blades about 1 cm long: stoloniferous, mat-forming perennial with fascicled leaves and in-
conspicuous unisexual spikelets 60. MONANTHOCHLOE
p. 94
1. Leaf blades more than 1 cm long.
2. Spikelets unisexual; staminate and pistillate conspicuously different.
3. Plants monoecious: staminate and pistillate spikelets on the same plant.
4. Staminate and pistillate spikelets in separate inflorescences, the male terminal on culm,
the female lateral 96. ZEA
p. 132
4. Staminate and pistillate spikelets in same inflorescence, male above female.
5. Pistillate spikelets enclosed in a bony, beadlike involucre _ 94. COIX
p. 131
5. Pistillate spikelets not enclosed in a bony, beadlike involucre 95. TRIPSACUM
p. 132
3. Plants usually dioecious: staminate and pistillate in separate inflorescences and usually on
. separate plants 62. JOUVEA
p. 96
2. Spikelets not unisexual, or if so. then male and female not conspicuously different.
6. Spikelets with single perfect floret, or if unisexual, then with a single pistillate floret A
6. Spikelets with 2 or more perfect florets, or if unisexual then with 2 or more pistillate florets
AA
A (1 perfect floret)
7. Spikelets in pairs of 1 sessile or subsessile and 1 pediceled (2 pediceled at branch tips), all with
a perfect floret or more commonly the pediceled spikelet staminate or neuter and usually reduced
in size: first glume large and firm, enclosing margins of second glume: lemma of perfect floret
thin, membranous, awned or less frequently awnless (tribe Andropogoneae) GROUP I
7. Spikelets in pairs or not, when paired then pediceled spikelet not reduced and first glume not
larger and firmer than lemma of perfect floret.
8. Reduced floret or florets present below perfect one.
9. Reduced floret 1; lemma of reduced floret similar to second glume in size and texture;
disarticulation below glumes (tribe Paniceae) GROUP II
9. Reduced florets I or 2: lemma of reduced floret not similar to second glume in size or
texture: disarticulation above glumes GROUP III
8. Reduced florets absent or present above fertile one.
10. Inflorescence a panicle or open raceme, primary branches spreading or contracted
GROUP III
10. Inflorescence a spike or spicate raceme, or with 2 to several spicate branches.
1 1. Inflorescence of 1 to several unilateral unbranched primary branches GROUP V
1 1. Inflorescence a terminal bilateral spike or spicate raceme GROUP VI
AA (2 or more perfect florets)
12. Inflorescence an open or contracted panicle, or a raceme with spikelets on well-developed ped-
icels GROUP IV
12. Inflorescence a spike or spicate raceme, or with spicate primary branches.
13. Inflorescence with 2 (infrequently 1) to several unilateral primary branches GROUP V
13. Inflorescence a terminal, bilateral spike or spicate raceme GROUP VI
14 Gould and Moran
GROUP I (Tribe Andropogoneae)
14. Spikelets all alike and with perfect florets.
15. Spikelets awnless; panicles contracted, rarely over 3 cm thick 84. IMPERATA
p. 124
15. Spikelets awned; panicles much more than 3 cm thick 85. SACCHARUM
p. 125
14. Spikelets not all alike; pediceled ones, or less frequently sessile or subsessile ones, staminate or
neuter.
16. Spikelets awnless.
17. Inflorescence a well-branched panicle 86. SORGHUM
p. 125
17. Inflorescence a spike or spicate raceme.
18. Rachis and pedicels pubescent 91. ELYONURUS
p. 130
18. Rachis and pedicels glabrous 93. HACKELOCHLOA
p. 131
16. Spikelets awned. the awn sometimes early deciduous.
19. Awn 3-8 cm long.
20. Perfect (awned) spikelets sessile: glumes and awns of perfect spikelet dark brown
at maturity 92. HETEROPOGON
p. 130
20. Perfect spikelets pediceled; glumes and awns of perfect spikelet light-colored
90. TRACHYPOGON
p. 129
19. Awn less than 3 cm long.
21. Culms much-branched above, ending in numerous short leafy branches, each bear-
ing 1-6 spikes or spicate inflorescence branches above uppermost leaf or bract.
22. Branchlets terminating in single spicate raceme 89. SCHIZACHYRIUM
p. 128
22. Branchlets terminating in small panicle of 2-6 delicate racemose flowering
branches 87. ANDROPOGON
p. 126
21. Culms not much-branched above, terminating in large or small panicles.
23. Pedicels, at least those above, and usually upper rachis internodes, with central
groove or membranous area 88. BOTHRIOCHLOA
p. 127
23. Pedicels and rachis internodes flat or rounded, without central groove or mem-
branous area.
24. Panicle axis above lowermost branch usually 15-30 cm long, the lowermost
branches freely rebranched and spreading 86. SORGHUM
p. 125
24. Panicle axis less than 15 cm long above lowermost branch, the lowermost
branches contracted, spicate in appearance 87. ANDROPOGON
p. 126
GROUP II (Tribe Paniceae)
25. Spikelets in clusters of 4, the indurate first glumes united below to form a bur; burs disarticulating
separately from a persistent rachis — 83. ANTHEPHORA
p. 124
25. Spikelets not in deciduous clusters of 4.
26. Spikelets subtended or surrounded by 1 -several separate or united bristles and/or flattened
spines.
27. Bristles solitary or several and separate, persistent when spikelets fall.
Grasses of Biija C'alirotnia 15
28. Second glume 1 l-I5-nerved, enlarged, thin, saccate, irregularly auriculate; bristles
1 below each spikelet 80. SETAR10P.S!S
p. IIK
28. Second glume 5-9-nerved, not enlarged, thin, saccate, or auriculate; bristles
1-several below each spikelet 81. SETARIA
p. 119
27. Bristles and spines united at base or above to form involucre or bur that falls with
enclosed spikelet or spikelets _ 82. CENCHRUS
p. 122
26. Spikelets not subtended or surrounded by bristles or spines.
29. Inflorescence with spikelets partially embedded in thick flattened rachis
73. STENOTAPHRUM
P^ no
29. Inflorescence with spikelets not embedded in rachis.
30. First or second glume distinctly awned.
31. First glume minute; second glume and lemma of lower floret silky-villous
79. RHYNCHELYTRUM
p. 118
31. First glume well developed; spikelets not silky-villous.
32. First glume with an awn 3 times as long as body 77. OPLISMENUS
p. ii.s
32. First glume awnless or awn shorter than body 78. ECHINOCHLOA
p. 116
30. First and second glumes awnless.
33. Lemma of fertile floret with thin, flat margins, these not inrolled over palea
margins 68. DIGITARIA
p. 104
33. Lemma of fertile floret with thick margins, these inrolled over palea margins.
34. First glume absent from some or all spikelets B
34. First glume present on all spikelets BB
B
35. Lemma of fertile floret mucronate or short-awned; cup-like or disc-like ring present at base of
spikelet 70. ERIOCHLOA
p. 107
35. Lemma of fertile floret not mucronate or awned; cup-like or disc-like ring not present at base of
spikelet 75. PASPALUM
p. 112
BB
36. Inflorescence with some or all primary branches rebranched, or if not, then first glume about as
long as second glume and lemma of floret.
37. Culms somewhat woody, freely branched above; lemma and paleaof upper floret with minute
tufts of hair at tips 76. LASIACIS
p. 114
37. Culms not woody or freely branched above; lemma and palea of upper floret glabrous.
38. Tip of lemma and palea of upper floret abruptly pointed; tip of palea free from lemma
78. ECHINOCHLOA
p. 116
38. Tip of lemma and palea of upper floret rounded or slightly beaked; tip of palea enclosed
by lemma.
39. Plants annual.
40. Lemma and palea of upper floret smooth 71. PANICUM
p. 108
16 Gould and Moran
40. Lemma and palea of upper floret rugose 69. BRACHIARIA
p. 106
39. Plants perennial.
41. Panicles 12-40 cm or more long; plants tall, often 60-100 cm tall 71. PANICUM
p. 108
41. Panicles mostly 5-9 cm long; plants low, tufted, with culms mostly 20-50 cm
tall 72. DICHANTHELIUM
p. 110
36. Inflorescence of 2 to several spicate unbranched primary branches; spikelets in regular rows;
first glume much shorter than second glume and lemma of lower floret.
42. Second glume and lemma or lower floret scabrous or pubescent 78. ECHINOCHLOA
p. 116
42. Second glume and lemma of lower floret glabrous.
43. Culm nodes glabrous 74. PASPALIDIUM
p. Ill
43. Culm nodes, at least the lower, villous pubescent 69. BRACHIARIA
p. 106
GROUP III (Panicle with rebranched primary branches; perfect floret 1)
44. Glumes and lemmas awnless.
45. Glumes absent; lemma firm, boat-shaped 1. LEERSIA
p. 21
45. Glumes, at least the second, well-developed; lemma not boat-shaped.
46. Nerves of lemma densely villous 50. BLEPHARONEURON
p. 81
46. Nerves of lemma not villous.
47. Glumes both as long as or longer than lemma (the first sometimes slightly shorter
in Cry p sis).
48. Ligule a fringe of hairs; low mat-forming annual 51. CRYPSIS
p. 82
48. Ligule a membrane; plants not mat-forming.
49. Glumes not sharply keeled; no floret rudiments present below perfect floret
28. AGROSTIS
p. 43
49. Glumes sharply keeled; 1 or 2 scale-like rudiments present below perfect
floret 3 1 . PHALARIS
p. 48
47. Glumes, at least the first, shorter than lemma.
50. Lemma 3-nerved 48. MUHLENBERGIA
p. 67
50. Lemma 1-nerved ._.. 49. SPOROBOLUS
p. 78
44. Glumes or lemma awned.
51. Spikelets in fascicles, the terminal spikelet of each fascicle with a single perfect floret and
awned rudiment, the spikelets below with several empty lemmas 15. LAMARCKIA
p. 37
51. Spikelets not as above.
52. Spikelets subtended by bristles; lemma long-awned 46. PEREILEMA
p. 66
52. Spikelets not subtended by bristles; lemma awned or awnless.
53. First glume usually 2-3-awned; second glume usually 1-awned; spikelets in pairs,
the lower of pair neuter, the two falling together 47. LYCURUS
p. 66
53. First glume not as above, or if so, then spikelets not falling in pairs.
54. Glumes both with awns exceeding body in length _. 30. POLYPOGON
p. 47
Grasses of Baja California 17
54. Glumes awnless or awns shorter than body.
55. Spikelets with 1 perfect floret and 1 staminate above: glumes exceeding
florets; upper lemma with yellowish hooked awn from back near apex
25. HOLCUS
p. 43
55. Spikelets with 1 perfect floret and no reduced or rudimentary florets.
56. Lemma indurate, awned, with well-developed callus at base, perma-
nently enclosing palea and caryopsis.
57. Awn of lemma 3-branched (lateral branches short or rudimentary
in a few species) 67. ARISTIDA
p. 99
57. Awn of lemma unbranched.
58. Awn straight or curved but not twisted, rarely more than 2^
times as long as body of lemma, early deciduous: body of
lemma broad, usually subglobose, with short blunt callus
7. ORYZOPSIS
p. 26
58. Awn twisted and geniculate, usually several to many times as
long as body of lemma, persistent or finally disarticulating.
59. Margins of lemma not meeting at apex: exposed tip of
palea projecting as a point: awn 1-2 cm long: floret
subglobose, with short callus at base
8. PIPTOCHAETIUM
p. 26
59. Margins of lemma meeting or overlapping: tip of palea not
exposed: awn 1.5-15 cm or more long: sharp-pointed,
bearded callus at base _.__, _____ 6. STIPA
p. 23
56. Lemma not indurate or permanently enclosing palea and caryopsis.
60. Second glume 4-5 times as long as lemma: annual with densely
contracted panicle 32. GASTRIDIUM
p. 50
60. Second glume shorter to slightly longer than lemma: annuals and
perennials with contracted or open panicles.
61. Lemma awned from back or base.
62. Rachilla prolonged behind palea: palea equalling lemma:
stout rhizomatous perennial 27. CALAMAGROSTIS
p. 43
62. Rachilla not prolonged: palea shorter than lemma or often
absent: annual or perennial.
63. Glumes glabrous or scabrous: disarticulation above
glumes 28. AGROSTIS
p. 43
63. Glumes soft-hairy on back: disarticulation below
glumes __ 29. ALOPECURUS
p. 46
61. Lemma awned from apex 48. MUHLENBERGIA
p. 67
GROUP IV
(Panicle with rebranched primary branches: fertile florets 2 or more)
64. Plants 2-6 meters tall.
65. Lemmas villous, rachilla glabrous 2. ARUNDO
p. 21
18 Gould and Moran
65. Lemmas glabrous, rachilla villous 3. PHRAGMITES
p. 22
64. Plants less than 2 meters tall.
66. Lemmas 3-nerved.
67. Nerves of lemma glabrous; lemmas never awned or mucronate 40. ERAGROSTIS
p. 56
67. Nerves of lemma hairy or puberulent, at least below; nerves often extended as mucros
or short awns.
68. Panicles 1-3 cm long, ovoid or oblong; lemmas cleft to middle, awned
_._. 42. ERIONEURON
p. 62
68. Panicles mostly 7-25 cm long, slender; lemmas obtuse to emarginate. awnless
4 1 . TRIDEN S
p. 61
66. Lemmas 5-13-nerved.
69. Lemma with 5 or more awns.
70. Lemmas with 5 awns or awnlike lobes; ligules absent; annuals 66. ORCUTTIA
p. 97
70. Lemmas with more than 5 awns; iigule a ring of hairs; perennials.
71. Awns per lemma 9. subequal. plumose 65. ENNEAPOGON
p. 97
71. Awns per lemma 11 or more, unequal, glabrous or scabrous
64. PAPPOPHORUM
p. 97
69. Lemma with single awn or awnless.
72. Glumes 2 cm or more long; lemmas 1.5 cm or more long 21. AVENA
p. 40
72. Glumes less than 2 cm long, or if this long then lemmas less than 1.5 cm long.
73. Lemma awned from back or base.
74. Rachilla prolonged beyond back of upper floret, with hairs 1 mm or more
long 23. DESCHAMPSIA
p. 41
74. Rachilla not prolonged beyond insertion of upper florets, with hairs less
than '/2 mm long.
75. Plant a delicate annual, with leaves basal; panicle open 22. AIRA
p. 41
75. Plant perennial, with leaves well distributed; panicle contracted
._ .._. 24. PEYRITSCHIA
p. 42
73. Lemma awned from apex or awnless.
76. First glume much longer than lowermost floret; lemmas awnless or minutely
mucronate.
77. Spikelets mostly 2-flowered 26. DISSANTHELIUM
p. 43
77. Spikelets mostly 4-6-flowered 4. SCHISMUS
p. 22
76. First glume about as long as or shorter than lower floret.
78. Margins of leaf sheaths connate, at least below.
79. Palea free from caryopsis; plants perennial .- 5. MELICA
p. 23
79. Palea adherent to caryopsis; plants annual or perennial 9. BROMUS
p. 27
78. Margins of leaf sheaths not connate, free to base.
80. Lemmas awned.
81. Spikelets 2-flowered; lemma awned from deeply bifid apex
20. TRISETUM
p. 39
Glasses of Baja California 19
81. Spikelets mostly 3-9-flowered ; lemma awned fmm entire apex.
82. Spikelets laterally compressed, more or less asymmetrical,
subsessile in dense clusters at tips of stiff erect or
spreading branches; glumes and lemmas acute or irreg-
ularly short-awned; perennial 17. DACTYLIS
p. 38
82. Spikelets not laterally compressed or asymmetrical, not in
dense clusters at branch tips.
83. Plants annual II. VULPIA
p. 32
83. Plants perennial .._.. 12. FESTUCA
p. 34
80. Lemmas awnless.
84. Lowermost 2 florets reduced, sterile; disarticulation below
glumes; plants to 2 m tall, stoloniferous 63. UNIOLA
p. 96
84. Lowermost florets not reduced; disarticulation above or below
glumes: plants rarely to 1 m tall.
85. Glumes and lemmas spreading at right angles to rachilla,
inflated and papery; spikelets like rattlesnake rattles, on
slender pedicels 16. BRIZA
p. 38
8.5. Glumes and lemmas not as above.
86. Palea colorless: lateral nerves of lemma indistinct.
87. Second glume obovate, usually abruptly narrow-
ing to obtuse or broadly acute apex; disarticu-
lation below glumes 19. SPHENOPHOLIS
p. 39
87. Second glume not broadened above middle or
only slightly so, acute at apex; disarticulation
above glumes 18. KOELERIA
p. 38
86. Palea green or brown, at least on nerves.
88. Lemmas thick, indistinctly 9-11-nerved: flowers
unisexual: rhizomatous perennials of saline
habitats 61. DISTICHLIS
p. 94
88. Lemmas thin, 5-nerved: flowers mostly perfect;
tufted annuals and perennials of other habitats
14. POA
p. 36
GROUP V (Panicle with unbranched primary branches)
89. Glumes with hooked spines 59. TRAGUS
p. 93
89. Glumes without hooked spines.
90. Inflorescence branches paired, digitate, whorled or clustered near apex of culm.
91. Glumes and lemmas awnless.
92. Spikelets with one floret (occasionally a vestigial rudiment above) ... 52. CYNODON
p. 82
92. Spikelets with 3 to several florets 43. ELEUSINE
p. 62
91. Glumes or lemmas, at least those of rudimentary florets, awned or mucronate.
93. Spikelets with 3 or more fertile florets; rachis of inflorescence branch extended as
stiff projection beyond terminal spikelets 44. DACTYLOCTENIUM
p. 63
20 Gould and Moran
93. Spikelets with 1 fertile floret and 1-3 rudiments above; rachis of inflorescence branch
not extended as stiff projection beyond terminal spikelets — 54. CHLORIS
p. 83
90. Inflorescence branches scattered on main axis, not paired, digitate or whorled.
94. Spikelets with single floret and no rudiments; lemmas awnless 57. SPARTINA
p. 92
94. Spikelets with 2 or more florets.
95. Lemmas awnless .._ 34. ELYMUS
p. .■53
95. Lemmas, at least those of upper florets, awned.
96. Spikelets with single perfect floret.
97. Plants annual, delicate; spikelets in deciduous clusters of 3, the lower 2
spikelets staminate or sterile 56. AEGOPOGON
p. 90
97. Plants annual or perennial, when annual then spikelets not in deciduous clus-
ters of 3 with lower 2 spikelets staminate or sterile 55. BOUTELOUA
p. 86
96. Spikelets with 2 or more perfect florets 45. LEPTOCHLOA
p. 64
GROUP VI (Spike or spicate raceme)
98. Inflorescence capitate; glumes much longer than lemmas; lemmas densely long-pilose below
42. ERIONEURON
p. 62
98. Inflorescence not capitate; glumes not as long as lemmas or if so then lemmas not long-pilose.
99. Spikelets with single floret.
100. Spikelets single at each node.
101. Spikelets 6-8 mm long.
102. First glume present, the 2 glumes paired in front of spikelet
38. PARAPHOLIS
p. 55
102. First glume absent except on terminal spikelet 39. MONERMA
p. 55
101. Spikelets 2.5-3.5 mm long 53. MICROCHLOA
p. 83
100. Spikelets 3 at each node _.-. 33. HORDEUM
p. 50
99. Spikelets with 2 or more florets.
103. Lemmas conspicuously 1 1-15-nerved; low annuals 66. ORCUTTIA
p. 97
103. Lemmas 1-7-nerved.
104. Rachis with mostly 2 or more spikelets per node.
105. Spikelets disarticulating in clusters from persistent rachis 58. HILARIA
p. 92
105. Spikelets disarticulating above glumes or with sections of rachis 34. ELYMUS
p. 53
104. Rachis with all or mostly 1 spikelet per node.
106. Spikelets oriented edgewise to rachis; first glume absent on all but terminal
spikelet 13. LOLIUM
p. 35
106. Spikelets not oriented edgewise; first glume present on all spikelets.
107. Spikelets unisexual, the male and female in different inflorescences;
plants rhizomatous and with thick, usually involute blades.
108. Spikelets sessile 62. JOUVEA
p. 96
Grasses of Baja California
21
108. Spikelets short-pediceled 61. DISTICHLIS
p. 94
107. Spikelets perfect; plants rhizomatous or not; blades thin and flat.
109. Spikelets short-pediceled 10. BRACHYPODIUM
p. 31
109. Spikelets sessile.
1 10. Plants annual; glumes thick, indurate.
111. Glumes narrow, rigid, setaceous; lemmas long-awned
37. SECALE
p. 55
111. Glumes not setaceous, broadened at or above base
35. TRITICUM
p. 54
110. Plants perennial; glumes thin when broad.
1 12. Glumes narrow, tending to be subulate; lemmas awn-
less or with awns to 6 mm long 34. ELYMUS
p. 53
1 12. Glumes fiat and relatively broad; lemmas with awn 8-
20 mm long 36. AGROPYRON
p. 54
SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT
Subfamily 1. ORYZOIDEAE
Tribe 1. Oryzeae
1 . Leersia Sw.
I. Leersia oryzoides (L.) Sw.. Prod. Veg. Ind. Occ.
21. 1788. RICE cuTGRASS. Perennial with culms
mostly 80-1.^0 cm tall or long from slender creeping
rhizomes, the culm bases often decumbent and
spreading. Nodes retrorsely hispid. Slwalhs and
blades usually strongly retrorsely scabrous, the
margins and blade midnerve sharply serrate. L/,!,'-
iilc's membranous, short, firm, truncate. Blades
mostly 7-10 mm broad, thin but firm. Panicle lax,
drooping, mostly 10-20 cm long: long lower branch-
es bare of spikelets for basal 1.5^ cm. Spikelets
subsessile, 1-flowered. laterally compressed, awn-
less, narrowly oblong, asymmetrical, 4.5-5 mm
long, 1.5-2 mm broad. Lemma and palea short-his-
pid or scabrous, bristly-ciliate with stiff hairs on
keels.
Widespread in North America, from southern
Canada to northern Mexico, in moist or wet soils
along streams, lakes, and swales. Baja Califor-
nia: Reported by Wiggins (1980:929) as weedy but
uncommon, along banks of streams and irrigation
ditches. We have seen no specimens.
Subfamily II. ARUNDINOIDEAE
Tribe 2. Arundineae
2. Arundo L.
1. Arundo donax L., Sp. PI. 81. 1753. carrizo,
GIANT REED. Fig. 5. Stout perennial with culms 2-
6 m tall, in large clumps or colonies from thick knot-
ty rhizomes. Leaves glabrous, rather uniformly
spaced and distichous on culm, the blades mostly
4-7 cm broad. Inflorescence a dense contracted
panicle 30-60 cm long. Spikelets 10-15 mm long,
mostly 2-4-flowered, with glabrous rachilla. Disar-
ticulation at nodes of rachilla. Glumes nearly equal,
thin, 3-several-nerved. Lemmas thin, 3-5-nerved,
5-10 mm long, densely soft-hairy, acuminate or
short-awned.
An Old World reed widely introduced in southern
USA and northern Mexico; in Baja California most-
ly below 800 m. Baja California Noril: Com-
monly planted and persisting along NW coast and
naturalized locally in arroyos (Rosarito: Rancho
Cuevas; Ensenada; Erendira; Rio Santo Domingo);
desert canyons at E base of Sierra Juarez (Canon
Tajo) and Sierra San Pedro Miirtir (Arroyo Agua
Caliente); W of Bahia de los Angeles. Baja Cali-
fornia Sur: Mulege; Sierra de la Giganta (Cerro
la Giganta); San Jose del Cabo.
Gould and Moran
Fig. 5. Artindo donax: plant, floret, spikelet. From Hitchcock,
1935.
3. Phragmites Trin.
1. Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud..
Nom. Bot. ed. 2, 2:324. 1841. P. phragmites (L.)
Karst. P. communis Trin. Fig. 6. Stout perennial
with culms 2-A m tall from thick rhizomes. Blades
glabrous, elongate, those of main culms mostly 1 .5-
5 cm broad. Inflorescence a large densely flowered
contracted panicle. Spikelet s 10-15 mm long, usu-
ally with 4-8 florets. Rachilla Joints villous, the
glumes, lemmas and paleas glabrous. Disarticula-
tion at nodes of rachilla. Glumes 3-nerved or sec-
ond 5-nerved, acute or mucronate; first glume V2-
% as long as second. Lower floret infertile, with
3-nerved lemma much longer than lemmas of upper
florets.
Widespread in temperate and tropical regions of
the world, in marshes and on borders of streams
Fig. 6. Phrtif>milcs aiislralis: a. floret: b. spikelet: c. panicle
and upper part of culm: d. grain. From Mason. 1957.
and lakes, often in shallow water. In Baja California
mostly below 400 m. Baja California Norte:
Desert canyons at E base of Sierra Juarez (grade
below Rumorosa; Canon Tajo). Baja California
Sur: La Trinidad; San Ignacio: Santa Agueda;
Comondu: La Paz; San Pedrito; Sierra de Santiago.
Both Phragmites australis and Arundo donax are
tall reeds that grow in moist or wet places. They
may readily be separated by spikelet differences:
P. australis has glabrous lemmas and a hairy rachil-
la, whereas A. donax has hairy lemmas and a gla-
brous rachilla.
Tribe 3. Danthonieae
4. Schismus Beauv.
1. Schismus barbatus (L.) Thell., Bull. Herb. Bois-
sier, Ser. 2, 7:391. 1907. Fig. 7. Low tufted short-
lived annual, with glabrous or sparsely hirsute
herbage. Blades flat, soft. Inflorescence a dense
contracted panicle 1-6 cm long. Spikelet s mostly
5_7.flowered. Glumes about equal and much longer
than lemmas. Lemmas broad, rounded on back.
Grasses of Baja California
23
several-nerved, glabrous or sparsely hairy, mostly
2-2.5 mm long, with minutely notched and often
mucronate apex.
Adventive from the Mediterranean region; now
widespread in SW USA and NW Mexico, common-
ly in sandy soils of arroyo beds and fiat valley floors
and on grassy hillsides. Baja California Norte:
abundantly naturalized in the NW. from sea level
to 1 100 m, and occasional in Sierra San Pedro Mar-
tir to 1700 m; southward in desert to ex-mision San
Borja.
Subfamily 111. POOIDEAE
Tribe 4. Meliceae
5. Melica L.
Tufted moderately tall perennials, without rhi-
zomes or stolons but often with swollen corm-like
bases. Leaf slwath margins fused together to or
nearly to apex. Inflorescence a densely contracted
or somewhat open panicle. Spikeleis 2-6-f1ow-
ered, the terminal floret or florets neuter, often re-
duced to a rudiment. Glumes large, broad, thin, 3-
5-nerved, with hyaline or papery margins. Lemmas
firmer than glumes, rounded on back, usually
7-nerved, with hyaline margins.
1. Perfect florets 1-2; palea as long as lemma
1. M. imperfecta
I. Perfect florets more than 2; palea usually about half as
long as lemma -- 2. M. Jrulcsccns
1. Melica imperfecta Trin., Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci.
St.-Petersbourg, Ser. 6, Sci. Math. 2:59. 1836.
Culms to 1 10 cm tall. Blades 1-6 mm broad. Pan-
icles mostly 10-30 cm long, with erect-appressed or
spreading branches. Spikelets 3.5-1 mm long, with
1, occasionally 2, perfect florets and an obtuse-ob-
long rudiment 0.5-4 mm long. Glumes nearly equal,
usually shorter than lowermost floret. Lemma of
lowermost floret 3-7 mm long.
North-central California to Baja California, fre-
quent and variable on dry rocky slopes, in sage
scrub, chaparral, and open woodland. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Widespread but not abundant in
the NW, from sea level to 1650 m, south near coast
to El Consuelo; southward in mountains (Cerro San
Juan de Dios, 1 125 m: Cerro Matomi, 1600 m; Sier-
ra San Luis, ±1100 m; Sierra San Borja, 1600 m);
Islas Todos Santos, San Martin, Guadalupe, and
Cedros. Baja California Sur: Cerro Azufre,
1650 m.
2. Melica frutescens Scribn., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia 37:45. 1885. Fig. 8. Culms to 1.5 m or
Fig. 7. Schismiis harhaUis: plant, spikelet, floret. From Gould.
1951.
more tall but usually much shorter. Blades 2-4 mm
broad. Panicles dense, narrow, mostly 12-35 cm
long, pale and shiny or rarely purple-tinged. Spike-
lets 12-18 mm long, with 3-6 perfect florets.
Glumes papery, the first 7-12 mm long, the second
9-15 mm long. Lemmas usually obtuse, the upper
V3 papery-scarious: lowermost lemma 8-11 mm
long. Rudiment 4.5-6.5 mm long, consisting of
empty lemma enclosing a globose terminal rudi-
mentary floret.
South-central Arizona and southern California to
Baja California, on dry rocky slopes. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Occasional in the NW below 1100
m and southward in desert (Cerro San Juan de Dios,
900 m; Cerro Matomi, 1 150 m; S of Santa Catarina;
Sierra San Luis, 1300 m; Rosarito, 75 m; Sierra San
Borja, 1200 m); Islas Cedros (575 m) and Angel de
la Guarda (500-1100 m). Baja California Sur:
Cerro Azufre, 1375 m; Volcan las Tres Virgenes,
1275-1750 m: Picachos de Santa Clara, 475 m.
Tribe 5 Stipeae
6. Stipa L.
Cespitose perennials with rounded sheaths and
long narrow mostly involute blades. Inflorescence
a contracted or somewhat open panicle of 1-flow-
24
Gould and Moran
ered awned spikelets. Glumes thin, 3-several-
nerved, longer than body of lemma. Lemmas firm
or hard, elongate, usually terete, tightly enclosing
the membranous palea and flower or caryopsis,
with terminal awn. Lemma a\in commonly genic-
ulate and twisted, persistent or in a few species at
length deciduous. Base of lemma and rachilla form-
ing pointed callus usually bearded with stiff hairs.
1. First segment of awn plumose with hairs 5-8 mm long;
panicles contracted, usually densely-flowered
I. 5. speciosu
1 . First segment of awn not plumose or if so then hairs 2
mm or less long; panicles contracted or open.
2. Lemmas villous to base, the hairs at summit 3^ mm
long 2. 5. cDrniiaid
2. Lemmas pubescent or glabrous, the hairs at summit
not more than 2 mm long.
3. Culms with conspicuous ciliate bract 4-6 mm long
below panicle 3. S. hniclcatu
3. Culms without ciliate bract below panicle.
4. Panicle contracted, narrow, the branches usu-
ally stiffly erect.
.5. Spikelets 3.5^ mm long; palea '/i or less as
long as lemma
6b. 5. lepiilii var. cimlersonii
5. Spikelets 5.5 mm or more long; palea more
than '/j as long as lemma.
6. Lemmas symmetrical, 5.5-7 mm long.
with silvery hairs 4. 5. diegi>ensis
6. Lemmas asymmetrical at apex. 7.5-9 mm
long, with brownish hairs
5. S. prin^lci
4. Panicles typically open at maturity and with rel-
atively long slender spreading or drooping
branches, but branches often erect on im-
mature inflorescences; palea '-'3 or less as long
as lemma.
7. Awns mostly 2.5-4 cm long; lemmas 4-6.5
mm long 6a. 5. IcpiJu var. IcpiJu
7. Awns mostly 5-11 cm long; lemmas 6-12
mm long.
8. Middle culm blades 1.2-2.4 mm broad;
lemmas slender, 6-8 mm long; terminal
awn segment slender and flexuous
8. 5. ccrniia
8. Middle culm blades 2.4-6 mm broad;
lemmas thick, fusiform, 7.5-12 mm
long; terminal awn segment stiff and
straight 7. 5. pulchra
1. Stipa speciosa Trin. & Rupr., Mem. Acad. Imp.
Sci. St.-Petersbourg, Ser. 6. Sci. Math. 5:45. 1842.
S. californica Vasey ex S. Wats.. Proc. Amer.
Acad. Arts 24:80. 1889. Women nudum, desert
NEEDLEGRASS. Culms in dcusc clumps, mostly 30-
60 cm tall. Lowermost sheaths shiny and long-per-
sistent. Ligule short, densely ciliate. Blades firm,
narrow, mostly tightly involute, 15-30 cm long.
Panicles dense, often partially included in upper
sheath, mostly 6-15 cm long. Glumes nearly equal,
about 15 mm long. Lemmas 7-10 mm long, uni-
formly short pubescent on body and with slightly
longer hairs on callus. Awn sharply once-genicu-
late, the lower segment 1-2 cm long, plumose with
long hairs, the upper segment 1.5-2.5 cm long.
Colorado to Arizona, southern California, and
Baja California; also South America. On dry ridges,
slopes, and bluffs, in Baja California mostly in open
pine, juniper, or desert scrub vegetation. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Sierra Juarez, 900-1600 m; Sierra
San Pedro Martir, 875 m: N of San Quintin; Cerro
San Juan de Dios, 900 m; Cerro Matomi, 1600 m;
Cerro Potrero, 1400 m; Sierra San Luis, 1200-1300
m: Sierra San Borja. 1000-1800 m; Isla Angel de la
Guarda, 500-1000 m. Baja California Sur: Cerro
Azufre, 1650 m; Volcan las Tres Virgenes, 1675 m.
Stipa californica Vasey was based on Palmer
505. from "mountain canons about Los Angeles
Bay".
2. Stipa coronata Thurb. in S. Wats., Bot. Calif.
2:287. 1880. S. parishii Vasey. S. coronata var.
depaiiperata (Jones) Hitchc. Culms usually in large
clumps from firm base, typically 1-2 m tall but as
short as 50 cm on depauperate plants and secondary
shoots. Blades long. 3-7 mm broad, flat below but
usually with long narrow involute tips. Panicles
dense, contracted, mostly 20-50 cm long, pale
green or purple-tinged. Second glume 13-18 cm
long, the first shorter. Lemmas 7.5-9 mm long,
densely villous with hairs 2-4 mm long; awn 3.5-5
cm long, scabrous, weakly twice-geniculate.
Coast ranges of southern California to Baja Cal-
ifornia, on dry rocky slopes in chaparral, pinon-ju-
niper woodland, and pine forest. Baja California
Norte: Occasional on NW coast (Descanso) and
in foothills: Cerro Guadalupe, 1 100-1200 m; Sierra
Juarez, 1000-1600 m: Sierra San Pedro Martir,
1400-2000 m; Cerro Matomi, 1150 m; Sierra San
Luis, 1200 m; Cerro Santa Marta. Sierra San Borja,
1500 m.
Some collections of 5. coronata have been iden-
tified as var. depauperata (Jones) Hitchc, but the
plants of our area do not appear to comprise two
recognizably different taxa.
3. Stipa bracteata Swallen, J. Wash. Acad. Sci.
30:213. 1940. Culms tufted, erect, 3-noded, to 125
cm tall, retrorsely pubescent below nodes, with
conspicuous ciliate bract 4-6 mm long below pani-
cle. Sheaths shorter than internodes, pubescent
near base, sparsely pilose at throat. Blades 25-40
cm long, 1-3 mm broad, flat or involute, pubescent
on upper surface, glabrous on lower. Panicles 35-
42 cm long, lax, the branches 4-10 cm long in re-
mote fascicles, naked at base, the spikelets ap-
pressed. Ghanes hyaline, acuminate, 3-nerved, the
Grasses of Baja California
25
first 10-11 mm long, the second ca. 2 mm shorter.
Lcnutia 5.5-6.5 mm long, fusiform, brown, pilose
with white appressed hairs; awn 20-24 mm long,
twice geniculate, glabrous or nearly so, the lower
segments twisted, the upper straight.
Endemic to Baja California. Baja California
Norte: Apparently known only from the type col-
lection ( W7,i,',i,'///.s 5153). from ""grassy flats 25 miles
north of Ensenada, Baja California, April 4, 193 1".
Presumably this would be on the volcanic Mesa de
Tigre, southeast of La Mision.
Stipa bract cat a is close to S. clici^ocnsis. and
more material is needed for proper evaluation.
4. Stipa diegoensis Swallen. J. Wash. Acad. Sci.
30:213. 1940. Culms densely tufted, 70-100 cm tall,
pubescent below nodes. Blades 2-A mm broad, fiat
or involute, scabrous on abaxial surface, pubescent
on adaxial surface. Panicles 15-30 cm long, nar-
row, dense, with appressed branches to 10 cm long.
First glume 9-10 mm long, the second slightly
shorter. Lemmas brownish at maturity, 5.5-7 mm
long, pilose with silvery hairs, the hairs at apex 1-
2 mm long; awns mostly 2-3.5 cm long, twice-ge-
niculate. Paica thin, membranous, 3^ mm long.
San Diego Co., California, and northern Baja Cal-
ifornia, with chaparral and coastal sage scrub. Baja
Caiifornia Norte: Occasional on rocky slopes
below 750 m. S to Agua de Tanilo, E of Santa Ma-
ria.
5. Stipa pringlei (Beal) Scribn. in Vasey. Contr.
U.S. Natl. Herb. 3:54. 1892. pringle needle-
grass. Culms 40-100 (-120) cm tall, often pubes-
cent at nodes. Blades firm, scabrous, long, linear,
mostly 1-3 mm broad. Panicles 8-15 (-20) cm long,
with relatively few large purplish spikelets on slen-
der contracted branches, the lower branches occa-
sionally spreading or drooping. Glumes subequal,
5-9-nerved, 8-10 mm long. Lemnuis plump, finely
rugose, dark brown at maturity; awns scaberulous,
mostly 2-3 cm long, weakly twice-geniculate. Pa-
leas firm, shiny, as long as lemmas.
Arizona and Texas to Baja California and Chi-
huahua, mostly in pine forest or chaparral at high
elevations. Baja California Norte: Occasional
on rocky slopes in Jeffrey pine forest at 2100-2600
m. Sierra San Pedro Martir (Cerro Venado Blanco,
Verba Buena, Vallecitos, N of Rancho Viejo).
6. Stipa lepida Hitchc, Amer. J. Bot. 2:302. 1915.
Culms slender, puberulent below nodes. Blades
flat, involute, or folded, 1-3 mm broad. Cilumes
3-nerved. the first 6-10 mm long, the second slight-
ly shorter. Lemma minutely papillose, 3.5-6 mm
long, brown at maturity, sparsely villous, usually
with ring of hairs at apex. Lemma awn 2.5-4 cm
long, indistinctly twice-geniculate. Palea membra-
nous. V^ or less as long as lemma.
1. Leaf blades flat or folded, at least some 1.5 mm or more
broad; inflorescence mostly 12-20 cm long, the lower
branches spreading at maturity _
6a. 5. lepida var. tcpiilci
I. Leaf blades involute, filiform, less than 1.5 mm broad;
inflorescence mostly 4-8 cm long, contracted, the
branches short, erect 6b. .V. lepida var. andcrsonii
6a. Stipa lepida Hitchc. var. lepida. S. eminens of
California auth.. not Cav.
From northern California through the coast
ranges to Baja California, on rocky, brushy slopes
or occasionally in open pine forest. B.aja Califor-
nia Norte: Fairly common in the NW below 600
m; to 1300 m in Sierra Juarez; Cerro San Juan de
Dios, 700 m; Islas Guadalupe (450 m) and Cedros
(300-1050 m). Baja California Sur: N slope of
Cerro Azul, 550 m; above Encinos, Sierra de la
Giganta.
6b. Stipa lepida var. andersonii (Vasey) Hitchc,
Amer. J. Bot. 2:303. 1915.
Baja California Norte: Locally common in
semishade 2.5 km S of Johnson Ranch, N of Cabo
Colonet, 25 m {Moran 2756Q}.
7. Stipa pulchra Hitchc, Amer. J. Bot. 2:301. 1915.
Fig. 9. Culms 60-100 cm tall, usually puberulent
below nodes. Blades long. 2-6 mm broad, green,
flat or sometimes involute. Glumes 3-5-nerved, the
first 15-25 mm long, the second slightly shorter.
Lemmas 7.5-12 mm long, stout, sparingly pilose,
sometimes with smooth neck and ciliate fringe at
apex: awns 6-9 cm long, twice-geniculate, pubes-
cent on lower section, with stiff, straight terminal
section. Paleas membranous, 1-2 mm long.
Northern California to Baja California on dry
brushy or forested slopes, below 1500 m in the
southern part of the range. Baja California
Norte: Mostly near coast, to S of Ensenada: Islas
los Coronados (S island).
8. Stipa cernua Stebbins & Love. Madrono 6:137.
1941. 5. pulchra var. cernua Beetle & Tofsrud.
Similar to .V. pulchra but blades 1.2-2.4 mm broad,
glaucous and usually involute at tips. Lenunas slen-
der, cylindric often less than 7.5 mm long. Awns
with fine flexuous terminal segment.
California and northern Baja California, on dry
slopes to 1500 m. Baja California Norte: Near
coast S to El Rosario; Sierra Juarez to 1300 m (Ru-
26
Gould and Moran
Fig. 8. Mc-liici fniu-sccns: plant: a. glumes; b, spikelet without
glumes. From U.S.D.A. Bull. No. 17.
morosa: Portezuelo de Jamau): foothills of Sierra
San Pedro Martir to 700 m.
7. Oryzopsis Michx.
I. Oryzopsis hymenoides (R. & S.) Ricker in Piper,
Contr". U.S. Natl. Herb. 11:109. 1906. Indian Rict-
GRASS. Fig. 10. Strong perennial with tufted culms
mostly 30-70 cm tall. Leaves mostly in basal
clumps, the blades long, firm, filiform, tightly in-
volute, not over 2 mm broad. Panicles open, dif-
fuse, dichotomously branched, with spreading
branchlets and 1 -flowered spikelets on long slender
pedicels. Spikelets 5-8 mm long excluding awn,
disarticulating above glumes. Glumes subequal,
broad, thin, glabrous to puberulent. 3-nerved, acu-
minate at tip, 5-8 mm long. Lemmas firm or hard,
dark brown to nearly black at maturity, 3^ mm
Fig. 9. Stipa piilchm: panicle, lemma. From Hitchcock, 1935.
long, pubescent with hairs mostly 2^ mm long.
An-n straight, 3-6 mm long, readily deciduous.
Throughout the mountains of western USA and
to northern Mexico, on dry sandy usually open
slopes, at a wide range of elevations. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: E side of Sierra Juarez: 3 km N of
La Rumorosa, 1150 m, Moran 29755 \ ■'Cantillas
Mountains" [vicinity of Canon Tajo], Orcutl 1 147
(cited by Hitchcock, 1913:285). Sandy bed of Ar-
royo Alfredo NW of ex-mision Santa Maria, 700 m,
Moran 12188. According to Wiggins (1980:892), it
extends upward into pine forest in the Sierras Juar-
ez and San Pedro Martir.
8. Piptochaetium Presl
1. Piptochaetium fimbriatum (H.B.K.) Hitchc, J.
Wash. Acad. Sci. 23:453. 1933. falso espartillo
Grasses of Baja California
27
Fig. 10. Onzopsis hviiiciiniilcs: plant, glumes, floret. From
Gould. 1951.
DEL PINAR. PiNYON RicEGRASS. Fig. 1 1. Tufted pe-
rennial with leaves mostly in basal clump and slen-
der erect culms 30-80 cm tall. Leaves glabrous, the
basal blades filiform, involute, mostly 1 mm or less
broad and 5-30 cm or more long. Panieles few-
flowered, open or loosely contracted, the slender
branches bare of spikelets on lower '/i-%. Disarti-
culation above glumes. Glumes subequal. thin,
broad, acuminate, faintly 3-several-nerved. mostly
5-6 mm long, with hyaline margins and apex. Lein-
inas thick and firm, pubescent, oblong. 4-5 mm
long, light colored and with silvery hairs when im-
mature but dark brown and with reddish hairs at
maturity. Lemma awti stout. 12-18 mm long, weak-
ly twice-geniculate. the lower segment twisted and
scabrous. Pulea mostly enclosed by lemma but tip
minutely protruding at lemma apex.
Colorado to Texas, Arizona, and northern Mex-
ico, on rocky slopes at medium and high elevations,
often in open woodlands. Baja Cai ifornia Sur:
Shady N slope. Cerro la Laguna. Sierra San Fran-
cisco. 1520 m (Moran 23868): Sierra de la Laguna
{Jones 27635: Carter et al. 23<J6).
Fig. 1 1 . Piplochucliiim finihrialiiin : plant, glumes, floret, palea.
From Hitchcock, 193?.
Tribe 6. Poeae
9. Bromus L.
Annuals and perennials, the Baja California
species without rhizomes or well-developed sto-
lons. Leaves with rounded sheaths, these united by
margins to well above middle. Ligule membranous.
Blades thin and flat, often broad. Infloreseenee a
panicle, infrequently reduced to a raceme. Spike-
lets 13-45 mm or more long, with 4 to numerous
florets, disarticulating above glumes and between
florets, (/lames unequal, acute, awnless. Lemmas
5-13-nerved, i-awned from notch of bifid apex or
infrequently awnless. Paleas large, adnate to cary-
opsis. Caryopsis with tuft of hair at apex.
This treatment is based primarily on the revision
of Bromus in Mexico and Central America by Sod-
Gould and Moran
erstrom and Beaman (1968) and on the treatment in
Grasses of Southwestern United States by Gould
(1951).
1. Lemma awn strongly twisted below; plants annual
1. B. irinii
I. Lemma awn straight when present; annuals and peren-
nials.
2. Spikelets laterally compressed, the lemmas definitely
keeled.
3. Second glume 5-7-nerved; lemmas 7-nerved. with
awn .'i- 1 1 mm long 1. B. curinaliis
3. Second glume 9-11-nerved; lemmas 9-13-nerved,
awnless or with awn less than 3 mm long
3. B. uniiiliiiiles
2. Spikelets not laterally compressed, the lemmas not or
only slightly keeled.
4. Plants perennial; lemmas not or inconspicuously
toothed apically; native species of woodland and
meadow habitats.
5. Lemmas densely villous with long hairs be-
tween lateral nerves and margins, glabrous or
scabrous on back 4. B. ciiiciliis
5. Lemmas sparsely to densely villous over the
back.
6. Blades 2^ mm broad; first glume 1- or 3-
nerved.
7. First glume 1-nerved; culm nodes villous
5. B. (iiiiimaliis
1. First glume 3-nerved; culm nodes gla-
brous 7. B. purlcri
6. Blades, at least some, .'i-IO (-14) mm broad;
first glume 3-nerved h. B. pscud«kuvipcs
4. Plants annual; lemmas bifid and toothed apically;
adventive weedy species.
8. Awn of lemma usually 3-6 cm long; second
glume 2-3.5 cm long 8. B. diumtnis
8. Awn of lemma 2.5 cm or less long; second
glume 1.5 cm or less long.
9, Panicle branches slender, flexuous and
drooping, often more than 2 cm long;
branchlets and pedicels capillary, curved
and usually recurved 9. B. Icctanim
9. Panicle branches and pedicels short, stout,
erect or stiffly erect-spreading, mostly
much less than 2 cm long,
10. First glume 3-5-nerved; lemma apex
broad, rounded or acute, the teeth 1-
1.5 mm long 10. B. mollis
10. First glume l-3-nerved; lemma apex
narrow, tapering to narrow acuminate
teeth more than L5 mm long.
II. Culms puberulent below panicle;
panicles densely flowered, with
stiffly erect spikelets 11. B. riihcns
11. Culms glabrous below panicle; pan-
icles with few erect or spreading
spikelets 12. B. nnulriwnsis
1 . Bromus trinii Desv. in Gay. Fl. Chil. 6:441 . 1853.
Trisetuin barhatuin var. major Vasey. Chilean
BROME, CHILEAN CHESS. Slender weak-stemmed
annual, with culms mostly 25-70 cm tall. Sheaths
pilose. Ligule an erose membrane 1.8-3.5 mm long.
Blades flat, 2-8 mm broad, glabrous to sparsely
pilose. Panieles open or somewhat contracted,
mostly 10-25 cm long. Spikelets 2-4 cm long ex-
cluding awns, with 3-10 florets. First gliane long-
attenuate, 1-nerved, 6-12 mm long. Second illume
broader and longer than first, with 3 strong nerves
and sometimes 2 weaker lateral nerves. Lemmas
mostly 8-11 mm long, 7-nerved, finely pubescent,
with slender twisted geniculate awn 1-2 cm long
from between slender aristate teeth 3-6 mm long.
On dry open or wooded slopes, SW USA to Baja
California and in Chile, sometimes considered as
introduced in North America. Baja California
Norte: Apparently not common: scattered in the
NW, to 1000 m in Sierra San Pedro Martir; Cerro
San Juan de Dios, 1 100 m; Sierra San Luis, 1300 m;
Sierra San Borja, 250-1200 m; Islas San Martin,
Guadalupe, and Cedros.
2. Bromus carinatus Hook. & Am., Bot. Beechey
Voy. 403. 1840. Annual or weak perennial. Ciihns
mostly 40-80 cm tall but occasionally as much as
120 cm tall. Blades thin, long, flat, 2-6 mm broad,
glabrous or rarely with few hairs. Panieles open or
loosely contracted, mostly 20-35 cm long, the
spikelets erect or drooping on slender pedicels.
Spikelets laterally compressed, 1.5-3.5 cm long,
with 4-10 florets. First glume 3-nerved (rarely 4-5-
nerved), the second longer, with 7 (rarely 5) nerves.
Lemmas laterally compressed and sharply keeled,
8-13 mm long, 7-nerved, glabrous or scabrous on
back, often finely villous on margins, with awn 5-
1 1 mm long.
Widespread, in British Columbia, western USA,
Mexico, and Central America, in Mexico and south-
ward mostly above 1500 m but in Baja California
also low. Baja California Norte: In pine woods
and sandy arroyo beds at 1500-2000 m. Sierra Jua-
rez (San Pedro; Laguna Hanson) and Sierra San
Pedro Martir (La Sanja: La Vibora; La Joya); in the
NW near coast on rocky slopes, in sandy arroyo
beds, and on coastal dunes (Jatay; Ensenada; Co-
Ionia Guerrero; San Quintin); S in desert (El Pro-
greso, 490 m; Santa Catarina; Arroyo Cataviiia near
mouth; S of Punta Prieta); Islas Coronados (N is-
land) and San Martm. Baja California Sur: Ca-
tion San Julio, Sierra San Francisco (Brandegee
17).
Comparing B. arizonicus (Shear) Stebbins, chief-
ly as that occurs in Arizona, with B. carinatus.
Stebbins and Tobgy ( 1944) stated that the two have
different chromosome numbers, clearly including
some non-homologous chromosomes, and form
highly sterile hybrids; that B. arizonicus occurs at
lower elevations; and that B. arizonicus differs in
being strictly annual and in having glumes relatively
Grasses of Baja California
29
long, lemmas hirsute near the margins, and at least
upper lemmas with rather prominent lobes. Without
of course having cytological information, they re-
ferred two Baja California collections to B. ahzon-
iciis: San Quintin. Epllns; ct Stewart in 1936: E of
El Rosario. Wii^i^ins 5291. However, Soderstrom
and Beaman (1968) referred these two to B. cari-
iiatus. saying that, at least in Baja California pop-
ulations, morphological characters give no ready
means for separating B. arizonicits. Among a dozen
Baja California specimens of this complex at SD,
Dr. Stebbins in 1980 found none of B. arizoniciis.
Lowland and southern specimens he annotated as
"B. cciriiuitiis H. & A., near B. nuuiiinatiis Nees"".
Pending further evidence, we follow Soderstrom
and Beaman.
3. Bromus unioloides H.B.K., Nov. Gen. Sp. 1:151.
181.'i. RtscuE GRASS. Tufted annual with culms
mostly 30-80 cm tall. Culms spreading-erect, rela-
tively thick and weak, succulent when young.
Sheaths nearly glabrous to densely puberulent with
fine spreading hairs. Blades flat, mostly 5-12 mm
broad, glabrous or hirsute. Infioreseenee an open
or loosely contracted panicle (occasionally reduced
to raceme) of large awnless or nearly awnless 5-12-
flowered spikelets. Ghimes awnless, the first 5-7-
nerved, the second usually 9-11-nerved. Lemmas
compressed-keeled, glabrous, scabrous or short-pu-
bescent between the nerves, mostly 10-11.5 mm
long, awnless or with awn less than 3 mm long.
Widespread in southern North America, mainly
as a weed of fields and pastures, ditches, and road-
sides, introduced in USA from South America as
a forage plant and occasional in Mexico. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Apparently uncommon, known to
us only from three collections in the NW, at 30 m
or below (La Mesa, SE of Tijuana; Cantamar; Ma-
neadero).
Although Beetle ( 1972) argued for the recognition
of B. uilUlenowii Kunth as well as B. iinioUndes in
Mexico, we are unable to separate the specimens
consistently into two taxa.
4. Bromus ciliatus L.. Sp. PI. 1:76. 1753. B. rieh-
ardsonii Link, fringed brome. Fig. 12. Perennial,
without rhizomes. Cidms mostly 0.6-1 m tall, with
pubescent nodes. Sheaths rounded, the lower re-
trorsely pubescent. BUides flat, 5-10 mm broad,
glabrous to scabrous. PanicU-s open, to 20 cm long,
with spikelets 2.5-3 cm long on slender drooping
branches to 10 cm long and pedicels to 2 cm long.
Spikelets to 8-flowered. Lower ghtme linear-lanceo-
late. 1-nerved; upper glume obovate-linear. abrupt-
Fig. 12. Bromus
cock, I93.'i.
iliiiliis: plant, spikelet. floret. From Hitch-
ly narrowed to short-awned tip, 3-nerved. glabrous.
Lemmas 10-11 mm long, abruptly narrowed to awn
3-3.5 mm long. 7-nerved, glabrous dorsally and vil-
lous on margins and on and between the lateral
nerves.
Northern and western North America, southward
in pine forests and high meadows, to Mexico only
in Baja California. Baja California Norte: Fair-
ly common on forested rocky slopes. Sierra San
Pedro Martir, 1900-2800 m (Cerro Venado Blanco,
Cerro de la Cupula, Verba Buena. Corral de Sam,
Los Llanitos. La Encantada. La Vil)ora). Accord-
ing to Wiggins (1980:91 1 ), it occurs also in the Sier-
ra Juarez.
5. Bromus anomalus Rupr. ex E. Fourn.. Mex. PI.
2:126. 1886. nodding brome. Tufted perennial or
long-lived annual. Cidms 40-60 (-75) cm tall, de-
cumbent at base, with villous nodes. Sheaths re-
30
Gould ;ind Moran
trorsely villous. Blades flat, 2^ mm broad, sca-
berulous on both surfaces, long-attenuate. Panicles
to 20 cm long, with slender drooping branches to 7
cm long mostly in whorls of 3 along villous axis.
Spikelets 2.2-2.7 cm long, with 7-12 or more flo-
rets. Glumes glabrous or villous, awnless, the first
l-nerved, the second 3-nerved. Lemmas ca. 1 1 mm
long, 7-nerved, uniformly villous across back, ob-
tuse at apex, with awn 1-4 mm long. Palea slightly
shorter than lemma, puberulent between nerves.
Southern Canada to southern Mexico, in pine and
oak woodlands and occasionally in scrub forest or
grasslands. Baja California Sur: La Laguna, ca.
1700 m (Carter et al. 2341. 2395: Jones 27648): La
Chuparosa (Brandegee 73).
6. Bromus pseudolaevipes Wagnon. Leafl. West.
Bot. 6:64. 1950. Perennial with stout culms to over
1 m tall. Culm nodes pubescent or puberulent.
Sheaths and blades essentially glabrous or occa-
sionally pilose, the blades long and broad, to 14 mm
broad in the Baja California specimen cited. Pani-
cles 10-20 cm long, open, the branches pilose, as-
cending or drooping. Spikelets 1.5-2.5 cm long, 4-
10-flowered. Glumes pubescent, the first 3-nerved,
the second 5-nerved. Lenuua rounded and pubes-
cent on back, with awns 3-5 mm long.
California coast ranges to northern Baja Califor-
nia, on dry often shady slopes below 1000 m. Baja
California Norte: Near and E of Rosarito (Bee-
tle M-2696).
The Beetle collection is atypical in having blades
to 14 mm broad. The only other native perennial
species of Bronuis with rounded uniformly hairy
lemmas are B. anomalus. which typically has the
first glume l-nerved and blades less than 5 mm
broad, and B. porteri. with glabrous culm nodes
and with blades 2-4 mm broad.
7. Bromus porteri (J. M. Coulter) Nash, Bull. Tor-
rey Bot. Club 22:512. 1895. Perennial with slender
culms mostly 65-85 cm tall. Culm nodes typically
glabrous. Sheaths glabrous or slightly hairy. Ligule
a brown membrane 0.5-0.6 mm long. Upper blades
flat or folded, 17-25 cm long, 2-4 mm broad, gla-
brous on lower surface, glabrous to villous on upper
surface. Panicle 16-26 cm long, nodding, with slen-
der drooping branches 5-10 cm long. Spikelets 2-3
cm long, with 4-9 florets, the glumes and lemmas
rounded on back. First glume 3-nerved. green and
firm below, the upper margins hyaline, glabrous or
puberulent on nerves and margins, awnless; second
glume slightly longer, 3-nerved, glabrous or puber-
ulent on nerves and margins, usually awned-tipped.
the awn ca. 0.3 mm long. Lemma ca. 10 mm long,
(5-) 7-9-nerved, with bifid or acute apex, sparsely
pubescent on back and often villous on lateral in-
ternerves, with awn 3—4 mm long. Anthers 3.2-3.4
mm long, brownish-orange.
Widespread in the Rocky Mountain region of
USA; rather frequent in the mountains of Mexico,
to Chiapas, mostly at 1600-2400 m, often in pine,
oak, and juniper scrub. Known in Baja California
only from one collection. Baja California Sur:
Scarce on N ridge, Cerro Azufre, 1600 m (Moran
18751).
This species is similar to B. anonudus. from
which it differs primarily in the key characters.
8. Bromus diandrus Roth, Bot. Abh. 44. 1787. rip-
gut BROML. Tufted short-lived annual with thick,
weak culms mostly 20-70 cm tall. Sheaths and
blades usually pubescent with spreading hairs.
Blades soft, flat, mostly 3-7 mm broad. Panicles
narrow, with stout usually erect branches and ped-
icels. Spikelets mostly 3^ cm long excluding awns,
5-7-flowered. Glumes unequal, lanceolate-acumi-
nate, with broad membranous margins, the first
l-nerved, the second 3-nerved. Lemmas glabrous
or scabrous, the body 2 cm or more long, with
broad hyaline margins and apical teeth usually 4-5
mm long. Lemma awn stout, scabrous, 3-6 cm
long.
A European species now occasional to frequent
as a weed of open disturbed sites in SW USA and
Baja California, with a few records from Guate-
mala. Baja California Norte: Occasional weed
of fields and roadsides in the NW, less commonly
naturalized in undisturbed areas, from coast to Sier-
ra Juarez (Laguna Hanson, 1610 m) and Sierra San
Pedro Martir (La Encantada, 2200 m); Islas los Co-
ronados and Guadalupe.
In the USA this grass has commonly been re-
ferred to another European species, B. rigidus
Roth.
9. Bromus tectorum L., Sp. PI. 77. 1753. downy
BROME. Low to moderately tall annual with weak
erect or spreading culms. Sheaths and blades usu-
ally softly pubescent, occasionally glabrous, the
blades flat, 2.5-6 mm broad. Panicles loosely con-
tracted, with slender flexuous often S-curved
branches. Spikelets mostly 1.2-2 cm long excluding
awns, usually with 4-6 florets. Glumes unequal,
thin, with broad hyaline margins, the first glume I-
3-nerved, the second 3-nerved, often notched at
apex. Lemmas mostly 9-12 mm long, glabrous, sca-
brous, or soft-pubescent, with membranous mar-
Grasses of Baja California
31
gins and apical teeth 2-3 mm long. Lemma awns
10-18 mm long.
Adventive from Europe; now frequent through
most of USA and in NW Mexico as a weed of open
disturbed sites. Baja California Norte: Abun-
dantly naturalized in meadows and pine woods and
on open slopes. Sierra Juarez (900-1800 m) and
Sierra San Pedro Martir (1400-2750 m); Rancho
Aguajito, E of El Rosario, 350 m.
Two varieties have been recognized in the Sierra
San Pedro Martir: var. tectorum, with soft-pubes-
cent lemmas, and var. glahratus Spenner, with gla-
brous or scabrous lemmas.
10. Bromus mollis L., Sp. PI. ed. 2, 1:112. 1762.
SOFT BROMH. Tuftcd annual with weak, usually ge-
niculate-spreading culms 5-40 (occasionally to 70)
cm tall. Blades soft, flat or folded, glabrous or
sparsely hirsute, mostly 2-6 mm broad. Inflores-
cence a densely flowered contracted panicle or ra-
ceme, commonly 5-10 cm long but in depauperate
plants smaller and with very few spikelets. Spike-
lets 1-2.5 cm long, with 5-10 closely imbricated
florets. Glumes and lemmas broad, thin, pubes-
cent, several-nerved, the lemma with awn mostly
5-9 mm long.
A weed of open sandy or disturbed clay soils,
adventive from Europe and now common over
much of USA and in NW Mexico. Baja Califor-
nia Norte: Rather common weed of fields and
roadsides in the NW, from Tijuana to San Telmo;
occasional in Sierra San Pedro Martir (San Isidore,
900 m; ex-mision San Pedro Martir, 1475 m): Islas
los Coronados, Todos Santos, and Guadalupe.
We include in B. mollis Baja California collec-
tions that have been identified as B. moUifonnis
Lloyd.
11. Bromus rubens L., Cent. PI. 1:5. 1755. foxtail
BROME. Tufted annual with culms 10-50 cm tall.
Lower sheaths and blades pubescent, the blades
mostly 1.5-3 mm broad but occasionally broader.
Panicles contracted, dense, mostly 4-8 cm long in-
cluding awns. Spikelets usually dark reddish brown
or purple-tinged at maturity. Glumes with broad
membranous margins, the first 1-nerved, the second
3-nerved. Body of lemma ca. I cm long, scabrous
to pubescent, with broad membranous margins,
slender apical teeth 3-5 mm long, and terminal awn
1.5-2.5 cm long. Paleas large, ciliate on nerves.
A weedy European annual adventive in North
America and now frequent in SW USA; in Mexico
apparently known only from Baja California. Baja
California Norte: Common weed of disturbed
places in the NW but also widely naturalized even
in remote desert areas: from coast to 1900 m in
Sierra Juarez and 1600 m in Sierra San Pedro Mar-
tir; Cerro San Juan de Dios; summit of Cerro Ma-
tomi, 1600 m; Arroyo Santa Catarina; N of Yubay
(29°13'N); Islas los Coronados, Todos Santos, San
Martin, Guadalupe, and Cedros.
12. Bromus madritensis L., Cent. PI. 1:5. 1755. A
short-lived annual similar to B. rubens but usually
with glabrous or scabrous leaves (the lower sheaths
sometimes puberulent), culms glabrous below inflo-
rescence, panicles tending to be less dense, with
fewer spikelets and longer pedicels.
A weedy European grass occasional on open,
dry, mostly disturbed sites in SW USA and north-
ern Baja California. Baja California Norte: In
the NW (Flor del Sol, 220 m; Descanso, 15 m; Las
Delicias, E of Ensenada, 660 m; San Isidoro, Sierra
San Pedro Martir, 900 m).
Wiggins (1980:911, 912) reported four additional
species of Bromus for which we have seen no spec-
imens. Of these, the annual B. arenarius Labill.
was given by Munz and Keck ( 1959: 1473) as native
to Australia and now "widely scattered" " over Cal-
ifornia. The other three are native North American
perennials: B. mariiinatus Nees, of Sect. Cerato-
chloa, and B. grandis (Shear) Hitchc. and B. or-
cuttianus Vasey, both of Sect. Pnigma.
10. Brachypodium Beauv.
Tufted annuals and perennials with soft flat
blades and with spikes or spikelike racemes. Spike-
lets usually few and large (occasionally only 1-2 per
inflorescence), usually subsessile and erect on un-
branched inflorescence axis, with few to several flo-
rets. Glumes unequal, 3-9-nerved, sharp-pointed,
the lemmas firm, rounded or somewhat flattened on
back, 7-nerved, awned or mucronate. Palea large
and firm, as long as lemma, concave. Disarticula-
tion above glumes and between florets.
1. Plants perennial; lemma awns 2-9 mm long
___ I. B. mixi( aniim
1. Plants annual; lemma awns mostly 12-20 mm long
___ 2. B. disltH hyon
1. Brachypodium mexicanum (R. & S.) Link, Hort.
Berol. 1:41. 1833. Perennial with slender culms
mostly 25-80 cm tall, freely branched below mid-
dle. Culm nodes retrorsely hispid-scabrous or
bearded with soft hairs. Ligule a firm ciliate mem-
brane. Blades thin, long and narrow, mostly 2.5-5
mm broad, glabrous or thinly hirsute on both sur-
32
Gould and Moian
Fig. 13. Brachxpintium disltuhyon: plant, glumes, floret. From
Chase, 1951.
faces. Inflorescence a short stiffly erect spike, often
with as few as 2-3 rather widely spaced spitceiets.
Spikelcts solitary at nodes, mostly 2-3.5 cm long.
Glumes lanceolate, unequal, awnless, the first 3-5-
nerved, the second usually 5-7-nerved. Lemmas
glabrous or scabrous, with straight awn 2-9 mm
long.
Open forested areas at medium to high eleva-
tions, Mexico to Colombia. Baja California Sur:
Cape region: Sierra de la Laguna (Brandegec in
1890. Carter el al. 2342 at 1650 m); La Chuparosa
(Brandegee 54).
2. Brachypodium distachyon (L.) Beauv. Ess.
Agrost. 101, 155. 1812. Fig. 13. Tufted annual with
culms mostly 20-60 cm tall. Culm nodes puberu-
lent. Ligiile a firm ciliate membrane. Blades short,
flat, mostly 2-4 mm broad, glabrous or sparsely hir-
sute on both surfaces, usually ciliate on lower mar-
gins. Inflorescence with 1-5 large stiffly erect spike-
lets, the spikelets mostly 2-3.5 cm long, with 9-18
closely imbricate florets. Glumes glabrous, firm,
acute or acuminate, the first 3-7-nerved, the second
7-9-nerved. Lemma 7-nerved, glabrous or sca-
brous, 7-10 mm long, tapering to awn usually 12-
20 mm long. Paleas coarsely pectinate-ciliate with
stiff bristle-like hairs, the hairs to 0.5 mm or more
long.
A European grass now well established as a weed
of roadsides, fields and field borders, and other dis-
turbed sites in California and Texas. Baja Cali-
fornia Nortf: Abundant in old field as if planted,
Ejido Mesa Redonda, 500 m (Moran 24176).
II. Vulpia C. C. Gmelin
Short-lived annuals with weak decumbent or
erect culms branching mainly at base. Ligules
membranous, usually less than 1 mm long. Blades
elongate, thin, flat or loosely involute. Inflores-
cence a narrow panicle (rarely reduced to a raceme)
with stiff appressed or spreading branches. Spike-
lets with usually 3-17 florets, the uppermost re-
duced. Disarticulation above glumes and between
florets. Glumes subulate, the first 1-nerved, the sec-
ond 3-nerved. Lemmas lanceolate, acute or acu-
minate, 5-nerved, mucronate or with awn to 2 cm
or more long. Stamens 1 or occasionally 3.
The following key is based on the treatment of
the North American species by Lonard and Gould
(1974).
I. First glume less than Vi the length of second glume ..._
4. V. myiiros
1. First glume more than '/i the length of second glume.
2. Spikelets mostly with $-\\ florets, the florets closely
imbricated, with rachilla internodes typically 0.5-
0.7 mm long; lemma awns 0.3-6 (-9) mm long ....
._ 1. V. (Htoftoru
2. Spikelets with 1-5 (-7) florets, the florets not closely
imbricated, the rachilla internodes usually 1 mm or
more long; lemma awns 4-22 mm long.
3. Panicle branches and pedicels, at least the basal
one. spreading or reflexed at maturity and with
callus in branch axil 2. V. microslachys
3. Panicle branches and pedicels appressed-erect or
Grasses of Baja California
33
branches spreading at tips from erect base;
branches and pedicels without axillary calluses
3. v. hronididfs
I . Vulpia octoflora (Walt.) Rydb.. Bull. Torrey Bot.
Club 36:528. 1909. common sixvvi fks grass.
Culms 10-60 cm tall, solitary or loosely tufted.
Culms and leaves glabrous or pubescent. Lii^ale 1
mm or less long. Blades elongate. 0.5-1 mm broad,
soon withering and turning brown. Panicles 2-20
cm long, with erect-appressed branches. Spikeiets
mostly with 5-11 florets, 4-10 mm long excluding
awns. Lemma of lowermost floret 2.6-6.5 mm long,
excluding awn.
I. Spikeiets. excluding awns, mostly 5.5-10 mm long: awn
of lowermost floret 2.5-6 (-9) mm long.
2. Lemma glabrous or slightly scabrous on back, often
scabrous on margins la. V. octoflora var. octofloni
2. Lemma prominently long-scabrous to densely pubes-
cent on back, at least near apex
Ic. V. ocloflora var. hirulla
1 . Spikeiets, excluding awns, mostly 4-5.5 mm long; awn
of lowermost floret 0.3-3 mm long
lb. V. octoflora var. f-luuca
la. Vulpia octoflora (Walt,) Rydb, var. octoflora.
Fesluca ovtofiora Walt. Fig. 14,
Widespread throughout North America and intro-
duced elsewhere, mainly at low elevations, in loose
sandy soils: frequent in disturbed areas. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Fairly common in the NW, from
coast to at least 1650 m in Sierra Juarez and to 2300
m in Sierra San Pedro Martir; less common south-
ward in desert, to Arroyo Santa Catarina; Islas
Todos Santos. San Martin, and Cedros, Baja Cal-
ifornia Sur: In mountains (Volcan las Tres Vir-
genes; Sierra de la Laguna; La Chuparosa).
lb. Vulpia octoflora var, glauca (Nutt.) Fern,, Rho-
dora 47:107. 1945.
Widespread in North America but not common
in Mexico, in the same sorts of habitat as the typical
variety, Baja California Nortl: Meadows in
Sierra San Pedro Martir, 2200-2500 m (Vallecitos:
La Encantada): Cerro la Chona, Sierra San Borja,
1450 m.
Ic. Vulpia octoflora var. hirtella (Piper) Henr., Blu-
mea 2:320. 1937.
British Columbia to Texas and Baja California,
in sandy disturbed sites at low to rather high ele-
vations, the commonest variety in SW USA. Baja
California Norte: Less common than var. oc-
toflora in the NW. sometimes with it in mixed pop-
ulations: more common southward in desert (Cerro
Matomi, 1150 m: Sierra San Luis, 1200 m; Sierra
San Borja, to 550 m: Las Lagunitas, 650 m); Islas
Fig. 14. Vulpia octoflora var. octoflora: plant, spikelet. From
Gould and Box, 1965.
San Martin, Guadalupe, Cedros, and Angel de la
Guarda. Baja California Sur: Picachos de Santa
Clara; Vizcaino peninsula,
2. Vulpia microstachys (Nutt.) Benth., Pi. Hartw,
342, 1857. Culms solitary or loosely tufted, gla-
brous or puberulent. Sheaths and blades glabrous
or pubescent, blades usually inrolled, mostly 10 cm
or less long and 0.5-1 mm broad. Li^ules 0.5-1 mm
long. Panicles narrow, 3-15 cm long; branches and
pedicels at first erect-appressed. in age at least low-
ermost typically spreading or reflexed. Spikeiets 4-
9 mm long excluding awns, often purple-tinged,
with 1-6 florets, the uppermost reduced. Glumes
34
Gould and Moran
subulate, glabrous, scabrous, or pubescent, the first
1.7-5.5 mm long, the second 3.5-7.5 mm long.
Lemma of lowermost floret (3.5-) 4.5-7 mm long
excluding awn, glabrous, scabrous, or pubescent.
Ann of lowermost floret (3-) 6-20 mm long. Sta-
mens 1, occasionally 3. Caryopsis 3.5-5.5 mm long.
1. Glumes and lemmas pubescent
2a. V. microslachys var. cilkilti
1. Glumes and lemmas glabrous or scabrous
2b. V. microslachys var. paucifloru
2a. Vulpia microslachys var. ciliata (Beal) Lonard
&. Gould, Madrono 22(5):225-226. 1974. Festuca
gray! (Abrams) Piper. F. eastwoodae Piper. Florets
usually 2-4. Glumes ami lemmas sparsely to dense-
ly pubescent.
In loose sandy soils from Washington to Arizona.
California, and northern Baja California. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Reported for Baja California by
Lonard and Gould (1974) and by Wiggins ( 1980:917).
without specific locality.
2b. Vulpia microslachys var. pauciflora (Beal) Lon-
ard & Gould, Madrono 22(5):226-227. 1974. Fes-
tuca refle.xa Buckley. F. pacifica Piper. F. micro-
stachys pauciflora Beal. Florets 1-6.
In sandy, often disturbed sites from British Co-
lumbia and western Montana to Arizona and Baja
California. Baja California Norte: Fairly com-
mon in the NW, from near sea level to over 2300
m in Sierra San Pedro Martir; Cerro Matomi, 1150
m; Islas San Martin, Guadalupe, and Cedros. Baja
California Sur: Reported by Hitchcock ( 1913:378)
from Sierra de la Laguna (Brandegee 2 of 1890).
3. Vulpia bromoides (L.) S. F. Gray, Nat. Arr. Brit.
PI. 2:124. 1821. Festuca hronu>ides L. Culms soli-
tary or loosely tufted, glabrous or minutely sca-
brous-pubescent, mostly 10-50 cm tall. Blades flat
or involute, mostly 0.5-2.5 mm broad. Panicles
contracted, 5-15 cm long, the branches usually
tightly erect-appressed. Spikelets 5-10 mm long ex-
cluding awns, with 4-7 florets. Glumes glabrous,
the first 3.5-5 mm long, the second 4.5-7 mm long.
Lemma of lowermost floret usually 5.5-8 mm long
excluding awn, glabrous to scabrous. Awn of low-
ermost floret 3-12 mm long.
In temperate regions of the world: adventive in
North America, where most frequent in western
USA, mainly on dry disturbed sites, from sea level
to medium elevations. Baja California Norte:
Occasional in the NW, from coast to 2350 m in Sier-
ra San Pedro Martir. Baja California Sur: Cerro
Azufre; Volcan las Tres Virgenes, 1275 m; Cape
region (Todos Santos?; Sierra de la Laguna; La
Chuparosa).
4. Vulpia myuros (L.) C. C. Gmelin, Fl. Bad. 1:8.
1805. Culms slender, usually 10-60 cm tall, gla-
brous. Blades flat or involute, 0.5-3 mm broad,
usually glabrous on abaxial surface and thinly pu-
berulous on adaxial surface. Inflorescence a con-
tracted, often dense panicle or spicate raceme 3-25
cm long, the branches in age often drooping. Spike-
lets 5.5-12 mm long excluding awns, with 3-7 flo-
rets. Glumes glabrous, the first mostly 0.5-2.5 mm
long, the second 2.3-5.5 mm long, at least twice as
long as first. Lemma of lower floret 4.5-7 mm long,
usually scabrous above, with awn 7.5-22 mm long.
I . Lemmas of lower florets glabrous or scabrous on mar-
gins, not ciliate 4a. V. myuros var. myuros
I . Lemmas of lower florets with few to several long cilia on
margins near apex 4b. V. myuros var. hirsuut
4a. Vulpia myuros (L.) C. C. Gmelin var. myuros.
Adventive from Europe and now occasional in
southern USA and in Baja California, along sandy
flats, open fields, and gullies in brushland or open
forest. Baja California Norte: Apparently un-
common, known from only two collections: Canada
el Islay, NW of San Telmo. 80 m (Moran 26803);
Isla Cedros, 1050 m (Moran 10631).
4b. Vulpia myuros var. hirsula Hack., Cat. Gramin.
Portugal 24. 1880. Festuca megalura Nutt. V. meg-
alura (Nutt.) Rydb.
Similar to the typical variety and apparently dif-
fering only in the marginal cilia of the lemmas. Also
adventive from Europe; relatively frequent in sandy
soils along the Pacific Coast from central Alaska to
Baja California. Baja California Norte: Abun-
dant in the NW, from coast to at least 1650 m in
Sierra Juarez and to 2500 m in Sierra San Pedro
Martir; Islas los Coronados, Todos Santos, and
Guadalupe.
12. Festuca L.
1. Fesluca ovina L. Sp. PI. 73. 1753. sheep fescue.
Fig. 15. Perennial with densely tufted slender culms
15-50 cm tall. Leaves mostly basal, glabrous, the
blades filiform, folded or involute, 7-15 cm long,
less than 1 mm broad. Inflorescence contracted. 3-
12 cm long, with erect-appressed or slightly spread-
ing short branches. Spikelets 3-5-flowered. Glumes
unequal, glabrous, narrow. 1-nerved. subulate or
acuminate, the upper 4-6 mm long. Lemmas gla-
brous or finely scabrous above, faintly 5-nerved or
sometimes with only 3 nerves apparent, the low-
Grasses of Baja California
35
Fig. I?. Fcstuca ovma: panicle, florel. From Hitchcock. 1935.
ermost mostly 6-7 mm long excluding awn; awn
scabrous. 2-4 mm long. Paleas as long as lemmas,
scabrous on nerves.
A widespread and variable species, in North
America from the Arctic to the northern USA and
in higher mountains to northern Mexico; also in
Eurasia. Baja California Norte: Sierra San Pe-
dro Martir, 2750-2800 m: Cerro Venado Blanco
(Moian 15639. 15652): Cerro '•2828"" (Moran
15409. 15619).
13. Lolium L.
Annuals and short-lived perennials, with succu-
lent culms and flat or folded blades. Lii^itlc mem-
branous. Inflorescence a spike of several-flowered
spikelets, these borne solitary and oriented edge-
wise at nodes of a continuous rachis. First glume
absent except on terminal spikelet. Second illume
usually large, broad, several-nerved, awnless.
Lemmas 5-9-nerved, rounded on back, awnless or
awned from apex. Paica large, well-developed.
1. Glumes shorter than spikelet \. L. pcrennc
I . Glumes exceeding uppermost floret _ 2. L. temulenlum
1. Lolium perenne L., Sp. PI. 83. 1753. L. multiflo-
riim Lam. ballico ingles, perennial ryegrass.
Fig. 16. Lolium perenne
cock, 1935.
plant, spikelet. floret. From Hitch-
Fig. 16. Tufted short-lived perennial. Culms thick,
succulent, glabrous, erect or decumbent at base,
mostly 25-70 cm tall. Leaves glabrous or scabrous,
dark green. Sheaths often with delicate auricles.
Blades elongate, flat or folded. 2-10 mm broad.
Spikes usually 8-20 (-30) cm long. Spikelets mostly
5-10-flowered. Glumes broad, Vn-Vs as long as
spikelets. with 3-7 strong nerves. Lemmas aver-
aging 4-7 mm long, shorter than glumes, 5-nerved,
the nerves obscure except on margins and at apex.
Tip of lemma awnless or with awns to 8 mm long.
Paleas about as long as lemmas.
Native to temperate Europe and Asia, widely in-
troduced into North America as a lawn and pasture
36
Gould and Moran
grass. Baja California Norte: Occasional weed
in the NW (Tijuana; La Mesa; Rosarito; Sierra
Blanca, 650 m; Rancho San Jose, Sierra San Pedro
Martir, 625 m).
Included in L. perenne as here interpreted are
plants with awned spikelets often referred to L.
multiflorum L.
2. Loliuni temulentum L., Sp. PI. 83. 1753. dar-
nel. Annual with thick weak culms mostly 30-70
cm tall. Leaves glabrous, typically with short
sheath auricles and short lacerate membranous lig-
ule. Blades 2-8 mm broad. Spikes 10-25 cm long,
stiffly erect. Spikelels mostly 5-9-flowered. Glumes
broad. 1.5-2 cm long, 5-13-nerved, acute or round-
ed at apex. Lemmas 4-7 mm long, short-awned,
smooth or scabrous.
Native to Europe; adventive and now widespread
as a weed of fields, roadsides, and ditches, in USA
and occasional in northern Mexico. Baja Califor-
nia Norte: Uncommon or at least seldom collect-
ed, in the NW: Weedy roadside 9 km SE of La
Mision de San Miguel, 250 m {Moran 28344); dis-
turbed sandy area by stream. El Florido, 140 m
(Moran 29563).
14. Poa L.
Low to moderately tall annuals and perennials.
Ligule membranous. Blades flat or folded. Inflo-
rescence an open or contracted panicle, rarely re-
duced to a raceme. Spikelets ovate to oblong, most-
ly 3-7-flowered, disarticulating above glumes and
between florets. Glumes relatively broad, awnless,
the first l(-3)-nerved. the second usually 3-nerved.
Lemma broad, usually 5-nerved, awnless, keeled
or rounded on back and with membranous border.
I. Plants annual.
2. Panicle open, at least the lowermost branches widely
spreading; lemma nerves all equally developed
1. P. annua
1. Panicle contracted, narrow, the branches erect: lem-
ma nerves not equally developed, the midnerve and
marginal nerves much stronger than intermediate
nerves 2. P. bigelovii
1. Plants perennial.
3. Inflorescence branches widely spreading at maturity;
ligules less than 1 mm long 3. P. onullianu
3. Inflorescence branches tightly or loosely erect, not
spreading; ligules 3-7 mm long.
4. Lemmas rather uniformly scabrous, at least below
middle 4. P. scabrctla
4. Lemmas with silky hairs on nerves, at least below
middle 5. P. fcndleriana
I, Poa annua L., Sp. PI. 68. 1753. pasto azul an-
UAL, ANNUAL BLUEGRASS. Tuftcd annual with weak
succulent culms mostly 6-30 cm long. Leaves gla-
brous, bright green. Blades flat, mostly 1.5-3 mm
broad and 2-12 cm long. Panicles mostly 3-8 cm
long, the lower branches tending to be stiffly
spreading and bare of spikelets on lower '/^-'/2.
Lemmas 2.5-3.5 mm long, variously pubescent to
nearly glabrous, the pubescence commonly on mid-
dle and marginal nerves but occasionally on inter-
nerves. Anthers 0.5-1 mm long.
Introduced from Europe and now common
throughout North America as a weed of lawns,
ditches, field borders, and pastures. Baja Califor-
nia Norte: Occasional in the NW, mostly along
streams and ditches and in meadows, from near
coast to 1650 m in Sierra Juarez and 2200 m in Sier-
ra San Pedro Martir: Isia Guadalupe.
2. Poa bigelovii Vasey & Scribn. in Vasey, Grasses
U.S. Descr. Cat. 81. 1885. pasto azul precoz,
BiGELow BLUEGRASS. Tufted annual with weak suc-
culent culms 10^0 (-60) cm tall. Leaves glabrous,
the blades thin, linear, 1-5 mm broad. Panicles
contracted, often interrupted, 2-15 cm long. Spike-
lets (and plants) typically unisexual, the male and
female spikelets similar except for presence of sta-
mens or pistils. Spikelets 5-7 mm long, with 3-5
florets. Lemmas silvery pubescent on midnerve and
marginal nerves, often also pubescent on inter-
nerves below. Anthers less than I mm long.
Utah. Colorado, and Oklahoma, to southern Cal-
ifornia, Texas, and northern Mexico. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Occasional on shaded slopes and
among boulders at edge of desert: Jacume, Sierra
Juarez, 950 m: Paso de San Matias, 1 100 m; El Con-
suelo, 100 m; Sierra San Borja. 250-1200 m. Baja
California Sur: Cerro Azufre, 1650 m; Volcan
las Tres Virgenes, 1 150 m.
3. Poa orcuttiana Vasey, W. Amer. Sci. 3:165.
1887. Strong perennial with few to several culms
from firm tuft or clump of culm bases and basal
leaves. Culms slender, unbranched above base,
mostly 25-70 cm tall. Leaves glabrous, the basal
sheaths thin, papery, shiny. Blades thick, short, flat
or folded, mostly 1-3 mm broad and 2-10 cm long.
Inflorescence open, 4-12 cm long, with spikelets
borne on spreading or often reflexed branches most-
ly 2.5-7 cm long, the branches mostly bare of spike-
lets below middle. Spikelets 5-6 mm long, with 2-
4 florets. Glumes broad, slightly unequal to nearly
equal in length and slightly shorter than lemmas.
Lemmas 3-4.5 mm long, more or less uniformly
puberulent.
Southern California to northern Baja California,
mostly in open woodlands. Baja California
Norte: Sierra San Pedro Martir, 1500-2950 m (Cer-
Grasses of Baja California
37
ro de la Cupula: Vallecitos: El Picacho del Diablo;
La Concepcion; Alto de Corona).
4. Poa scabrella (Thurb.) Benth. ex Vasey. Grasses
U.S. 42. 1883. Perennial with culms mostly 35-80
(-100) cm tall. Culms and leaves glabrous or sca-
brous. Ligulcs 3-7 mm long. Blacks thin, flat or
folded, filiform, often elongate, mostly 2 mm or less
broad. Panicles loosely or tightly contracted, 5-\5
cm long, with 2-6-fiowered spikelets 6-10 mm long.
Glumes glabrous or slightly scabrous. Lemmas 3-
5 mm long, more or less uniformly scabrous or sca-
brous-pubescent to nearly glabrous.
On cliffs and rocky slopes and in open forest, at
low to high elevations, eastern Montana to Colo-
rado. California, and northern Baja California.
Baja California Norte: Occasional in the NW,
from near sea level to ca. 1500 m in Sierra Juarez
and Sierra San Pedro Martir; Isla Guadalupe.
5. Poa fendleriana (Steud.) Vasey, U.S.D.A. Div.
Bot. Bull. 13. pi. 74. 1893. Fig. 17. Tufted perennial
with culms in small to moderately large clumps.
Culms mostly 15-80 cm tall, unbranched above
base. Ligules mostly 2-5 mm long. Blades relative-
ly short and stiff, 1-4 mm broad, usually folded or
involute but occasionally flat. Panicles contracted,
mostly 4-10 cm long, the short erect branches gla-
brous or slightly scabrous. Spikelets 5-10 cm long,
with 3-6 (-8) florets. Glumes thin, broad, subequal,
glabrous. Lemmas 4-5 mm long, moderately
keeled, silky-pubescent on midnerve and marginal
nerves and often rather uniformly pubescent on
midnerves below middle.
Mostly in forested regions, often on open rocky
cliffs and ridges, throughout western USA and to
northern Baja California, Sonora, and Chihuahua.
Baja California Norte: Sierra Juarez. 1400-
1900 m (La Rumorosa: El Progreso; Laguna Han-
son; Cerro Jamau; Cerro Taraizo): Sierra San Pedro
Martir (Canon del Diablo, 1700 m).
Most Baja California plants of P. fendleriana
probably are referable to var. longiligula (Scribn.
6 Will.) Gould, which differs from var. fendleriana
in having ligules 4-7 mm long and blades more fre-
quently flat.
15. Lamarckia Moench
I. Lamarckia aurea Moench, Meth. PI. 201. 1794.
GOLDENTOP. Eig. 18. Tuftcd annual with weak
culms mostly 10^0 cm tall. Leaves thin, glabrous,
the sheaths soon colorless and flattened, the blades
flat or folded, 3-6 (-8) mm broad. Panicle contract-
ed, densely flowered, mostly 4-8 cm long, the
spikelets in peduncled fascicles, the terminal spike-
Fig. 17. Piiu fendleriana: plant, panicle, floret, spikelet with
glumes detached. From Gould. 19.*>1.
let of each fascicle functional, the others neuter.
Functional spikelet with single perfect floret below
and rudimentary floret above on long bristle-like
stipe. Lemmas of perfect floret and of rudimentary
floret each with delicate awn 5-10 mm long. Neuter
spikelets mostly with 3-10 florets, the glumes and
lemmas thin and papery, awnless, light-colored,
bronze or golden tinged.
Native to southern Europe, now a weed from
California to Texas and northern Mexico. B.\ja
California Norte: A rather common weed of
grassy slopes and flats below 500 m in the NW, S
to San Quintin; Islas los Coronados, lodos Santos,
and San Martin.
38
Gould and Moran
Fig. 18, LainurcUa uurea: plant, fertile spikelet, floret. From
Hitchcock. 1935.
16. Briza L.
1. Briza minor L., Sp. PI. 70. 1753. Delicate short-
lived annual with weak culms mostly 15-50 cm tall.
Ligiilcs membranous, 5-10 mm long. Blades thin,
flat, mostly 2-8 mm broad. Panicles 3-5 cm long,
open, freely branched, the spikelets on long spread-
ing capillary pedicels. Spikelets glabrous. 2-6 mm
long and ca. as broad. 3-12-flowered: disarticula-
tion above glumes. Glumes subequal. broad, thin
and papery, rounded on back, 3-9-nerved, spread-
ing at right angles to rachilla. Lemmas similar to
glumes, broader than long, broadly rounded at
apex. Pa'.a short, rounded, with widely spaced
nerves.
Native to Europe; adventive in North America
as a casual weed of roadsides, ditches, and other
areas of disturbed soil in southern and western USA
and northern Mexico. Baja California Norte:
Reported by Wiggins (1980:910) as "rare in fields
and along roads in n". We have seen no specimens.
17. Dactylis L.
1. Dactylis glomerata L., Sp. PI. 71. 1753. Perennial
with densely clumped culms. Li^^ules membranous.
2-5 mm long. Blades elongate, flat. 2-8 mm broad.
Inflorescence a panicle 3-20 cm long, with spikelets
short-pediceled in dense one-sided clusters orglom-
erules at tip of main axis and on a few rather stout
erect or spreading little-branched primary branch-
es. Loner branches often 6-10 cm or more long,
bare of spikelets on lower half. Spikelets mostly 2-
5-flowered. disarticulating above glumes. Glumes
unequal, large, keeled. 1-3-nerved. acute, acumi-
nate, or short-awned. Lemmas mostly 5-8 mm
long. 5-nerved, acuminate or short-awned at tip.
keeled. Paleas slightly shorter than lemmas.
Native to the cooler parts of Europe and Asia,
now widespread as a pasture grass in North Amer-
ica. Ba.)a California: Reported by Wiggins
(1980:913) as "uncommon in B.C."". We have seen
no specimens.
Tribe 7. Aveneae
18. Koeleria Pers.
I. Koeleria pyraniidata (Lam.) Beau v.. Ess. Agrost.
84. 166, 175. 1812. K. cristata Pers. A:. macranthe-
ra (Ledeb.) Spreng. junfgrass. Fig. 19. Tufted pe-
rennial with culms 25-70 cm tall and leaves mainly
in basal clump. Culms usually puberulent in vicinity
of nodes. Ligules membranous, 0.5-1 (-2) mm
long. Blades elongate, 1-4 mm broad, flat, folded.
or involute, glabrous or sparsely hispid. Panicles
contracted, spikelike. 5-15 cm long, with short
erect densely flowered branches, the axis and
branches puberulent. Spikelets 4-5 mm long, 2-6-
flowered, disarticulating above glumes. Glumes
large, thin, acute, scabrous on midnerve, nearly
equal in length, the second obovate and only slight-
ly shorter than lowermost lemma. Lemmas faintly
5-nerved, scabrous on midnerve, scaberulous or
smooth and shiny on back. Paleas hyaline, trans-
lucent and shiny, as large as lemmas.
Widespread in the North Temperate Region;
throughout USA except in the SE, and to central
Mexico, on open or partially shaded slopes at low
to rather high elevations. Baja California
Nortf: Known from rather few places in the NW:
Cerro JesiJs Maria, 535 m; Ejido Mesa Redonda.
380 m; Descanso. ca. 10 m; Sierra San Pedro Mar-
tir. ca. 2500 m (Yerba Buena; Vallecitos; Tasajara).
Grasses of Baja California
39
19. Sphenopholis Scribn.
1. Sphenopholis obtusata (Michx.) Scribn., Rho-
dora 8:144. 1906. zacate de cuna, prairie
WEDGESCALE. Fig. 20. Tuftcd annual with weak
succulent culms mostly 20-80 cm tall. Leaves usu-
ally glabrous, infrequently pubescent. Blades flat,
mostly 2-8 mm broad. Panicles contracted and
densely flowered, mostly 5-20 cm long. Spikelets
awnless, 1.5-5 mm long, with 2-3 florets. Glumes
glabrous or scabrous, the first acute, 1-4 mm long,
1 (rarely 3)-nerved, the second wider and longer,
obovate, 3 (5)-nerved. Lemmas firm, rounded on
back, glabrous or scabrous, faintly 5-nerved.
Widespread in North America, from Canada to
northern Mexico, in semiarid regions along grassy
streambanks, ditches, and other periodically moist
areas. Baja California Norte: Sierra San Pedro
Martir, 1500-1675 m: on shaded rocks by stream
SSE of Potrero de los Encinos (Oak Pasture) (Mor-
on 17947 '4); scarce in wet meadow, Potrero de los
Encinos {Moran 17985); in wet sand near stream,
Cafion del Diablo (Chamheis 581).
Fig. 20. Sphenopholis oblusala: plant, spikelet. From Gould
and Box, 196.";.
20. Trisetum Pers.
1. Trisetum interruptum Buckl. var. californicum
(Vasey) Louis-Marie, Rhodora 30:240. 1929. 7. cal-
ifornicum Vasey. Bull. U.S.D.A. Div. Bot. 12(1):
pi. 46. 1892. Fig. 21. Tufted annual with weak erect
or geniculate-spreading culms 10-45 cm tall.
Shealhs hispid with short spreading hairs. Ligule
a rounded lacerate membrane 1-2 mm long. Blades
thin, flat, 1-4 mm broad, mostly 2-10 cm long. Pan-
icle contracted, mostly 4-12 cm long and 4-15 mm
thick. Spikelets 4-6 mm long excluding awns, 2-3-
flowered. Disarticulation both below glumes and
between florets. Glumes glabrous or scabrous,
about equal in length, the first 3-nerved, the second
broader and 3-5-nerved. Lemmas glabrous, round-
ed on back, minutely rugose, obscurely nerved,
3.5-5 mm long excluding awn, with setaceous api-
cal teeth and loosely twisted and twice-geniculate
awn mostly 5-8 mm long. Paleas hyaline, colorless,
usually % as long as lemmas.
40
Gould and Moran
Fig. 21. Trisetum inwrniptum var. catijornkum: plant, spike-
let, glumes, floret, palea. From the original publication of Vasey.
Trisetum interruptiim is widespread in SW USA.
mostly in low grasslands and along washes and
sandy bottoms. The var. californicum is known
only from the two original collections: it might be
expected to grow in similar habitats. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Northern Lower California (t>/c7//r
1431); San Ramon [W of Villa Guerrero] (Orcutt
1437). The type locality was given as "Lower Cal-
ifornia near the boundary".
21. Avena L.
Annuals and perennials (Baja California species
annual), with thick weak culms, flat succulent
blades and large spikelets on long pedicels in a pan-
icle with erect-spreading or drooping branches.
Ligules membranous. Spikelets usually 2— 4-flow-
ered, disarticulating above glumes and between flo-
rets. Glumes thin, long and broad, several-nerved,
about equal, longer than lower floret. Lemmas firm.
the body often becoming hard, 5-9-nerved, usually
notched and with 2 acuminate teeth at apex, on
either side of stout, usually twisted and geniculate
awn (awn reduced or absent in A. sativa).
1. Lemma glabrous; spikelets usually 2-flowered: awn of
lemma absent or irregularly developed, rarely genicu-
late 2. A. sativu
I . Lemmas with stiff, usually reddish-brown hairs on dorsal
surface; spikelets 2-4-flowered.
2. Teeth of lemmas acute, not setaceous; spikelets with
usually 'i-A florets; pedicels stiff, not capillary
1. A. fauia
2. Teeth of lemmas slender, setaceous; spikelets with
usually 2 florets; pedicels capillary, curving
3. A. barbala
1. Avena fatua L., Sp. PI. 80. 1753. avena sil-
VESTRE, WILD OAT. Fig. 22. Annual with culms
mostly 30-120 cm tall. Sheaths glabrous or hispid.
Ligule 2-4 mm long. Blades elongate mostly 5-12
mm broad, glabrous or hispid. Glumes 7-9-nerved.
Lowermost lemma 1.5-2 cm long.
Native to Europe: now frequent through much of
North America as a weed of roadsides and other
disturbed areas. Baja California Nortf: Fairly
common in the NW below 500 m, though perhaps
less common than A. barbata; making its way south
along highway into desert (El Pedregoso): Islas To-
dos Santos, San Martin, and Cedros.
Palmer 94a (MO), collected on Isla Guadalupe in
1875. is tentatively identified with A. fatua. though
with some characters of A. harhata. More recent
collections from the island are A. harhata.
2. Avena sativa L., Sp. PI. 79. 1753. A. fatua var.
sativu (L.) Hausskn. avena, common oat. Spike-
lets mostly 2-flowered. Lemma glabrous, the awn
straight (rarely geniculate), often irregularly devel-
oped or absent.
Introduced in North America as a cool-season
crop plant, now frequent, but often not persistent,
as a weed of roadsides, field borders, and ditches.
Baja California Norte: Cultivated but not seen
to be adventive: technically outside oatfield fence
but not an honest escape, W of San Vicente, 100 m
(Moran 28599).
Palmer 94 from Isla Guadalupe seems referable
to this species, though the two plants examined
(MO) are atypical in having well-developed genic-
ulate awns and long hairs on the rachilla joints.
Palmer 94a. from the same island is tentatively re-
ferred to A. fatua.
3. Avena barbata Brot., Fl. Lusit. 1:108. 1804.
SLENDER OAT. Similar to A. fatua but pedicels more
slender, spikelets with 2 (occasionally 3) florets.
Grasses of Baju California
41
and lemmas with slender setaceous teeth usually 4
mm or more long.
Native to Europe; now frequent in disturbed sites
on the west coast of USA and Mexico. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Fairly common in the NW below
700 m on grassy slopes and roadsides; Islas los Co-
ronados and Guadalupe.
22. Aira L.
1. Aira caryophyllea L., Sp. PI. 66. 1753. hair-
grass. Delicate tufted annual with culms 10-30 cm
tall. Leaves thin, filiform, mostly basal. Inflores-
cence a delicate open panicle with 2-flowered spike-
lets borne at and near tips of capillary branchiets
and on capillary pedicels. Disarticulation above
glumes and between florets. Spikelets silvery, shin-
ing, about 3 mm long. Glumes subequal, 1 -nerved
or obscurely 3-nerved, membranous. Lemmas firm,
rounded on back, tapering to 2 slender teeth at
ape.x; lemmas of both florets usually with twisted
geniculate awn about 4 mm long attached below
middle of back.
Native to Europe, now widely distributed at low
to moderately high elevations in North America.
Baja California Norte: Wiggins (1980:897) re-
ported this grass "on grassy flats and slopes and
along roadsides, nw B.C."" We have seen no spec-
imens.
23. Deschampsia Beau v.
Annuals and perennials with slender culms and
open or contracted panicles of relatively small
spikelets. Ligitles membranous, 4-8 mm long.
Spikelets 2-flowered, disarticulating above glumes
and between florets. Rachilla long-hairy. Glumes
lanceolate, equal or nearly equal, longer than lower
floret. Lemmas firm, shiny, inconspicuously nerved,
rounded on back, 2-toothed at apex, bearing fine
dorsal awn below middle.
1. Plants annual, inconspicuously leafy; awns geniculate;
panicle typically open, with long slender branches
I. /). clanlhiinioidcs
1. Plants perennial, the culms usually in clumps and con-
spicuously leafy below; awns straight (rarely slightly
geniculate in /). cuespilosu).
2. Panicles typically open, with long capillary spreading
branches; panicles not more than '4 the length of
flowering culm 2. I). cucspiiDsu
2. Panicles typically contracted, the branches appressed
or only slightly spreading; panicles about ' t the
length of flowering culm 'i. D. clcn^aui
1. Deschampsia danthonioides (Trin.) Munro in
Benth., PI. Hartw. 342. 1857. D. gracilis Vasey.
annual HAiRGRASS. Fig. 23. Annual with slender
Fig. 22.
1978.
Arena fatuci: panicle, spikelet. From Gould, 1975.
culms 15-60 cm tall, never densely tufted or con-
spicuously leafy. Leaf blades thin, mostly 1.5 mm
or less broad. Panicles open, 5-12 cm long, with
slender branches bearing spikelets near ends.
Glumes strongly or faintly 3-nerved, 4.5-8 mm
long. Lemmas glabrous, 2-3 mm long, with genic-
ulate awn 4-7 mm long.
Alaska and Montana to Arizona and Baja Cali-
fornia, in moist meadows and in low open areas
subject to occasional flooding; also Chile. Baja
California Nortf: At low elevations in the NW,
commonly in or about vernal pools (Tijuana airport;
Valle Redondo; Valle las Palmas: SE of La Mision;
San Antonio del Mar; Ejido Hmiliano Zapata; Ejido
Papalote; E of El Rosario); moist meadows in Sierra
Juarez to 1700 m (N of Las Juntas; Rancho San
Pedro; Los Pantalones).
42
Gould and Moran
Fig. 23. Di'schanipsia danlhonioides: panicle, glumes, floret.
From Hitchcock, 1935.
2. Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) Beauv., Ess. Agrost.
91, 149, 160. 1812. TUFTED hairgrass. Perennial
with culms in tufts or dense clumps. Culms 50-80
cm tall. Leaves glabrous or scabrous, the blades
firm, folded, or flat, 1.5-4 mm broad. Lif^ules acu-
minate, 4-7 mm long. Paniele 10-25 cm long, with
slender spreading compound branches bare of
spikelets below middle. Glumes ovate or ovate-lan-
ceolate, 4.5-6 mm long, glabrous, 1-nerved (the
second occasionally 3-nerved), ca. as long as spike-
let. Lemmas typically glabrous except for tuft of
short hairs on callus, with straight or twisted rarely
weakly geniculate awn 2-4 mm long arising from
base: lemma of lower floret ca. 3 mm long.
Alaska and Greenland through western and mid-
western USA to California, Arizona, and Baja Cal-
ifornia: also in the Old World: meadows, moist
banks, and seeps, southward at medium to high el-
evations. Baja California Norte: Scarce at edge
of wet meadow. La Grulla, Sierra San Pedro Martir,
2100 m {Moran <& Thome 14492).
3. Deschampsia elongata (Hook.) Munro in Benth.,
PI. Hartw. 342. 1857. slender hairgrass. Densely
tufted perennial with fine and filiform basal leaves.
Culms 25-80 cm tall. Blades seldom more than 1.5
mm broad, those of basal tuft often narrower than
those above. Paniele narrow, 8-30 cm long, with
usually short, erect-appressed or slightly spreading
branches, these moderately if at all rebranched.
Spikelets similar to those of D. eaespitosa but lem-
ma awns typically 5-6 mm long and callus hairs
mostly 1-1 .8 mm long rather than about 1 mm long.
Alaska to Wyoming, New Mexico, California,
and Baja California, mostly in mountain meadows
and seep areas, southward at moderate to high el-
evations. Baja California Norte: Occasional in
damp sand under willows, Rancho el Potrero, Sier-
ra San Pedro Martir. 875 m {Moran '6340).
24. Peyritschia E. Fourn.
1. Peyritschia pringiei (Scribn.) Koch, Taxon 28(1,
2/3):233. 1979. Fig. 24. Slender perennial with
leaves well distributed on culm. Culms mostly 40-
100 cm tall. Li^ules rounded or truncate, the lower
ca. 2 mm long, the upper often longer. Blades lin-
ear, flat or folded, mostly 1-3 mm broad. Inflores-
eence a narrow contracted panicle 8-15 (-20) cm
long and 4-10 mm broad. Spikelets 2-flowered.
Glumes ca. equal, longer than lemmas, scabrous on
midnerve, membranous at acuminate tip. Raehilla
short-pilose between florets. Lemma of lower floret
3-3.5 mm long, narrow, smooth and rounded.
Grasses of Baja California
43
notched at narrow apex, with slender weakly ge-
niculate and twisted awn attached near base and
usually extending 2-3 mm above tip of lemma. Up-
per fiorct awned, similar to lower but slightly small-
er. Anthers 0.6-0.8 mm long.
Rocky exposed slopes and shaded banks at mod-
erately high elevations in western and central Mex-
ico. Baja California Sur: Cape region: La Chu-
parosa (Brandcgee 55).
25. Holcus L.
I. Holcus lanatus L.. Sp. PI. 1048. 1753. Perennial
with thick weak puberulent culms mostly 25-100
cm tall. Sheaths rounded on back, puberulent or
pubescent. Lit^iile a lacerate ciliate membrane 1.5-
3 mm long, continuous with sheath margins. Blades
soft, flat, elongate, mostly 5-10 mm broad, typically
sparsely hispid or hirsute on both sides. Inflores-
cence irregularly contracted, densely flowered, 4-
15 cm long, 1.5-5 cm broad. Spikelets 2-flowered,
4-6 mm long, disarticulating below glumes. Ghimes
subequal, ciliate on midnerve and often scabrous-
hispid on back, the first 1 -nerved, 3^.5 mm long,
the second much broader, 3-nerved. Lower floret
ca. 2 mm long, perfect, with firm smooth shiny awn-
less lemma and palea. Upper floret usually stami-
nate, ca. as long as lower but more slender, the
lemma with short stout hooked yellowish awn from
back near apex.
Adventive from Europe and widespread in USA.
Baja California Norte: Reported by Wiggins
(1980:900) on light sandy or gravelly soil in the NW;
but we have seen no specimens.
26. Dissanthelium Trin.
1. Dissanthelium caiifornicum (Nutt.) Benth. in
Hook, f.. Icon. PI. 14:56. pi. 1375. 1881. Stenochloa
californica Nutt. Fig. 25. Low annual with decum-
bent-spreading culms. Leaf blades flat, mostly 2-4
mm broad and 10-15 cm long. Inflorescence a nar-
row but loose panicle 10-15 cm long, the panicle
branches short and more or less fascicled. Spikelets
awnless, mostly 2-flowered. Glumes thin, acumin-
ate, nearly equal, 3-4 mm long, the first l-nerved,
the second 3-nerved. Lemmas laterally com-
pressed, pubescent. 3-nerved, about 2 mm long.
Endemic to Santa Catalina and San Clemente Is-
lands, California, and Isla Guadalupe, Baja Califor-
nia: collected only once on each island and very
likely now extinct. Baja California Nortf: Isla
Guadalupe "on warm rocky slopes in the middle of
the island; not very abundant; very succulent, and
0
il
Fig. 24. Peyriischiu pringlei: panicle, spikelet, florets. From
PohL 1980.
the goats are very fond of it" (Dr. Edward Palmer,
quoted by Watson, 1876:120).
27. Calamagrostis Adans.
1. Calamagrostis densa Vasey, Bot. Gaz. 16:147.
1891. Rhizomatous perennial with tufted stout
culms ca. 1 m tall. Sheaths glabrous or scabrous.
Ligules 3-5 mm long. Blades flat or subinvolute,
scabrous, 15-25 cm long, 3-8 mm wide. Inflores-
cence a spicate panicle 10-15 cm long. Spikelets
1-flowered; rachilla disarticulating above glumes,
extending as bristle behind palea. Glumes ca.
equal, 4.5-5 mm long, acute, awnless, scaberulous.
Lenuna 3.5^ mm long, with slender awn from near
base, often exserted sidewards.
Previously known only from dry slopes at 100-
1400 m in Orange and San Diego Cos., California.
Baja California Norm: Reported by Wiggins
(1980:888) from "foothills and mountains of n
B.C.". We have seen no specimens.
28. Agrostis L.
Annuals and perennials, several with rhizomes.
Ligules membranous, often long. Blades flat or in-
volute. Inflorescence an open or contracted pani-
44
Gould and Moran
n-
■^
w;
Fig. 25. Dissanlheliiim calijorniciim:
Hitchcock, 1935.
plant, spikelet. From
cle. Spikelets small, one-flowered, disarticulating
above glumes (except in A. seiniverticillata).
Glumes thin, lanceolate, acute to acuminate, nearly
equal, usually much longer than floret. Lemmas
thin, 3- or 5-nerved, awnless or awned from middle
or below. Paleas present or absent.
1. Paleas present. I mm or more long; plants usually rhi-
zomatous or sloloniferous.
2. Panicle branches in dense verticils, the panicle con-
tracted and densely flowered; glumes 2 mm or less
long; plants usually with creeping stolons
I. A. semivertiiillala
2. Panicle branches not in dense verticils, the panicle
contracted but usually not densely flowered;
glumes, at least some, more than 2 mm long; plants
usually with both stolons and rhizomes „
2. A. sloloniferci var. palustris
1. Paleas absent or 0.5 mm or less long.
3. Plants annual; lemma awn usually 3.5-6 mm long.
conspicuously exserted; about vernal pools
3. A. microphyUu
3. Plants perennial; lemma awn mostly less than 3 mm
long, inconspicuous, or awn lacking.
4. Anthers 1.1-1.6 mm long; lemmas mostly awned,
the awn from well below middle; rhizomes often
present 4. A. diegocnsis
4. Anthers 0.3-0.6 mm long; lemmas commonly awn-
less, or awn from middle or above; rhizomes and
stolons absent.
5. Panicle narrow, rather dense, some branches of
each fascicle with spikelets nearly to base
5. A. exanila
5. Panicle open, often diffuse, the branches cap-
illary, with spikelets only above middle
6. A. scahra
1. Agrostis semiverticillata (Forssk.) Christ., Dansk.
Bot. Arkiv. 4:12. 1922. A. verticillata Vill. Poly-
poi^'on semiveiiicilUita (Forssk.) Hylander. casti-
LLiTos DE AGUA, WATER BENTGRASS. Tuftcd pe-
rennial with thick succulent culms usually
decumbent or stoloniferous below. Erect part of
culms mostly 10-50 (-70) cm long. Ligules 2-7 mm
long. Blades thin, 2-8 mm broad, usually less than
12 cm long but occasionally longer. Panicles dense-
ly flowered, contracted and lobed, 4-12 cm long, 1-
3 cm thick. Panicle branches short, spikelet-bear-
ing to base. Spikelets 1.3-2 (-2.5) mm long. Lem-
mas 0.9-1.5 mm long, thin, hyaline and shiny, awn-
less. Anthers 0.4-0.7 mm long.
Adventive from the Old World; now occasional
through much of western North America, in moist
soil of streambanks, ditches, and swales. Baja
California Norte: Fairly common in the NW,
from coast to Sierra Juarez and to 2200 m in Sierra
San Pedro Martir; Isia Cedros, 10-600 m.
This is the only species of Agrostis in which the
spikelet disarticulates below the glumes. It has
often been placed in Polypogon. as P. semiverti-
cillata (Forssk.) Hylander.
Grasses of Baja California
45
2. Agrostis stolonifera L. var. palustris (Huds.)
Farw.. Rep. Mich. Acad. Sci. 21:351. 1920. creep-
ing BHNTGRASS. Mat- Of turt-fomiing perennial with
culms typically 8-40 cm tall from decumbent or sto-
loniferous base. Lii^uU's 1-6 mm long. Blades flat,
1-5 mm broad, seldom over 10 cm long. Panicles
contracted, 2-15 cm long, 0.5-2.5 cm broad, open
at anthesis and then contracting. Glumes 2-3 mm
long, 1 -nerved, scabrous on nerve near tip. Lem-
mas %-% as long as glumes, 3-5-nerved, minutely
hairy at base. Paleas about V^ as long as lemmas.
Anthers 1-1.5 mm long.
Native to Europe and temperate Asia: now well
established in both eastern and western North
America, in seeps and moist ditches and meadows.
Baja California Norte: Apparently uncommon:
Playas de Tijuana, 10 m [Moran 18544): La Grulla.
Sierra San Pedro Martir, 2100 m (Moran ct Thome
14466); Isla Cedros, 10 m {Moran 15159).
3. Agrostis microphylla Steud., Syn. PI. Glum.
! : 164. 1854. Tufted annual with slender culms 8-40
cm tall. Li^i;nles membranous, fimbriate, to 4 mm
or more long. Blades 2-3 mm broad, mostly 2-15
cm long. Panicles generally 2-8 cm long, contract-
ed and dense. Glumes nearly equal, 3^.5 mm long,
acuminate to awn-tipped. Lemmas 1.7-1.9 mm
long, minutely toothed at apex, with an awn 3.5-6
mm long from about middle or slightly above. Palea
absent.
In moist open habitats at low to high elevations,
Vancouver Island to Baja California. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Guadalupe Ranch (Orcuti in 1886.
cited by Hitchcock, 1913:320); locally common near
vernal pool, mesa north of Cabo Colonet, 75 m
{Moran 28447. 28643).
4. Agrostis diegoensis Vasey, Bull. Torrey Bot.
Club 13:55. 1886. Culms mostly 50-100 cm tall,
curving-erect, mostly in small clumps, commonly
from rhizomes. Ligules 2-3 mm long. Blades usu-
ally 2-6 mm broad, the lowermost flat and lax but
secondary leaves sometimes extremely narrow and
involute. Panicles narrow and contracted, with all
branches short and floriferous to base or with some
branches bare of spikelets on lower Vi or Vs. Spike-
lets 2.5-3 mm long, acuminate. Lemma slightly
shorter than glumes, awnless or with short awn
from below middle.
British Columbia and Montana to California, Ne-
vada, and Baja California, on brushy slopes, in
meadows, and along streams, at low to medium el-
evations. Baja California Norte: Occasional on
shady slopes along NW coast: Arroyo Jatay, 40 m
Fig. 36. Agnislis cxarata: a, leaf sheath, ligule, blade; b. spike-
lets; c. plant; d. upper culm with panicle; e, floret; f. spikelet.
From Mason. 1957.
(Moran 28770): Punta Banda, 350 m {Moran
15921): Arroyo Hediondo, SE of Erendira, 75 m
{Moran 28673): north island, Islas Coronados, 100
m {Moran 8312).
5. Agrostis exarata Trin., Gram. Unifl. 207. 1824.
SPIKE bentgrass. Fig. 26. Perennial with slender
to coarse culms 1-10 dm or more tall, in small to
large clumps, without rhizomes or stolons. Lif^ules
2-6 mm long. Blades long, flat, mostly 2-10 mm
wide, usually scabrous. Panicle 5-30 cm long, nar-
row, often lobed, the short branches floriferous
nearly to base, with short-pediceled spikelets.
Glumes nearly equal, acuminate to awn-tipped,
scabrous at least on keel, in ours mostly 1.2-3.0
mm long. Lemma in ours 0.9-1.9 mm long, com-
monly awnless, sometimes short-awned above mid-
dle. Palea minute or absent. Anthers in ours 0.3-
0.5 mm long.
46
Gould and Moran
Alaska to Nebraska, Texas, and Mexico, mostly
in wet places, often in partial shade; southward
mostly at middle and high elevations. In Baja Cal-
ifornia in meadows and arroyo beds. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Tijuana, Stokes in 1895: Sierra Jua-
rez, 1250-1300 m (Agua Hechicera; San Faustino);
Sierra San Pedro Martir, 1600-2550 m [e.g. Canon
del Diablo; Los Llanitos; Rancho San Pedro Martir;
Potrero de los Encinos; La Grulla). Baja Califor-
nia Sur: Cape region: La Chuparosa, 1800 m, Car-
ter & Ferris s.n.
In the variable A. exarata we include plants with
slender culms 1—4 dm tall, leaves to 10 cm long but
less than 1 mm wide, panicles 3-13 cm long and 2-
5 mm thick, and spikelets mostly 1.5-2 mm long.
These grow in dry meadows at 2200-2500 m in the
Sierra San Pedro Martir: e.g. W. of Vallecitos,
Morctn 15395: Verba Buena, Moran & Thome
14157: NW of Los Llanitos, Moran 28010. The
spikelets are much smaller than described for A.
exarata to the north: glume length for the species
is often put at 2.5—4 mm, following Hitchcock (e.g.
1935«: 335). Collections of A. exarata from wetter
places in the Sierra {e.g. by small stream. Verba
Buena, Moran & Thome 14218) have culms to 9
dm tall, leaves to 6 mm wide, and spikelets mostly
2-3 mm long. In all Baja California specimens now
at hand, as in many from farther north, spikelets
measure small, mostly less than 3 mm long.
Although some specimens of the dry-meadow
plant have been identified with A. hlasdalei
Hitchc, of the north coast of California, they differ
from A. hlasdalei in their taller and strictly erect
culms, longer leaf blades and ligules, longer panicle,
smaller and less scabrous spikelets, and usually if
not always awnless lemmas. Rather, they seem
clearly to be a small form of A. exarata and con-
nected by intermediates with larger forms.
6. Agrostis scabra Willd., Sp. PI. 1:370. 1797.
ROUGH bentgrass. Tufted perennial without rhi-
zomes or stolons. Culms slender, erect, 30-60
(-80) cm tall. Ligules 2-6 mm long. Blades thin,
flat, mostly 0.5-3 (^) mm broad. Panicles loose
and open, 7-30 (^0) cm long, with long flexuous
branches bearing spikelets only near tips. Spikelets
2-2.8 (-3.2) mm long. Glumes nearly equal, acute
or acuminate, scabrous on single nerve. Lemmas
awnless, slightly shorter than glumes. Paleas ab-
sent. Anthers about 0.6 mm long.
Widespread in North America, from Canada to
central Mexico, on moist banks and in moist mead-
ows, southward at intermediate to high elevations.
Baja California Norte: Sierra Juarez (Laguna
Hanson); Sierra San Pedro Martir, mostly 2100-
2550 m, rarely to 875 m (Verba Buena; Vallecitos;
Los Llanitos; La Grulla; Rancho el Potrero).
Wiggins (1980:883) reported Agrostis tandilensis
(Kuntze) Parodi from "beds and margins of vernal
pools, vicinity of San Agustin"". This is described
as annual, with obvious palea and with pilose deep-
ly bifid lemmas 2.5-3 mm long having awns 5-6 mm
long. The distribution is reported as San Diego and
Solano Counties, California, Baja California, and
Argentina.
29. Alopecurus L.
Tufted annuals (ours) and perennials, a few rhi-
zomatous, with flat blades and contracted cylindri-
cal panicles of 1-flowered spikelets. Disarticulation
below glumes, the spikelets falling entire. Glumes
equal, awnless, usually united on lower margins,
ciliate on keel. Lemmas about as long as glumes,
firm, 5-nerved, obtuse, awned on back below mid-
dle.
1. Spikelet 3-3.5 mm long; panicle dense I. A. howetlii
\. Spikelets 4-5 mm long; panicles relatively loose
- 2. A. .'iacciitu.'i
1. Alopecurus howellii Vasey, Bull. Torrey Bot.
Club 15:12. 1888. A. califomicus Vasey. Fig. 27.
Tufted annual with glabrous culms 15-50 cm tall.
Leaves glabrous or scabrous. Ligules membra-
nous, 2 mm or more long, the margins continuous
downward with sheath margins. Upper sheaths
often inflated and enclosing basal part of inflores-
cence. Blades soft, flat, 1-3 (-4) mm broad. Panicle
tightly contracted, mostly 2-6 cm long and 4-7 mm
thick. Glumes abruptly pointed, 3-3.5 mm long,
with long hairs on keel and short soft appressed
hairs on lateral nerves. Lemmas glabrous, with ge-
niculate awn 3-6 mm long attached near base.
In moist ditches and depressions, Oregon to Baja
California. Baja California Norte: Occasional
in vernal pools: mesa SE of La Mision, 260 m
(Moran 28408. 29577): mesa N of Cabo Colonet, 80
m {Moran 28437, 28443): San Quintin {Orcutt
1438).
2. Alopecurus saccatus Vasey, Bot. Gaz. 6:290.
1881. Tufted annual with culms 10-25 cm tall. Pan-
icle 2-4 cm long, less dense. Spikelets 4-5 mm long.
Lemmas with awns 5-8 mm long.
Wet places, Washington to California. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Reported by Wiggins (1980:885)
from "mud flats and along waterways, vicinity of
Grasses of Baja California
47
San Quintin". We have seen no specimens. How-
ever, A. howi'llii appears very close to A. Miccciiits.
and possibly it is not distinct.
30. Polypogon Desf.
Low to moderately tall annuals and perennials
with usually weak geniculate culms that freely
branch and root at lower nodes. Lii^ulcs membra-
nous. Blades thin and flat. Inflorescence a dense
contracted panicle of small spikelets. Spikelets one-
flowered, disarticulating below glumes. Glumes
about equal, abruptly awned. Lenuna much shorter
than glumes, awnless or with delicate awn.
1. Awn of glume usually 5-10 mm long, conspicuous; an-
nual with uniformly dense panicles _..
I. P. monspeliensis
I. Awn of glume usually 2-^ mm long, inconspicuous; pe-
rennial with typically lobed and interrupted panicles.
2. Ligules 2-5 mm long, longer than wide; awns stiff and
straight 2. H. inlerrupliis
2. Ligules mostly less than 2 mm long and wider than
long; awns delicate, flexuous 3. F. auslralis
1. Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf., Fl. Atlant.
1:67. 1798. rabbh foot grass. Fig. 28. Low annual
with glabrous or scabrous herbage. Culms thick and
succulent, mostly 8-70 cm or more long. Ligules
4-10 mm long. Blades mostly 2-8 mm broad, short
or long. Inflorescence 2-15 cm or more long, 1-2.5
cm broad, bristly with yellowish awns. Glumes
thin, scabrous-pubescent, narrow, the body 1.5-2
mm long, usually minutely lobed at apex. Lemma
and palea thin and hyaline; lemma usually with del-
icate deciduous awn about 1 mm long. Caryopsis
brownish, minutely rugose, 1 mm or less long.
Native to Europe; adventive in North America
and now widespread from Canada to Mexico, grow-
ing in moist swales and ditches and along streams,
usually in sandy soils. Baja California Norte:
Common in the NW, from coast to 1600 m in Sierra
Juarez and to 2500 m in Sierra San Pedro Martir,
S to San Quintin: Islas los Coronados, Todos San-
tos. Guadalupe, and Cedros.
2. Polypogon interruptus H.B.K., Nov. Gen. Sp.
1:134. 1816. DITCH polypogon. Similar to P. mon-
speliensis but perennial and usually with more
lobed and interrupted panicles, slightly longer
glume body (2-3 mm long), and shorter glume
awns.
Western North America from British Columbia
to Mexico, and in southern South America, in moist
sandy soil. Baja California Nortl: Occasional
along streams in the NW, from coast (S of Rosarito;
Fig. 27. Alopeciiru.\ howi'llii: plant, spikelet, floret. From
U.S.D.A. Div. Bot. Bull. No. 13.
48
Gould and Moran
Fig. 28. Pohpiigoii inonspctiensis: plant, glumes, floret. From
Hitchcock, 1935.
Erendira) to 1500 m in Sierra San Pedro Martir (ex-
mision San Pedro Martir). Baja California Sur:
Rio la Purisima.
3. Polypogon australis Brongn. in Duperrey. Voy.
Monde 2:21. 1829. Perennial with culms mostly 70-
100 cm tall. Ligule often a narrow fringe, seldom
longer than wide or more than 2 mm long. Blades
mostly 5-7 mm broad. Panicle lobed or interrupted,
mostly purplish, lax. mostly 8-15 cm long. Glumes
ca. 3 mm long, the awn flexuous, delicate, 4-6 mm
long. Lemma ca. % as long as glumes, with awn
ca. 3 mm long.
Native to Argentina and Chile; introduced in Cal-
ifornia and Baja California, where it grows in mar-
shy ground or shallow water (Rubtzoff, 1961:166).
Baja California Norte: Isla Cedros {Mason
2016).
31. Fhalaris L.
Annuals and perennials, the annuals with weak
succulent culms. Leaves generally glabrous, with
membranous ligules and flat blades. Inflorescence
a cylindrical, tightly contracted panicle. Spikelets
awnless, laterally compressed, with large glumes,
single perfect floret, and (except in P. paradoxa)
one or two scale-like reduced florets below perfect
one: disarticulating above glumes. Lemma of per-
fect floret coriaceous and shiny, permanently en-
closing faintly 2-nerved palea and plump caryopsis.
1. Spikelets deciduous in groups of 6-7, each group con-
sisting of 1 perfect and .'i-6 neuter spikelets; scale-like
reduced florets absent; keel of glumes broadly winged.
the wing with tooth or deep notch near apex
1. P. paradoxa
1. Spikelets not deciduous in groups, every spikelet with
perfect floret; scale-like reduced florets present below
perfect ones; keel of glumes winged or not. the wing
when present only occasionally toothed or notched.
2. Annuals; panicle ovoid to cylindric, not lobed.
3. Keel of glumes not winged ._ -- 5. P. U'mnionii
3. Keel of glumes winged.
4. Reduced florets 2.
5. Lateral nerves of glumes glabrous or sca-
brous, with 5 spicules or fewer; panicle
usually 2-7 cm long; culms mostly 30-70
cm tall 2. P. caroliiiiuna
5. Lateral nerves of glumes scabrous, with 9 or
more spicules; panicle usually 6-15 cm
long; culms mostly 60-150 cm tall _
_ 3. P. anguslala
4. Reduced floret 1; panicle usually 2-6 cm long
4. P. minor
2. Stout rhizomatous perennial; panicle mostly lobed
_ 6. P. arundinacea
1. Fhalaris paradoxa L., Sp. PI. ed. 2, 2:1665. 1763.
hood canarygrass. Culms 30-100 cm tall, genic-
ulate and spreading below and sometimes rooting
at lower nodes. Ligules 4-9 mm long. Blades 4-10
mm broad. Panicles mostly 3-7 cm long, usually
remaining partially enclosed by subtending inflated
sheath. Glumes of perfect spikelets 6-8 mm long,
tapering to stiff awn tip, those of sterile spikelets
smaller. Sterile spikelets near base of panicle tend-
ing to be deformed and greatly reduced. Lemma of
perfect florets ca. 3 mm long, smooth and shiny,
with few hairs at apex or entirely glabrous. Sterile
florets absent or rudimentary.
Native to Europe: established as a weed of dis-
turbed soils at widely scattered places in North and
South America. Baja California Norte: Occa-
sional in roadside ditches and vernal pools below
400 m in the NW, S to Colonet.
2. Fhalaris caroliniana Walt., Fl. Carol. 74. 1788.
CAROLINA canarygrass. Fig. 29. Tufted glabrous
Grasses of Baja California
49
annual with culms mostly 20-70 cm tall. Li^ulcs 3-
5 mm long. Blades 3-10 mm broad. Fanicles 2-7
(-8) cm long and 8-13 mm thick. Glumes 5-6 mm
long, the keels with greenish wing 0.2-0.5 mm
broad. Lemmas 3-4 mm long, shiny, hirsute. Re-
duced florets narrow, somewhat unequal, V3-V2 as
long as lemma and appearing as scales at its base.
Caryopsis 1.7-2 mm long.
Southern USA and northern Mexico, at low ele-
vations in grasslands and open woodlands, often on
disturbed soils. Baja California Norte: Occa-
sional near W coast at N edge of desert (San Quin-
tin, 10 m; Cafiada Pabellon, 100 m; Rancho Are-
noso. 500 m; Mesa San Carlos, 525 m); Isla Guada-
lupe.
3. Phalaris angusta Nees ex Trin., Gram. Icon. 1:
pi. 78. 1827. TIMOTHY CANARVGRASS. Annual with
thick succulent culms and glabrous herbage. Ligule
a broad whitish membrane 3-5 mm long. Blades
flat, mostly 6-18 cm long and 5-12 mm broad. Pan-
icles 6-15 cm long and 8-10 mm thick. Glumes 3.5-
4 mm long, the keel scabrous and narrowly winged
towards apex. Lemma of perfect floret thick, shiny,
ovate-attenuate, hispid, with two subequal scalelike
reduced florets ca. 1 mm long at base.
Mississippi to California and northern Baja Cali-
fornia; also southern South America. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Bank of drying pool in arroyo 4 km
NW of El Dorado, Valle las Palmas, 350 m (Moian
27093).
4. Phalaris minor Retz., Obs. Bot. 3:8. 1783. lit-
TLESEED CANARVGRASS. Tufted annual generally
similar to P. caroliniami but with only 1 scale-like
rudimentary floret below perfect floret.
Scattered throughout North America, introduced
from the Mediterranean region. Baja California
Norte: Weed of grassy slopes, roadside ditches,
and vernal pools, fairly common in the NW below
1400 m. S to San Quintin; Islas Todos Santos and
Guadalupe.
5. Phalaris lemmonii Vasey, Contr. U.S. Natl.
Herb. 3:42. 1892. Tufted annual with culms 30-90
cm tall. Blades 3-9 mm broad. Panicles 5-15 cm
long, subcylindrical, often purplish. Glumes ca. 5
mm long, narrow, scabrous, acuminate, not winged
on keel. Reduced florets 1 or 2, V3 or less as long
as lemma. Lemma lance-ovate, acuminate, 3.5-4
mm long, strigose except at acuminate tip, brown
at maturity.
Moist places at low elevations, California and re-
Fig. 29. Phalaris caroliniana: plant, spikelet, fertile floret with
rudiments at base. From Gould and Box, \9b^.
portedly Baja California. Baja California Norte:
Reported by Wiggins (1980:930) from "Creosote
Bush Scrub of higher desert areas, upward into
Mixed Evergreen Forest, Sierra Juarez". We have
seen no specimens.
6. Phalaris arundinacea L., Sp. PI. 55. 1753. reed
CANARVGRASS. Stout perennial with creeping rhi-
zomes and glabrous culms erect to 1.5 m. Ligules
5-8 mm long. Blades 6-15 mm broad. Panicles 5-
20 cm long, with branches to 5 cm long spreading
at anthesis. Glumes 4.5-6 mm long, the keel not or
scarcely winged, scabrous. Lemmas 3—4 mm long,
shiny, somewhat appressed-hairy. Reduced florets
ca. I mm long, villous.
50
Gould and Moran
Fig. 30. Gaslridium ventricosum: plant, glumes, floret. From
Hitchcock. 1935.
In marshes and wet meadows and along ditch and
stream banks, Alaska and Newfoundland to central
California, northern Baja California, northern Ari-
zona, Oklahoma, and North Carolina; also Eurasia.
Sometimes planted for ornament or forage. Baja
California Norte: In dense growth of Eleocha-
ris macrostachya, wet ground at edge of natural pond
2 km SE of San Faustino, Sierra Juarez, 1290 m,
Moran 29655. 29719.
32. Gastridium Beauv.
1. Gastridium ventricosum (Gouan) Schinz &
Thell., Vierteljahrssch. Natur. Ges. Zurich 58:39.
1913. nitgrass. Fig. 30. Tufted annual with weak
succulent culms. Ligule membranous, 3-4 mm
long. Blades thin, flat, mostly 2-6 mm broad and
3-10 cm long. Panicles dense, contracted, 5-8 cm
long. Spikelets small, 1 -flowered, disarticulating
above glumes. Glumes narrow, 1 -nerved, the first
3-5 mm long (excluding awn when present), the
second ca. >4 as long as first, both usually tapering
to stout straight awn tip. Lemma anil palea ca. 1
mm long, thin, hyaline, the lemma appressed-his-
pid, indistinctly nerved, with straight or geniculate
awn 4-5 mm long from just below apex.
Native to the Mediterranean region; now widely
scattered in USA and into Baja California. Baja
California Norte: Weed of fields, grassy slopes,
and arroyo beds, fairly common in the NW below
1000 m, S to San Telmo.
Tribe 8. Triticeae
33. Hordeum L.
Annuals and perennials, mostly with thick weak
culms and thin flat blades. Litanies membranous.
Blade auricles often present. Inflorescence a spi-
cate raceme with 3 spikelets at each node, the lat-
eral ones usually pediceled and staminate or sterile,
the axis disarticulating at nodes at maturity (except
in H. vulgare), the short internodes falling with
spikelets attached. Spikelets 1 -flowered, the lateral
often represented by glumes only. Glumes narrow,
usually awned. Lemmas rounded on back, 5-nerved,
usually obscurely so, usually with stout or slender
awn from apex.
1. Glumes not ciliate.
2. Lemma awn of central spikelet 2-7 mm long.
3. Inner glumes of lateral spikelets conspicuously
broadened and flattened below; outer glumes se-
taceous; annual I. H. pusilUim
3. Inner glumes of lateral spikelets not conspicuously
broadened and flattened below; all glumes se-
taceous; perennial 2. H. hrachianthcrum
Grasses of Baja California
51
2. Lemma awn of central spikelet more than 10 mm long.
4. Lemma awn of central spikelet 11-22 mm long;
annuals.
5. Lemmas of lateral spikelets awnless; body of
lemma of central spikelet 8-9 mm long
- 4. H. ilcpressum
5. Lemmas of lateral spikelets awned.
6. Body of lemma of central spikelet S-9 mm
long; inflorescence 3-12 cm long .
.1. H . iirizoniviim
6. Body of lemma of central spikelet about .S
mm long; inflorescence 1.5-3 cm long
.*>. H. hyslhx
4. Lemma awn of central spikelet 3.6-l.'> cm or more
long.
7. Lemma awns 3.6-6 (-8) cm long; lateral spike-
lets pediceled; weak perennial
6. H. jiihatum
7. Lemma awns 5-15 cm long; all spikelets sessile;
annual _._ 7. H. vulgare
I. Glumes of central spikelet and inner glumes of lateral
spikelets ciliate with spreading hairs.
8. Inflorescence with 3-5 nodes per cm of rachis; cilia
of rachis 0.1-0.3 mm long 8. H. Icfxninum
8. Inflorescence with 6-8 nodes per cm of rachis; cilia
of rachis 0.25-0.75 mm long 9. H. gUuicum
1. Hordeum pusillum Nutt.. Gen. PI. 1:87. 1818.
LITTLE BARLHY. Fig. 31. Tuftcd annual with culms
mostly 10-40 cm tall. Ligules ca. 0.5 mm long.
Blades glabrous or pubescent, mostly 2-4 (-5) mm
broad, with or without small auricles, htflorcsccnce
mostly 4-8 cm long and 4-8 mm broad excluding
awns. Awns of f^litnu's 7-15 mm long. Lemmas of
lateral spikelets short-awned, irregularly reduced;
lemmas of central spikelets usually 4-6 mm long,
with awn 2-7 mm long. Rachilla extended behind
palea as stout bristle 2-4 mm long.
Widespread in North America, from Canada to
northern Mexico, frequent along roadways, ditch-
es, and other disturbed sites: commonly associated
with Vulpia octoflora on and around anthills. Baja
California Norte: In ditches and in and about
vernal pools below 300 m in the NW (Tijuana, Valle
las Palmas, Rosarito, El Descanso, Colonia Guer-
rero, Erendira, San Quintin); salt flat NW of Punta
Blanca (29°12'N), 5 m.
2. Hordeum brachyantherum Nevski, Trudy Hot.
Inst. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. 1. 2:61. 1936. mead-
ow BARLEY. Tufted perennial without rhizomes or
stolons. Culms mostly 15-70 cm tall. Leaves gla-
brous or lowermost pilose. Blades linear, 3-8 mm
broad, the auricles absent or vestigial, fnflores-
cence similar to that of H. pusillum but none of
glumes broadened at base and florets of lateral
spikelets often entirely reduced.
Widespread in cooler parts of North America,
ranging southward in the western mountains to'Baja
California. Baja California Norte: Fairly com-
Fig. 31. Hordeum pusillum: plant, rachis joint with spikelet
cluster. From Gould and Box. 1965.
mon in meadow. La Grulla, Sierra San Pedro Mar-
tir, 2200 m (Moran & Thome 14487).
3. Hordeum arizonicum Covas, Madrofio 10:16.
1949. H. adscendens Hitchc. not H.B.K. Annual
with culms 20-60 cm tall. Lower sheaths pubes-
cent; upper sheaths glabrous. Blades 3-5 mm
broad, sparsely pubescent. Inflorescence erect, 3-
12 cm long. Lemma of central spikelet 8-9 mm
long, with awn 15-22 mm long. Lateral florets re-
duced to short-awned lemma, the outer glume
slightly dilated.
Arizona to southern California and northern
Mexico. Baja California Norte: Reported by
Wiggins (1980:926) from "irrigated fields and along
ditches. Imperial Co., California, and adjacent ne
B.C.". We have seen no specimens.
4. Hordeum depressum (Scribn. & Sm.) Rydb.,
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 36:539. 1909. //. nodosum
52
Gould and Moran
var. depressum Scribn. & Sm. Tufted annual with
culms usually geniculate-spreading below, 6-45 cm
long. Upper sheaths often inflated. Blades mostly
5 cm or less long, 2-^ mm broad, lacking auricles.
Inflorescence erect, 4-7 cm long. Lemma of central
spikelet 7-8 mm long, nearly terete, with awn about
10 mm long. Glume awns of central and lateral
spikelets all about 2 cm long. Lemmas of lateral
spikelets awnless.
British Columbia and Idaho to California. Re-
ported by Wiggins (1980:926) from "moist alkaline
depressions and flats, n B.C.". We have seen no
specimens.
5. Hordeum hystrix Roth, Cat. Bot. 1:23. 1797. H.
gussonianiim Pari. Low annual with culms freely
branching and spreading at base. Sheaths and
blades, especially lower ones, often pubescent.
Sheath auricles lacking. Inflorescence erect, 1.5-3
cm long, the rachis usually not breaking easily.
Glumes setaceous, rigid, about 12 mm long. Lem-
ma of central spikelet about 5 mm long, with awn
somewhat longer than glumes. Lateral spikelets re-
duced, short-awned.
Native to Europe: widespread in western and
sporadic in eastern North America as a weed of
disturbed areas. Baja California Norte: Road-
side II km SE of La Mision de San Miguel, 260 m
(Moran 28349); marshy ground N of Las Juntas,
Sierra Juarez, 925 m {Moran 28728).
6. Hordeum jubatum L., Sp. PI. 85. 1753. foxtail
BARLEY. Tufted short-lived perennial, often ap-
pearing annual. Culms mostly 25-60 cm tall, erect
or geniculate-spreading. Leaf blades glabrous or
lowermost finely hairy. Inflorescence 5-10 cm long
and about 1 cm broad, pale green or reddish, con-
spicuously bristly with long slender spreading
awns. Lateral spikelets greatly reduced, often rep-
resented only by slender awn-like scabrous glumes
and short rachilla. Glumes of central spikelet also
awnlike and scabrous, ca. as long as those of the
lateral spikelets. Floret of central spikelet slender
and awned, the lemma body mostly 4-7 mm long,
the awn 3.6-6 (-8) cm long. Rachilla extended as
slender bristle back of palea.
Alaska and Labrador to Mexico, often along
streams, lakes, and moist meadows. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Upper Arroyo Agua Caliente, N of
Cerro Chato, S end of Sierra San Pedro Martir, 1500
m (Moran 11097).
1. Hordeum vulgare L., Sp. PI. 84. 1753. cebada,
barley. Annual with succulent culms to 120 cm
tall. Ligules mostly 1.5-3 mm long. Blades 5-15
mm broad, usually with firm well-developed auri-
cles. Spikes closely flowered, 2-10 cm long exclud-
ing awns, with 3 sessile perfect spikelets at each
node of non-disarticulating rachis. Glumes slightly
flattened and broadened at base, tapering to long or
short awn. Lemmas mostly with body 8-12 mm
long and awn as much as 15 cm long.
An Old World species, now widely cultivated as
a food plant in the cooler parts of the world and
occasional as a temporary weed of roadsides, ditch-
banks, and field borders. In the warmer climates of
southern North America, barley grows as a cool-
season grass. Baja California Norte: Occasion-
al at roadsides in the NW wherever it is grown,
apparently not persisting.
8. Hordeum leporinum Link, Linnaea 9:133. 1835.
H. murinum of Hitchcock (1913), not L. hare bar-
ley. Tufted annual with geniculate-erect culms
mostly 15-60 cm tall. Leaves glabrous or hispid.
Lii^ulcs truncate, about 1 cm long. Blades 3-8 mm
broad, usually with well-developed slender, pointed
auricles. Inflorescence 4-8 cm long and ca. 1 cm
broad excluding awns. Florets of lateral spikelets
usually as large as or larger than those of central
spikelets. Floret of central spikelet borne on elon-
gated rachilla joint. Gliinws with awns mostly 1-
2.5 cm long, the glumes of central spikelet and inner
glumes of lateral spikelets coarsely ciliate and more
or less broadened and flattened below. Body of lem-
ma of central spikelet 6-12 mm long, with awn 1-
4 cm long. Anthers of central floret exserted at an-
thesis.
Native to Europe; now widespread in northern
and western North America, a weed of roadsides,
field borders, vacant lots, and waste places. Baja
California Norte: At low elevations in the NW,
not so common as H. glaucum; Islas los Corona-
dos, Todos Santos, San Martin, and Guadalupe.
9. Hordeum glaucum Steud., Syn. Plant. Glum.
1:352. 1855. H. stehhinsii Covas. glaucous bar-
ley. Generally similar to H. leporinum, differing in
relatively minor morphological characteristics. In
addition to having shorter rachilla joints and thus
more spikelets per cm of rachilla, H. glaucum has
anthers that are included at anthesis.
Native to the Mediterranean region; a widespread
weed in western North America. Baja California
Norte: Common in the NW, from coast to 2200 m
in Sierra San Pedro Martir; S into desert; Islas los
Coronados, Todos Santos, Guadalupe, and Cedros.
Grasses of Baja California
53
34. Elymus L.
Erect perennials, many with rhizomes. Liinilcs
membranous. Blades usually flat, with slender
pointed auricles. Inflorescence a spike, a spicate
raceme, or, in £. conJensatiis. a contracted spike-
like panicle. Spikelets with 2 to several florets.
Glumes variable, narrow and setaceous to broad,
awnless or awned. Lemmas usually 5-7-nerved,
rounded on back, awnless or long-awned. Paleas
about as long as lemmas.
1. Glumes with awns 2-5 cm long.
2. Glumes entire or 2-cleft 1. E. longifolius
2. Glumes cleft into at least 3 divisions 2. E. midiiscius
1. Glumes awnless or with awns to 1 cm long.
3. Spikelets 1-2 per node.
4. Lemmas with awns 1-3 cm long; plants without
rhizomes 3. E. gUuicus
4. Lemmas awnless or with awns less than 5 mm
long; plants with creeping rhizomes
4. E. trilicdiJcs
3. Spikelets 3 to several per node, the nodes often with
combinations of sessile spikelets and spikelets on
short branches 5. E. conJcnsalus
1. Elymus longifolius (J. G. Sm.) Gould, Brittonia
26:60. 1974. Sitanion longifolium J. G. Sm. tri-
GUILLO DESERTICO, LONGLEAF SQUIRRELTAIL.
Short-lived tufted perennial. Culms mostly 25-60
cm tall. Sheaths glabrous or puberulent, those sub-
tending inflorescences inflated. Slender, fragile au-
ricles usually developed at apex of sheath. Ligule
a minute membranous collar. Inflorescence 7-15
cm long, the rachis readily disarticulating at matu-
rity. Spikelets 2-6-flowered. Glumes subulate, sca-
brous, usually l-nerved. Lemmas 7-12 mm long,
glabrous to pubescent, obscurely 3-5-nerved, nar-
rowed to stout awn 5-10 cm long.
Montana and South Dakota to Texas and north-
ern Mexico, in desert and dry mountain habitats.
Baja California Norte: Fairly common in the
NW in higher chaparral and in pine forest: Sierra
Juarez. 1300-1700 m (La Rumorosa, El Mezquite,
Tres Pozos, Laguna Hanson): Cerro Pinon, N of
Alamos, 1200-1450 m; Sierra San Pedro Martir,
1500-2600 m (Cerro Venado Blanco, Verba Buena.
Los Llanitos, Concepcion, La Joya, ex-mision San
Pedro Martir): Cerro Matomi. 1600 m; also Cerro
Potrero (29°49'N), 1400 m.
Sonoran Desert collections of this species were
referred by Swallen (1964:252) and by Wiggins
(1980:929) to Sitanion hystrix (Nutt.) J. G. Sm.; and
plants of SW USA were referred by Gould (1951)
to Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey.
2. Elymus multisetus (J. G. Sm.) Davy, Univ. Calif.
Publ. Bot. 1:57. 1902. Sitanion jubatum J. G. Sm.
Differing from E. longifolius only in the 3-4-cleft
and 3-4-awned glumes; probably not specifically
distinct.
Washington and Idaho to Utah, Arizona, and Cal-
ifornia. Baja California Norje: Reported by
Wiggins (1980:929) from "brushy and rocky slopes,
Sierras Juarez and San Pedro Martir", but we have
seen no specimens.
3. Elymus glaucus Buckl., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia 1862:99. 1862. Tufted perennial with
loosely clumped slender culms mostly 50-100 cm
tall. Blades flat, bluish-green, 4-10 mm broad. In-
florescence slender, 8-20 cm long, with persistent
(not disarticulating) rachis with usually I spikelet at
upper and lower nodes and 2 at middle nodes.
Glumes 3-7-nerved, awnless or with awn to 6 mm
long. Lemmas scabrous, with terminal awn 1-3 cm
long.
Western North America from Alaska to Baja Cal-
ifornia in open woods and meadows and on dry
slopes. Baja California Norte: Apparently un-
common: NE cliffs, Cerro del Coronel, 650 miMor-
an 22451); Sauzal (Orcutt 1427); sandy soil near
stream. La Joya, Sierra San Pedro Martir, 1500 m
(Moran 23315).
4. Elymus triticoides Buckl., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia 1862:99. 1862. Fig. 32. creeping
WILD-RYE. Perennial with erect, slender, glabrous
and usually glaucous culms mostly 40-80 (occa-
sionally 100 or more) cm tall, single or in small clus-
ters from rhizomatous base. Blades usually narrow,
stiff, glaucous. Spikes 6-20 cm long, the spikelets
usually solitary at upper nodes and 2 or occasion-
ally 3 at other nodes, occasionally solitary at all
nodes. Spikelets mostly 10-16 mm long and 4-6-
flowered. Glumes firm, narrow, subulate, variable
in length but about as long as lowermost lemma,
widely separated. Lemnui smooth or slightly sca-
brous, acute or with minute awn tip.
Washington and Montana to Texas and Baja Cal-
ifornia. This is one of few Elymus species to flour-
ish as a weed of city lots and roadsides in western
USA. Baja California Norte: Arroyos along
NW coast (Cantiles; NW of La Mision; S of Boca
La Mision; mesa N of Cabo Colonet): meadows in
Sierra Juarez, 1000-1600 m (Las Juntas; La Hech-
icera; SE of Japa; NE of Ojos Negros; El Topo).
A collection from between Maneadero and San
Carlos hot springs (Beetle M-2845) was identified
by the collector as Agropyron repens (L.) Beau v.
On the TAES specimen the spikelets are all solitary
54
Gould and Moran
Fig. 32. Elymus IrilicoiJcs: a, node with group of spikelets; b.
floret with lemma removed; c. leaf sheath and ligule; d, floret;
e. plant; f. spike. From Mason. 1957.
at the nodes as in most species referred to Ai,'n>-
pyron. However, slender specimens of E. triti-
coides also may have only one spikelet per node,
and we tentatively refer this specimen here.
5. Elymus condensatus Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1:265.
1830. GIANT RYEGRASS. Stout perennial with short
thick rhizomes. Culms in dense clumps, mostly
1.5-3.5 m tall. Blades flat, long, strongly nerved,
mostly 12-30 mm broad. Infloresceiuc a spike or
contracted panicle typically 15-50 cm long and with
short often compound branches in addition to spike-
lets at one to several nodes. Spikelets mostly 10-
15 mm long and 3-6-flowered. Glumes narrow, ta-
pering to sharp point. Lemmas glabrous to strigose,
acute or short-awned.
California and northern Baja California. Baja
California Norte: Fairly common in chaparral
and coastal sage scrub in arroyos and on rocky
slopes below 700 m in the NW, S to San Antonio
del Mar; Islas los Coronados and Todos Santos.
35. Triticum L.
1. Triticum aestivum L., Sp. PI. 85. 1753. trigo,
wheal Annual with thick weak culms mostly 60-
100 cm tall. Sheaths usually with slender auricles
laterally at apex. Lii^ule a truncate membrane most-
ly 1-3 mm long. Blades flat, elongate, 0.7-2 cm
broad. Spikes 5-12 cm long excluding awns when
present, the spikelets solitary at nodes, 2-ranked
and closely imbricated on stout persistent rachis.
Spikelets 10-15 mm long excluding awns, 2-5-flow-
ered. Glumes usually mucronate or awned. Lem-
mas awnless, mucronate, or with stout scabrous
awn to 15 cm or more long. Palea well-developed,
ca. as long as lemmas.
Native to Eurasia; cultivated throughout the
cooler parts of the world and grown as a cool season
grass in subtropical regions. Occasional as a road-
side escape but probably not persisting out of cul-
tivation: hence localities of collection mean little.
Baja California Norte: La Rumorosa; Tecate;
Colonia Guerrero; Islas San Martin and Cedros.
Baja California Sur: 148 km NW of La Paz.
36. Agropyron Gaertn.
Annuals and perennials generally similar to Ely-
mus but artificially separated by the presence of
only one spikelet per node of the inflorescence.
1. Glumes thin, acute to short-awned. -i or more as long
as spikelet; anthers 1-2 mm long _ \. A. Irachycinttum
I. Glumes indurate, obtuse to truncate, half as long as
spikelet; anthers 4-5 mm long 2. A. ctonfuitum
1. Agropyron trachycaulum (Link) Make, Ann.
Rpt. (1930) Natl. Mus. Canada 42. 1932. A. suh-
secundum (Link) Hitchc. Elymus trachycaulus
(Link) Shinners. agropiro, bearded wheat-
grass. Fig. 33. Perennial with slender culms 40-100
cm or more tall in small clumps, developing slender
rhizomes in some habitats. Blades elongate, flat or
folded. 2-6 mm broad. Spikes slender, 4-12 (-20)
cm long, the spikelets rather widely spaced. Spike-
lets mostly 12-20 mm long and 4-6-flowered.
Glumes thin, broad, lanceolate, strongly 5- (3-7-)
nerved, mostly 9-15 mm long, usually tapering to
short awn. Lemmas 8-13 mm long, glabrous, awn-
less or with straight awn to 2 cm long.
Throughout northern and western North Ameri-
ca, ranging south at medium to high elevations to
Arizona, California, and Baja California, on brushy
Grasses of Baja California
55
or forested slopes and in mountain meadows. Baja
California Norte: E of Piedras Gordas, 620 m;
Sierra Juarez (Las Juntas, 900 m): Sierra San Pedro
Martir. 1500-2500 m (Verba Buena; Los Llanitos:
La Grulla: La Vi'bora; La Joya).
2. Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv.. Ess.
Agrost. 102, 146, 180. 1812. Glaucous tufted peren-
nial with stiffly erect culms 0.5-1.5 m tall, lacking
rhizomes. Blades flat to loosely involute, 3-6 mm
wide. Spikes 15-35 cm long; lower internodes much
exceeding spikelets. Spikelets 15-22 mm long, 6-12
flowered. Glumes thick, oblong. 6-10 mm long,
5-9-nerved. Lemmas 8-11 mm long, obtuse to
rounded, awnless.
Native to Europe: adventive in western North
America, where sometimes planted for erosion con-
trol. Baja California Norte: Moist soil near
pond 2 km SE of San Faustino, Sierra Juarez, 1290
m, Monm 29639. 29721.
37. Secale L.
1. Secale cereale L., Sp. PI. 84. 1753. centeno,
RYE. Annual with erect hollow culms 50-120 cm
tall, branching only at base. Sheaths rounded on
back, auriculate or not, glabrous or lower sheaths
hispid. Ligule a ciliate membrane mostly 1-1.5 mm
long. Blades thin, flat, glabrous or hirsute on one
or both surfaces. Inflorescence a dense bilateral
spike mostly 5-12 cm long and ca. 1 cm thick.
Spikelets awned, usually 2-flowered, borne singly
and closely imbricated on flattened rachis. Rachis
densely hairy on margins, continued above upper
floret as short stipe. Disarticulation above glumes.
Glumes subequal, narrow, acute or acuminate, ap-
parently 1-nerved, 6-10 mm long. Lemmas broad,
firm, 5-nerved, sharply ciliate on midnerve and ex-
posed margins, tapering to stout scabrous awn 1.5-
6 cm or more long. Paleas hyaline, ca. as long as
body of lemma, with green nerves.
The rye of commerce, native to Europe, grown
frequently in USA and to a lesser extent in Mexico:
occasional in cereal-growing areas as a roadside es-
cape. Baja California Norte: Sierra Juarez:
roadside near rye field, Agua Hechicera, 1175 m,
Moran 29617; arroyo bank, San Faustino, 1290 m,
Moran 29638.
Tribe 9. Monermeae
38. Parapholis C. E. Hubb.
1. Parapholis incurva (L.) C. E. Hubb., Blumea
Suppl. 3:14. 1946. Pholiurus incurvus (L.) Schinz.
Fig. 33. Af>n>pynin Irachycauliim. From Hitchcock. 1935.
SICKLE GRASS. Fig. 34. Low tufted annual, with
curving-erect much-branched leafy culms terminat-
ing in stiffly curved slender cylindrical spikes.
Culms mostly 5-35 cm long including inflores-
cences. Leaves glabrous. Ligule membranous,
about 1 mm long. Blades thin, weak, soon wither-
ing. 0.5-2 mm broad. Spikes 3-10 cm long, disar-
ticulating at nodes of rachis. Spikelets I-flowered,
solitary at nodes and partially embedded in rachis
joint. Glumes 3-6 mm long, flat, several-nerved,
placed in front of spikelet and appearing as halves
of single glume. Lemmas thin, 1-nerved, awnless,
shorter than glumes.
Native to Europe; now established in USA as a
weed of roadsides, ditches, and other disturbed
soils on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, along the Gulf
of Mexico, and on the California coast. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Abundant locally in sandy to
heavy clay soils below 100 m along NW coast, in
arroyo bottoms, roadside ditches, vernal pools, and
upper salt marsh (N to S of Rosarito; S of Boca la
Mision; Cerro Solo to mesa N of Cabo Colonet).
39. Monerma Beauv.
1. Monerma cylindrica (Willd.) Coss. & Dur., Expl.
Sci. Alger. 2:214. 1855. Fig. 35. Tufted weak-
stemmed annual with culms 25-50 cm tall, freely
branched above. Herhaf^e glabrous. Liiiule mem-
branous, broadly rounded and becoming lacerate in
age, 0.5-1 mm long. Blades thin, flat, mostly 8-15
cm long and 1-3 mm broad. Inflorescence a slender
56
Gould and Moran
-• j\ " ~: J -^ .-^ O- ■ '■ . 1 1' ' . **'
d
Fig. 34. Parapholis incurva: a. erect culm; b, leaf sheath, lig-
ule. blade; c. part of spike; d, plant. From Mason. 1957.
Stiffly erect spike mostly 8-15 cm long, the one-
flowered spikelets single at nodes and partially
sunken in the thick, somewhat fleshy rachis; rachis
disarticulating, each spikelet falling with a section
of it. First glume absent except on terminal spike-
let. Second glume large, firm and several-nerved on
back, thin and membranous on margins, acute at
tip, longer than rachis section to which it is at-
tached, oriented with back away from rachis. Lem-
ma thin, hyaline, 3-nerved, awnless, shorter than
glume. Palea thin and hyaline.
Native to Europe: adventive in southern Califor-
nia and northern Baja California. Baja California
Norte: Abundant locally, often in heavy clay soil,
below 50 m along NW coast, in vacant lots, road-
side ditches, arroyo bottoms, and edge of salt
marsh: San Antonio: Rosarito; S of Boca la Mision;
El Cipres; San Quintin (fide Wiggins 1980:926).
Fig. 35. Miincrma cylindrica: a. leaf sheath, ligule. blade; b.
part of spike; c. spikelet, embedded in rachis; d. plant. From
Mason. 1957.
Subfamily IV. ERAGROSTOIDEAE
Tribe 10. Eragrosteae
40. Eragrostis von Wolf
Annuals and perennials, mostly cespitose but a
few with rhizomes or creeping stolons. Ligule a ring
of hairs. Spikelets awnless, few- to many-flowered,
in open or contracted panicles. Glumes hyaline,
1-nerved. Lemmas 3-nerved, usually disarticulating
with glumes and fruit from rachilla, leaving paleas
attached to rachilla. Grain lenticular to subellip-
soidal or nearly spherical, tapering to apex or tend-
ing to be truncate at both ends.
This treatment is based largely on the concepts
of Eragrostis presented by Stephen Koch in per-
sonal communication to Gould and in his analysis
of the E. pectinacea-pilosa complex of North
America (1974) and by LeRoy Harvey in The
Grasses of Texas (Gould, 1975).
Grasses of Baja California
57
I. Plants perennial.
2. Panicles densely contracted and densely flowered, the
branches appressed, mostly about 5 mm long;
spikelets subsessile, 1.5-2 mm long I. H. spicala
2. Panicles open, with long spreading branches; spike-
lets long pediceled. 4-7 mm long 2. £'. intcnnfilia
I. Plants annual.
3. Paleas coarsely ciliate on nerves A
3. Paleas glabrous or ciliate with hairs less than 0.1 mm
on nerves _ , AA
4. Panicles densely contracted, usually 0.5-1 cm broad,
with short appressed or slightly spreading densely
flowered branches and subsessile spikelets 3. E. ciliuris
4. Panicles narrow but with spreading branches and pedi-
cels, mostly 1-3 cm broad, the branches not densely
flowered, the spikelets on short or long pedicels.
5. Panicle branches viscid; spikelets mostly 3^ mm
long; pedicels mostly much shorter than spikelets;
cilia of palea 0.4-0.8 mm long 4. E. viscosa
5. Panicle branches not viscid; spikelets mostly 1.5-2
mm long; pedicels mostly longer than spikelets; cil-
ia of palea 0.2-0.4 mm long - 5. E. tenellu
AA
6. Plants low, stoloniferous, mat-forming, the erect culms
mostly 5-15 cm tall.
7. Plants dioecious; anthers 1.5-2 mm long .. h. E. replans
1. Plants with perfect flowers; anthers about 0.2 mm
long 7. E. hypnoidcs
6. Plants with culms decumbent or erect at base but never
stoloniferous and mat-forming.
8. Keels of lemmas and lower margins of blades with
crateriform glandular pits; spikelets many-flow-
ered, broadly ovate or oblong, 2-^ mm broad at
maturity 8. E. cilinncnsis
8. Keels of lemmas and lower margins of blades without
glandular pits; spikelets few- to several-flowered.
broad or narrow.
9. Caryopsis pyriform to narrowly ovoid, narrowly
or broadly pointed at base and apex, not con-
spicuously 3-4-angled and not with broad
groove on surface opposite embryo; spikelets
appressed to branchlets or spreading.
10. Spikelets appressed to branchlets, the pedicels
rarely spreading at angle of more than 20
degrees 9. E. pcctimuca
10. Spikelets spreading from branchlets at matu-
rity, the pedicels usually spreading at angle
of more than 20 degrees.
II. First glume usually more than '2 as long
as lowermost lemma; paleas persistent;
spikelets, 1.2-2.5 mm broad; panicle
branches at lower nodes usually 1 or 2.
rarely more 10. E. icphnisuiuhos
1 1 . First glume usually '/i-'/i as long as low-
ermost lemma; paleas deciduous, at
least on some spikelets; spikelets 0.5-
1.1 mm broad; panicle branches at low-
er nodes usually 3 to several 1 1 . E. pilosii
9. Caryopsis broad, 3-sided or 4-sided, abruptly nar-
rowed at both ends and often truncate at ape.x,
with broad groove on side opposite embryo;
spikelets spreading from branchlets at maturity.
12. Spikelets 1.4-2.4 mm broad, ovate in outline
_ 12. E. inc.xicuiia
12. Spikelets 0.8-1.(1 mm broad, oblong
13. E. orculliana
1. Eragrostisspicata Vasey, Bot. Gaz. 16:146. 1891.
SPICATE LOVEGRASS. Perennial with culms 75-100
cm tali. Leaves glabrous, the blades linear, fiat to
involute, 4-8 mm broad. Panicles narrow, dense,
30-35 cm long, 4-5 mm thicic, tiie branches closely
flowered, to ca, 5 mm long, Spikelets subsessile,
1.5-2 mm long, ca. 1 mm broad, 2-3-flowered.
Lemmas greenish-white, ovate, ca. 2 mm long. Pa-
leas ciliolate on keels. Grains narrowly ellipsoidal,
ca. 1 mm long.
Southern Texas, eastern Tamaulipas. and Baja
California Sur. in low open sandy areas. B.aja Cal-
ifornia Sur: Cape region: Known only from the
type collection (Brandegee 10). from San Jose del
Cabo.
2. Eragrostis intermedia Hitchc, J, Wash, Acad,
Sci. 23:450. 1933. plains lovegrass. Fig. 36. Tuft-
ed perennial with slender stiffly erect culms 55-90
cm tall. Sheath pilose at throat. Blades mostly 15-
20 cm or more long and 2-3 mm broad, usually
glabrous except for few hairs about ligule. Panicles
open, usually 20^0 cm long and 15-30 cm broad,
the spikelets widely spaced. Pedicels mostly longer
than spikelets. Spikelets ovate to narrowly lanceo-
late, 4-7 mm long, 5-1 l-f1owered, the rachilla usu-
ally persistent. Lemmas grayish-green, rounded on
back, acute, 1.8-2.2 mm long, Paleas ciliolate on
keels. Grains oblong, ca. 0.8 mm long.
Southwestern Arkansas to Arizona and through
Mexico to Guatemala, on open rocky, clayey, or
sandy slopes. Baja California Norte: Rocky
slopes, often with other perennial grasses, and
sandy arroyo beds: Sierra Juarez, 1000-1700 m
{e.g. Cerro el Topo: N of Laguna Hanson; Cerro
Jamau; SSE of El Rodeo); Sierra San Pedro Martir
{e.g. Arroyo el Picacho, 1500 m; Canon la Provi-
dencia, 580 m; SW of La Grulla. 1850 m; Santa
Rosa, 2050 m). Baja California Sur: Volcan las
Tres Virgenes, 1900 m; Cerro Barranco, Sierra de
Guadalupe. 1 175 m; Sierra de la Laguna,
In E. intermedia we include those Baja California
collections cited by Hitchcock (1913:366) as E. lu-
gens Nees. If E. intermedia is not distinct, as we
suppose it to be, then the older name of /;'. lugens
must be used.
From the Cape region mountains is cited not only
the typical variety of /:'. intermedia but also the var.
oreophila (L. H. Harv.) Witherspoon \E. oreophila
L. H. Harv.|, with reduced panicles, lacking sec-
ondary branches. Harvey (1954:408) cited Brande-
58
Gould and Moran
Fig. 36.
1951.
Eragrostis intermedia: plant, spikelel. From Gould,
gee 28 of 1902, from the Sierra de la Laguna, and
Witherspoon (1977) also mentioned a single Baja
California collection. The variety otherwise is com-
mon about Jacala, Hidalgo, and also occurs in Nue-
vo Leon; and Witherspoon suggested that possibly
it was polyphyletic.
3. Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br. in Tuckey, Narr.
Exp. Congo. 478. 1818. gophertail lovegrass.
Tufted annual with spreading culms mostly 10-50
cm tall. Slu'citlis usually pilose at throat and down
margins. Ligule often not well defined, the blade
usually with few long hairs in ligular area. Blades
flat or folded, 1-3 (—4) mm broad. Inflorescence
contracted, spikelike, densely-flowered, usually in-
terrupted, mostly 3-10 cm long and 5-7 (rarely 10)
mm thick. Spikelets subsessile. on pedicels 0.2-0.6
(-1) mm long, mostly 6-9-flowered and 2-2.5 mm
long. Glumes equal or slightly unequal, shorter than
lemmas. Lemmas averaging 0.9-1.3 mm long, gla-
brous or scabrous. Paleas ciliate with stiff papilla-
based hairs to 0.8 mm long.
Widespread in warm regions of the world, appar-
ently introduced in the Americas. Baja Califor-
nia Sur: Low elevations in Cape region: Miraflores
(Piirpus 291. Jones 24166. Beetle 2581 )\ San Jose
del Cabo {Branch' gee 4).
4. Eragrostis viscosa (Retz.) Trin., Mem. Acad.
Imp. Sci. St. Petersbourg, Ser. 6, Sci. Math. 1:397.
1831. VISCID LOVEGRASS. Tufted shiny-viscid an-
nual with culms 8-50 cm or more tall, a ring of
irregular glands below nodes. Sheaths with de-
pressed glands towards apex and tuft of hairs on
collar. Blades 1-3 mm broad. Panicles commonly
5-15 cm long and 1-3 cm broad, the branches short,
few-flowered, stiffly erect or spreading, these and
axis with few to many shallow crateriform glands.
Spikelets purple-tinged, mostly 5-12-flowered and
3-4 mm long, on pedicels 0.5-3 mm long. Glumes
broad, unequal, the second ca. as long as lemma.
Lemmas averaging 1.3-1.5 mm long, truncate at
apex. Paleas ciliate with stiff spreading white hairs
0.4-0.8 mm long. Grains ellipsoid, shining, about
0.8 mm long.
Mexico and Central America, adventive from
southeastern Asia, a weedy grass of open sandy
soils at low elevations. Baja California Sur:
Punta Conejo; El Coyote; E of La Paz; 40 km SW
of La Paz; N of Santiago; San Jose del Cabo; Cabo
San Lucas; Isla Espiritu Santo.
5. Eragrostis teneila (L.) Beauv. ex R. & S., Syst.
Veg. 2:576. 1817. E. amahilis (L.) Wight & Arn. E.
plumosa (Retz.) Link. Tufted annual with weak
slender culms 10-20 (-35) cm long. Sheaths usually
pubescent on upper margins and with few long hairs
on collar. Ligule minute or absent. Blades thin,
flat, 1-5 mm broad, often with few long hairs just
above ligular area. Inflorescence open but narrow,
mostly 4-9 cm long and 1.5-3 cm broad, with nu-
merous short spreading freely rebranched branch-
es. Pedicels mostly longer than spikelets. Spikelets
usually ca. 2 mm long and 3-8-flowered. Glumes
acute, unequal, the second ca. as long as lowermost
lemma, the first shorter. Lemmas ca. 1 mm long,
glabrous, purplish or silvery and with bright green
nerves. Paleas ciliate with stiff hairs 0.2-0.4 mm
long. Grains 0.5-0.6 mm long, ellipsoid, shining.
Native to the Old World but now widely distrib-
uted in warmer parts of both hemispheres, a weedy
grass of open sandy often disturbed soils. Baja
California Sur: At low elevations along irrigated
fields, ponds, and ditches in Cape region: La Paz;
Valle Perdido; La Ribera; Miraflores; San Jose del
Cabo; Cabo San Lucas.
Brandegee collections from San Jose del Cabo
were reported by Hitchcock (1913:361) as E. plu-
nu>sa.
Grasses of Baja California
59
6. Eragrostis reptans (Michx.) Nees, Agrost. Bras.
514. 1829. Neercigroslis reptans (Michx.) Bush.
CREEPING LOVEGRASS. Mat-forming dioecious an-
nual with stoloniferous much-branched culms, the
erect floriferous tips 5-10 (-20) cm tall including
inflorescence. Culms wiry, many-noded. Sheaths
shorter than culm internodes. Blades flat or folded,
1-5 cm long. 1-2 mm broad, glabrous or pubescent.
Staininate and pistillate infloreseenees similar, cap-
itate, with small cluster of short-pediceled spikelets
on very short axis. Spikelets ovate to linear, vari-
able in size and shape but mostly 0.8-2 cm long and
with 16-40 (-60) florets. Glumes thin, 1-nerved,
unequal, acute. Lemmas thin, strongly 3-nerved,
acute, acuminate or short-awned, glabrous to hir-
sute, usually 2.6-3.3 mm long. Paleas of staminate
spikelets ca. as long as lemmas: paleas of pistillate
spikelets only half as long, persistent, not falling
with lemmas at maturity. Anthers mostly 1.5-2 mm
long. Caryopsis brownish, ca. 0.5 mm long.
Southern USA and northern Mexico, along
shores of streams and lakes, often forming dense
mats on the mud of drying ponds and lake beds.
Baja California Sur: Vicinity of Comondu (Car-
ter 43 19, Carter & Ferris 3427); Llanos de San Julio
(Gentrv 4168): Sierra de la Giganta (Wiiii^ins
15511)'.
Although Gould (1975) followed Nicora (1962) in
recognizing Neeragrostis Bush (1903) with this one
species, we now follow Koch (1978) in returning it
to Eragrostis.
7. Eragrostis hypnoides (Lam.) B.S.P., Prelim. Cat.
N.Y. City. 69. 1888. teal lovegrass. Mat-forming
annual with culms creeping and rooting at lower
nodes, the erect branches 10-15 (-25) cm tall.
Sheaths much shorter than culm internodes, usu-
ally pilose at throat. Blades flat, appressed-pilose,
mostly 0.5-2.5 cm long and 0.5-1.5 mm broad.
Panieles open, few-flowered, 2-5 cm long. Spike-
lets short-pedicellate, lanceolate to narrowly ovate,
5-12 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm broad, 8-22-flowered.
Glumes hyaline, acuminate, the second ca. as long
as lowermost lemma, the first shorter. Lemmas
greenish-white, 1.8-2 mm long, with conspicuous
lateral nerves. Paleas minutely ciliolate on keels.
Grains discoid, ca. 0.6 mm long.
Widespread in the United States and south to
Mexico, the West Indies, and adjacent South Amer-
ica, on the margins and beds of dry or drying lakes
and ponds and on mud and sand bars along streams.
Baja California Sur: Hitchcock (1913:360) re-
ported Brandegee collections from San Gregorio
and Comondu.
8. Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) E. Mosher, Bull. Il-
linois Agr. Exp. Sta. 205:381. 1918. E. megastach-
ya Link, amorseco ciliado, stinkgrass. Annual
with thick weak culms 10-60 cm or more long.
Sheaths rounded, glabrous except for few hairs at
apex. Ligule a ring of soft hairs. Blades thin, flat,
elongate, glabrous, narrow or broad, occasionally
to 8 mm broad. Panieles usually yellowish-green or
grayish-green, variable in size, few- to many-flow-
ered, the relatively large spikelets short pediceled.
Spikelets extremely variable in size but usually 6-
20 mm long, 2^ mm broad, and with 12-40 florets.
Glumes similar to lemmas in texture but smaller,
often with 1-3 glands on keel, early deciduous.
Lemmas acute to obtuse, 2.2-2.8 mm long and ca.
1.2 mm broad, usually glandular-pitted on keel. Pa-
leas ciliolate on keels, persistent.
Native to Europe: now widespread in USA, Mex-
ico, and Central and South America, a weed of
roadsides, ditches, gardens, and waste places that
are periodically moist. In Baja California also in
remote and relatively undisturbed places. Baja
California Norte: Widespread but usually not
common in the NW, from coast to ca. 1500 m in
Sierras Juarez and San Pedro Martir. Baja Cali-
fornia Sur: Widespread and often collected, per-
haps one of the commonest weedy grasses.
Eragrostis cilianensis grows and flowers at any
time of year when sufficient moisture is available.
9. Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees, Fl. Afr.
Austr. 406. 1841. E. diffusa Buckl. Fig. 37. Tufted
annual with erect or geniculate-spreading culms
mostly 20-60 cm tall. Sheaths glabrous except for
few long hairs at apex. Ligule a ring of short soft
hairs. Blades thin, linear, flat to folded, glabrous or
scabrous, 1-4.5 mm broad. Panieles mostly 10-30
cm long, the primary branches spreading. Pedieels
appressed to branches at maturity, rarely spreading
as much as 20 degrees. Spikelets 5-8 mm long, 1-
2 mm broad, 8-15-flowered. Glumes unequal, the
second slightly shorter than lowermost lemma.
Lemmas dark grayish-green to light green, 1.8-2.2
mm long. Paleas hyaline, finely ciliolate on keels,
persistent. Caryopsis pyriform to narrowly ellip-
soidal, without groove opposite embryo, 0.8-1 mm
long.
Georgia and the upper Mississippi Valley to Kan-
sas, Texas, southern California, and northern Mex-
ico, on open well-drained often disturbed sites.
Baja California Nor if: Sierra Juarez: Canada
el Rincon, 1440 m {Moran & Reveal 25185 '/■,); El
Alamito, 1000 m (Moran 18648 '/.,). Sierra San Pedro
Martir: La Encantada, 2200 m (Moran ct Thome
60
Gould and Moran
Fig. 37.
1975.
Eragrostis pcclinacca: panicle, spikelet. From Gould,
14325). Baja California Sur: Many places, from
sea level to 1200 m; e.g. Cerro de la Giganta, Mesa
San Geronimo, San Carlos on Bahia Magdalena,
Insurgentes, La Paz, Todos Santos, San Jose del
Cabo.
We follow Koch (1974) in treating Eragrostis dif-
fusa as a synonym of E. pcctinacca. Hitchcock
(1935«) and Chase (1951) maintained these as sep-
arate species, referring most plants of eastern USA
to E. pectinacca and most plants of western USA
and Mexico to E. diffusa.
10. Eragrostis tephrosanthos Schult., Mant. 2:316.
1824. £. arida Hitchc. Tufted annual with culms
mostly 12-60 (-80) cm tall. Sheaths mostly shorter
than internodes, glabrous except for tufts of long
hairs on margins at apex. Blades thin, soft, gla-
brous, 1-5 mm broad. Panicles ovoid to pyramidal,
diffusely branched at maturity, occasionally with
few glandular pits below lowermost primary
branch. Primary inflorescence branches usually 1
or 2, rarely more, widely or narrowly spreading,
bearing secondary and often tertiary branches.
Pedicels spreading at maturity. Spikelet s 4-10 mm
long, 1.2-2.5 mm broad, with 7-20 florets. First
glume 0.8-1.4 mm long, the second 0,9-1.7 mm
long. Lemmas gray-green or stramineous, often
tinged with purple, the lower ones 1 .2-2. 1 mm long.
Paleas persistent in age. Caryopsis pyriform to nar-
rowly ovoid, not grooved, smooth to finely striate
or reticulate, dark brown, 0.6-1.1 mm long.
Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, through Mex-
ico, Central America, and the Antilles, a weedy
grass of loose disturbed soils, usually below 1500
m. Baja California Norte: Canon del Diablo,
Sierra San Pedro Martir (Chambers 642). Baja
California Sur: Cerro Barranco, Sierra de Gua-
dalupe, 1225 m {Moran 18830): Cerro del Barreno,
Sierra de la Giganta, 1300 m (Carter & Moran
5339).
This species often occurs mixed with E. pecti-
nacea and is very similar, the only known differ-
ence being that shown in the key. Tests have failed
to show evidence of crossing (Koch, 1974).
11. Eragrostis pilosa (L.) Beau v.. Ess. Agrost. 71,
162, 175. 1812. amorseco piloso, india love-
grass. Annual with slender tufted culms 12-60 cm
tall. Sheaths shorter than to about equalling inter-
nodes, pilose with few long hairs laterally on collar.
Ligule a short fringe of hairs. Blades glabrous, flat
to folded, 1-3.5 mm broad. Panicles at maturity
open, 5-20 cm long, with spreading capillary flex-
uous branches to 10 cm long, the primary branches
commonly verticillate, occasionally paired or fas-
cicled at lowermost or next to lowermost node.
Pedicels slender, spreading, mostly 4-10 mm long.
Spikelets 2-10 mm long, 0.9-1.8 mm broad, with
4-17 florets. Glumes membranous, unequal, the
first usually '/4-'/3 as long as and the second ca, as
long as lowermost lemma. Lemmas thin, pale yel-
lowish green or tinged with purple or red, 1.2-1.6
mm long. Paleas ciliolate on keels, usually early-
deciduous. Caryopsis chestnut-brown to yellowish-
brown, ellipsoidal, 0.6-0.8 mm long, slightly flat-
tened laterally.
Adventive from the Old World: now occasional
on disturbed ground from Maine and Florida to Col-
orado, Texas, southern California, and Mexico,
usually at low to moderate elevations. Baja Cali-
fornia Sur: Hitchcock (1913:361) reported Palm-
er, Brandegee, and Purpus collections from Santa
Rosalia, Santa Agueda, Mulege, Vinoramas, Sierra
Grasses of Baja California
61
de la Laguna. El Taste, and San Jose del Cabo; but
no Baja California collections were shown by Koch
(1974), and we have seen none.
12. Eragrostis mexicana (Hornem.) Link, Hort. Be-
rol. 1:190. 1827. E. neomc.xicunu Vasey. E. limhata
Hitchc. Tufted annual with rather weak culms 15-
90 cm tall. Culms glandless or with ring of irregular
glandular pits below upper nodes. Sheaths with or
without small glandular pits, mostly shorter than
internodes, glabrous except for tufts of hairs on
each side of apex and sometimes extending down
margins. Lii>ult' a ring of short soft hairs. Bhutcs
glabrous, most commonly 1-5 mm broad but on ro-
bust plants occasionally to 10 mm. Panicle open,
ovate, with erect-spreading or widely spreading pri-
mary branches, with or without hairs in their axils,
sometimes with glandular pits below lowest nodes;
secondary branches usually developed and tertiary
branches occasional. Branches and pedicels straight
orflexuous, widely spreading at maturity. Spikelets
ovate, with 7-15 florets, 4-7 mm long, 1.4-2.4 mm
broad. First glume 1.3-2.3 mm long, the second
1.5-2.3 mm long. Lemmas gray-green, sometimes
tinged with purple, the lower ones 1 .7-2.2 mm long.
Paleas persistent in age. Caryopsis angular, short
and broad, abruptly narrowed to truncate at both
ends, with broad groove on side opposite embryo,
0.6-1.0 mm long, rather coarsely reticulate on sur-
face, chestnut-brown or pale.
Southern California to Texas and Central Amer-
ica, on dry rocky slopes and in dry washes at low
to intermediate elevations. Baja California Sur:
Reported by Swallen (1964:245) from Sierra San
Francisquito, but we have seen no specimens.
13. Eragrostis orcuttiana Vasey, Contr. U.S. Natl.
Herb. 1:269. 1893. Tufted annual with rather weak
culms to 90 cm tali. Culms glandless or with incom-
plete ring of irregular glandular pits below upper
nodes. Sheaths without glands, shorter than inter-
nodes, glabrous except for tufts of hairs on each
side at apex and occasionally along margins. Ligule
a ring of short soft hairs. Blades glabrous, to 7 mm
wide. Panicle usually without glands, open, ovate,
with erect-spreading to widely divergent primary
branches; secondary branches usually present, ter-
tiary branches occasional. Spikelets oblong, with
5-12 florets, usually 3-9 mm long and 0.8-1.6 mm
wide. First glume 0.8-1.5 mm long, the second 1.0-
2.0 mm long. Lemmas gray-green, the lower 1.4-
2.0 mm long. Paleas persistent in age. Caryopsis
angular, short and broad, abruptly narrowed at both
ends, with broad groove on side opposite embryo,
0.7-0.9 mm long, coarsely reticulate, chestnut-
brown.
Rocky slopes and dry open canyons, southwest-
ern USA and northwest Mexico. Baja California
Sur: Cerro Azufre, 1650 m {Moran 18737); La La-
guna. Sierra de la Laguna {Jones 27588 [MO], Bee-
tle 2476).
Studies in progress by Dr. Stephen Koch suggest
that this may be only a subspecies of the preceding
and, furthermore, that it may be the same as E.
virescens Presl, a South American species.
Wiggins (1980:914) reported Eragrostis oxylepis
(Torr.) Torr. [E. secundijiora ssp. oxylepis (Torr.)
Koch] from "disturbed soil and roadsides, spottily
distributed, San Diego Co., California, and adjacent
B.C.". Otherwise, this grass occurs from eastern
Colorado and Kansas to New Mexico, Texas, and
northern Mexico. Hitchcock (1912:142) reported it
at San Diego from a collection by C. R. Orcutt, and
it is listed in several later works (e.g. Munz, 1959);
but in the absence of later collections. Munz ( 1974)
dropped it from the flora. We have seen no western
collections except for Orcutt's, and both Dr. Koch
and Dr. Harvey have written us they know of none.
41. Tridens R. & S.
1. Tridens muticus (Torr.) Nash in Small, Fl.
Southeast. U.S. 143. 1903. Fig. 38. tridente es-
BELTO, SLIM TRIDENS. Ccspitosc perennial with
stiffly erect culms mostly 20-50 cm tall. Culm
nodes often bearded with soft hairs. Ligule a ciliate
membrane 0.5-1 mm long. Blades 6-25 mm long,
1^ mm broad, usually loosely involute or folded
on drying. Panicles spikelike, tightly contracted,
long and narrow, 7-20 (-25) cm long, 3-8 mm thick.
Spikelets short-pediceled, 8-13 mm long, 5-11-
flowered, usually purple-tinged. Glumes 1 -nerved,
unequal, the second slightly shorter than lowermost
lemma. Lemmas 3.5-5.5 mm long, ciliate on mid-
nerve to about middle and on lateral nerves to well
above middle, obtuse or slightly notched at apex.
Caryopsis oblong, finely reticulate, mostly 2-2.3
mm long.
Nevada and southern Utah to California, Texas,
and northern Mexico, on dry open clayey and rocky
slopes. Baja California Norte: E slope of Sierra
Juarez: Canon Guadalupe, 200 m (Moran 6027):
Canon San Matias, 700 m (Moran 24791).
The two Baja California collections are of the typ-
ical variety, T. muticus var. muticus.
62
Gould and Moran
Fig. 38. Tridens mulicus: plant, spikelet with glumes separate.
From Gould. 1951. 1965.
42. Erioneuron Nash
1 . Erioneuron pulchellum (H.B.K.) Tateoka, Amer.
J. Bot. 48:572. 1961. Tridens pulchellus (H.B.K.)
Hitchc. ZACATE BORREGUERO, FALSO TRIDENTE
BORREGUERO, FLUFFGRASS. Fig. 39. Tufted peren-
nial, frequently appearing annual, often developing
wiry looping stolons. Culms numerous in tuft, 2-15
cm tall. Leaves fascicled at all culm nodes, with
broad short sheaths and short tightly involute acic-
Fig. 39. Erioneuron pulchellum: plant, spikelet. floret. From
Hitchcock. 1935.
ulate blades 1 mm or less broad. Ligule a ciliate
membrane ca. 0.5 mm long. Panicle subcapitate, of
few sessile or short-pediceled spikelets, exceeded
by longer leaves. Spikelets mostly 7-13 mm long,
with 6-12 florets. Glumes 1-nerved, subequal, acu-
minate or short-awned, ca. as long as spikelet.
Lemmas mostly 3-5 mm long densely long-ciliate
on nerves, cleft to just above middle, with stout
awn slightly exceeding apical lobes. Paleas broad,
pubescent between nerves and on margins and pu-
berulent on nerves.
Dry rocky or sandy desert flats, washes, and
rocky slopes, Utah and Nevada to SE California,
Texas, and northern Mexico. Baja California
Norte: In the NW in drier parts of Sierra Juarez
(Cerro Chichi de la India, 1550 m; Agua Flores,
1130 m; Paso San Matias, 1000 m); S in desert to
Sierra San Borja; Islas Angel de la Guarda and San
Lorenzo.
43. Eleusine Gaertn.
1. Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. PI. 1:8.
1788. ZACATE GUACTMA, GoosEGRASS. Fig. 40. Lea-
fy annual with thick succulent spreading-erect
culms mostly 15-70 cm long. Sheaths laterally com-
pres'-°d and sharply keeled, glabrous or hispid on
margins. Ligule a lacerate ciliate membrane ca. 1
mm long. Blades elongate, mostly 3-8 mm broad,
fiat or folded and keeled at base, glabrous or oc-
casionally hispid. Inflorescence with (1-) 2-8
spreading unbranched spicate branches mostly dig-
itate at culm apex but often with 1 or 2 more 1-4
cm below terminal whorl. Inflorescence branches
Grasses of Baja California
63
Fig. 40. Eleitsinv indka: plant, spikelets, floret, seed. From
U.S.D.A. Bull. No. 7.
3-15 cm long, with flattened, winged rachis bearing
two rows of closely imbricated awnless spikelets.
Spikelets 3-6 mm long, 3-6-flowered. Glumes
unequal, acute, the first 1-nerved, the second 3-7-
nerved. Lemmas glabrous or scaberulous, some-
what laterally compressed and keeled, acute or ob-
tuse. Grains 1-2 mm long, plump, rugose, with
transverse ridges.
Adventive from the Old World; now a common
weed in eastern and southern USA and in Mexico,
in moist disturbed soil, especially common along
ditches and in cultivated areas. Baja Calhornia
Norte: Tijuana (Moran 29448). Baja California
Sur: Loreto (Beetle M-2425): El Valle Perdido.
near La Junta (Wiggins I5J61-B); San Jose del
Cabo (Brandegec 6).
Fig. 41. Daclxloitcniuin acuvpliiiiii: plant, spikelet. florets,
glume. From U.S.D.A. Bull. No. 7.
44. Dactylocteniuni Willd.
I. Dactylocteniuni aegyptium (L.) Willd., Enum. PI,
1029. 1809, pata de pollo, Durban crowfoot
GRASS. Fig. 41. Spreading tufted annual with thick
weak culms mostly 10-W)cm tall. Sheaths laterally
compressed and keeled, Ligule a truncate mem-
brane 0.5-1 mm long fringed with hairs ca. as long.
Blades flat or folded, mostly 2-8 mm broad, usually
ciliate and often hispid. Infloreseeiice with 2-h or
more thick digitate spicate branches mostly 1.5-6
cm long, the branch rachis bearing two rows of
tightly compressed pectinately spreading spikelets.
64
Gould and Moran
the rachis tip projecting beyond terminal spikelet as
sharp point 1-7 mm long. Spikclcts mostly 3-4 mm
long, 3-5-flowered, disarticulating between or
above glumes. Glumes firm, keeled, 1-nerved, sub-
equal, ca. as large as lemmas, the first glume acute
or minutely awned, the second usually with short
curved awn. Lcninuis similar to second glume. Pa-
Icas large, with widely separated nerves. Grains
plump, reddish brown, coarsely rugose, transversely
ridged.
Native to the Old World tropics: now frequent in
southern USA, Mexico, Central America, and the
Caribbean, a weed of open disturbed soils. Baja
California Norte: By highway from mainland
Mexico, Presa Rodriguez, SE of Tijuana (Moran
24980). Baja California Sur: Collected many
places, from sea level to 1000 m (e.g. Mulege: Pun-
ta Conejo: La Paz; N of Todos Santos; San Anto-
nio; Migriho; San Jose del Cabo; Cabo San Lucas).
45. Leptochloa Beau v.
Cespitose annuals and perennials with leafy
culms and flat or folded blades. Ligule a glabrous
or ciliate membrane. Inflorescence with few to
many spicate branches scattered along main axis.
Spikelels subsessile or short-pediceled, 2-12-flow-
ered, closely spaced or rather distant on branch
rachis. Glumes thin, 1-nerved (second occasionally
3-nerved), acute, awnless or mucronate; second
usually longer than first. Lemmas 3-nerved, fre-
quently puberulent on nerves. Palea well devel-
oped.
I. Apex of lemma broad and truncate, usually notched and
often mucronate; lowermost lemma 3.5-5 mm long;
perennial _. 1. L. duhia
1 . Apex of lemma broad or narrow, awned or awnless. if
broad and truncate then lemma less than 3 mm long;
annual.
2. Spikelels 1.5-3 mm long; lemmas awnless
2. L. filiformis
2. Spikelets mostly 4-10 mm long.
3. Lemma with awn 0.5-1.5 mm long, body 2-3 mm
long; spikelets mostly 4-5 (-6) mm long; inflo-
rescence branches rarely 3 cm long _ 3. L. viscidu
3. Lemmas awnless or mucronate. or if with slender
awn then lowermost lemma 3-5 mm long; at
least some inflorescence branches more than 3
cm long.
4. Spikelets, at least some, 5.5 mm or more long;
inflorescence branches 5-35 per panicle.
5. Lemma abruptly narrowed to obtuse, trun-
cate, or slightly notched apex, awnless;
nerves often extended into minute mu-
cros; body of lowermost lemma mostly 2-
3 mm long 4. L. iininervia
5. Lemma tapering to more or less notched
apex; awns 0.5-1.0 mm long; body of low-
ermost lemma usually more than 3 mm
long 5. L. fascicularis
4. Spikelets 4-5 mm long; inflorescence branches
40-90 per panicle; lemmas broadly acute,
apiculate. 2-2.8 mm long 6. L. panicoides
1. Leptochloa dubia (H.B."^ ) Nees, Syll. PI. Ra-
tisb. 1:4. 1824. zacatf gigante, green spran-
GLETOP. Perennial to 1 m tall with firm base but
without stolons or rhizomes. Cleistogamous spike-
lels usually present both at base of plant and in axils
of culm leaves. Shealhs glabrous or pilose, the low-
er ones often laterally compressed and keeled. Lig-
ule a ciliate membrane 0.5-1 mm long. Blades
bluish-green, glabrous or pilose, elongate, 2-6 mm
broad. Inflorescence with 2-15 unbranched primary
branches mostly 4-12 cm long, flexuous, loosely
erect or spreading. Spikelets mostly 6-10 mm long
and 3-7-flowered, mostly subsessile and loosely im-
bricated on branches. Glumes variable in length,
acute or acuminate. Lemmas often sparsely stri-
gose-pubescent below. Paleas large, bowed-out in
middle, strigose between nerves.
Oklahoma to Arizona, south through Texas and
Mexico, also reported from Florida and Argentina,
commonly in grassland associations on well-drained
slopes but not infrequent on disturbed soils of ditch-
es, road cuts, and mechanically cleared brushlands.
Baja California Norte: Sierra Juarez (San Pe-
dro); Sierra San Pedro Martir (Arroyo el Picacho,
1625 m; Canon la Providencia, 580 m); N of Punta
Prieta. Baja California Sur: San Ignacio; NW of
Mulege; base of Cerro la Giganta; Loreto; W of La
Paz; San Pedro; San Antonio; Isia Santa Margarita;
Isla San Jose.
2. Leptochloa filiformis (Lam.) Beauv., Ess. Agrost.
71, 161, 166. 1812. DESPARRAMADO ROJO, RED
SPRANGLETOP. Fig. 42. Weedy annual with slender
weak culms mostly 10-50 (-80) cm tall. Leaves
usually papillose-hispid or pilose. Ligule a lacerate,
ciliate membrane 0.5-2 mm long. Blades thin, flat,
linear, 1-10 mm broad. Inflorescence mostly 8-35
cm long, often V2-V2. entire length of culm. Inflo-
rescence branches slender, spreading, mostly 2-8
cm long, single or 2-3 at some nodes, the nodes
rather widely spaced. Spikelets (1-) 2-4-flowered,
rather widely spaced on rachis. Glumes acute, un-
equal, the second usually longer than lower lemma.
Lemmas usually but not always hairy on nerves
below middle, obtuse or truncate at apex. Cary-
opsis ovate or obovate, usually 0.7-0.8 mm long.
Frequent throughout southern USA from coast
to coast and throughout tropical America, a weed
of disturbed soils, in gardens, ditches, and waste
places. Baja California Norte: Sierra Juarez
(Portezuelo de Jamau, 1300 m); Tijuana; Cardenas;
Grasses of Baja California
65
Punta Prieta. Baja California Sur: San Ignacio;
Sierra de la Giganta (Valle de los Encinos, 700 m;
Arroyo Pcloteado. 575 m; Arroyo Tabor. 250 m):
Loreto; La Paz; N of Todos Santos; San Jose del
Cabo.
3. Leptnchloa viscida (Scribn.) Beal, Grasses N.
Am. 2:434. 1896. sticky spranglhtop. Annual
with culms tufted or in rather large clumps, 10-40
(-50) cm tall, usually much-branched and geniculate
below, the herbage and inflorescence axis more or
less viscid. Ligule membranous, glabrous, erose
and truncate at apex, 1-3 mm long. Blades flat,
thin, relatively short and broad, 1.5-4 (-6) mm
wide. Inflorescences contracted, dense. 2-7 (-10)
cm long, terminating main culms and numerous
short lateral branches. Spikclels 4-6 mm long. 4-7
(-8)-flowered. Second glume ca. 2 mm long, the
first shorter. Lemmas 1.5-3 mm long, usually pu-
bescent on nerves at least below, mostly oblong
with rounded, notched apex, the midnerve pro-
longed into straight short awn.
Eastern New Mexico to southern California and
northern Mexico, rather weedy on heavy-soiled
bottomlands and along margins of drying swales, in
Baja California mostly at low elevations. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: El Arco. Baja California Sur:
Cuarenta; Sierra de la Giganta; Medano Blanco;
Santo Domingo; between Villa Constitucion and
San Carlos; El Pilar; N of Todos Santos.
4. Leptochloa uninervia (PresI) Hitchc. & Chase.
Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 18:383. 1917. Mexican
SPRANGLETOP. Annual with coarse succulent culms
50-100 cm tall, usually in rather large clumps. Lon-
er sheaths thin, shiny, usually laterally compressed
and keeled. Ligule s hyaline, 2-6 mm long, lacerate
but not ciliate, with lateral lobes appearing as
sheath auricles. Blades firm, elongate, 2-7 mm
broad, the uppermost often overtopping inflores-
cence. Inflorescence 10-30 cm long with numerous
erect or erect-spreading branches mostly 3-6 cm
long. Spikclets 4-10 mm long, 6-12-flowered, usu-
ally bluish gray at maturity. Glumes unequal, usu-
ally broad, the second mostly 2-2.5 mm long. Lem-
mas pubescent on nerves below, acute, obtuse, or
mucronate at apex, the lateral nerves often pro-
jecting as minute lobes or mucro.
Southern USA and through Mexico and the Ca-
ribbean to Peru and Argentina, mostly in muddy or
wet clayey soils along swales, ponds, and shores of
lakes and streams, in Baja California at low eleva-
tions. Baja California Norte: Common in mud-
dy ditches in the NW, Tijuana to San Quintin; about
Fig. 42. Leptochtoa fiUformis: a, spikelets on rachis; b, seed:
c. leaf sheath and ligule; d, floret; e. plant. From Mason, 1957.
Mexican. Baja California Sur: Mulege; La Pu-
risima; Sierra de la Giganta; E of Insurgentes; El
Pilar; La Paz; San Jose del Cabo.
5. Leptochloa fascicularis (Lam.) A. Gray, Man.
588. 1848. Coarse annua! with moderately branched
somewhat succulent culms in usually rather large
clumps. Culms typically 50-100 cm tall but under
adverse conditions flowering culms sometimes not
over 10-15 cm tall. Lower leaf sheaths usually
keeled and laterally flattened, the upper rounded.
Ligule membranous, well-developed, 2-6 mm long,
lacerate. Blades 2-7 mm broad. Inflorescence with
8-35 stiffly erect or erect-spreading branches scat-
tered on upper 6-25 cm of culm axis, the branches
mostly 4-12 cm long. Spikelets 5-10 cm long, 6-12-
flowered, bluish or grayish at maturity. Glumes un-
equal, broad or narrow, l-nerved, the second glume
usually 3—4.2 mm long with short awn at tip. Lem-
66
Gould and Moran
gentes], 40 m, C. Rodriguez J.
Charlotte Reeder).
1738 (ARIZ fide
Fig. 43. Pereilcma crinilum: panicle, fascicle of spikelets,
glumes and floret. From Pohl, 1980.
mci 3-nerved, ovate to oblong, usually pubescent on
margins and midnerve below middle, acute or acu-
minate and often slightly notched at apex, with ter-
minal awn 0.5-1.5 mm long: lateral nerves often
projecting as minute mucros; body of lower lemma
usually 3-5 mm long.
Widely distributed in USA, to Central and South
America, in muddy or wet clayey soils along lakes,
swales, and shores of sluggish streams. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Reported by Wiggins (1980:907)
from NE Baja California. We have seen no speci-
mens.
6. Leptochloa panicoides (Presl) Hitchc. Amer. J.
Hot. 21:137. 1934. amazon sprangletop. Tufted
annual with stiffly erect rather coarse culms 40-100
cm tall. Sheaths glabrous or scabrous, tightly com-
pressed at base. Blades 6-12 mm wide, flat, sca-
brous on margins. Panicle 12-30 cm long, mostly
4-8 cm broad, with 40-90 crowded ascending
branches 3-6 (-8) cm long. Spikelets pediceled,
4-5 mm long, 5-7-flowered. Glumes acute or acu-
minate, the first narrow, 1-nerved, the second broad-
er, 1-3-nerved, 1.6-2 mm long. Lemmas 2-2.8 mm
long, broadly acute, apiculate, minutely pubescent
on margins at base.
Brazil and Mexico; introduced in south-central
USA. Baja California Sur: Weed in cotton field,
Ejido Ley Federal de Aguas No. 1 [N of Villa Insur-
46. Pereilema Presl
1. Pereilema crinitum Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1:233. pi.
37, fig. a. 1830. Fig. 43. Tufted annual with weak
slender culms 10-50 (-70) cm tall. Sheaths longer
than internodes, with slender ciliate auricles. Lig-
ule a minute lacerate membrane. Blades thin, elon-
gate, scabrous, 2^ mm broad. Panicles dense,
contracted, lobed or interrupted, 3-12 (-15) cm
long, 5-7 mm thick excluding the long crinkly lem-
ma awns. Spikelets 1-flowered, subsessile, in dense
fascicles surrounded by numerous bristles formed
from rudimentary or reduced sterile spikelets.
Glumes equal, 1-nerved, thin, about 1.5 mm long,
minutely lobed and with slender awn between
lobes. Lemmas thin, rounded, scaberulous, slightly
longer than glumes, tapering into flexuous capillary
awn 1.5-3 cm long.
Mexico to Ecuador, on open or brushy slopes, at
moist roadsides, and along shaded cliffs. Baja Cal-
ifornia Sur: Cape region: Sierra San Francisquito
(Brandegee in I89U): La Chuparosa (Brandegee
63); El Taste (Brandegee in 1902). Also reported by
Swallen (1964:255) from Sierra de la Laguna.
47. Lycurus H.B.K.
1. Lycurus phleoides H.B.K. , Nov. Gen. Sp. 1:142.
1815. ZAC ATE LOBERO, woLFTAiL. Fig. 44. Slender
tufted perennial with culms 20-60 cm tall. Leaves
mostly in basal clump. Sheaths laterally com-
pressed, much shorter than internodes. Ligule a
whitish 3-lobed membrane, the acuminate lobes
mostly 3-5 mm long. Blades grayish-green, 0.5-2
(-3) mm broad, usually with whitish midnerve and
margins. Inflorescence a slender tightly contracted
panicle 3-8 (-12) cm long, 5-8 mm thick. Spikelets
1-flowered, short-pediceled, deciduous in pairs with
pedicels. Glumes ca. 2 mm long, the first 2-3-
nerved with 2-3 awns mostly 3-5 mm long, the sec-
ond similar but 1-nerved and 1-awned. Lemmas
3-nerved, 3^ mm long, with single awn 0.5-3 mm
long. Paleas awnless, puberulent, as long as lem-
mas.
Utah and Colorado to Arizona, Texas, and north-
ern Mexico, on plains and rocky slopes. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Sierra Juarez: Cieneguita, 1450 m
( Wiggins 91 51 A): Sierra San Pedro Martir: Arroyo
el Picacho, 1525 m (Moran 24821). 1700 m (Moran
24849): Santa Rosa, 2050 m (Moran & Thome
14402). Baja California Sur: Cape mountains
{Brandegee in 1899): Sierra de la Laguna (Bran-
Grasses of Baja California
67
degec in 1893; reported by Hitchcock. 1913:305, as
L. pluilaioidcs H.B.K.)
48. Muhlenbergia Schreb. ex Gmcl.'
Perennials or annuals, from low and delicate to
tall and robust, tufted or rhizomatous with simple
or variously branched, erect or decumbent culms.
Leaves flat, folded, or involute, with membranous
or firmish ligule. InfJorcsccnce varying from an
open and diffuse to elongate and spicate panicle.
Spikclcts small, 1-flowered (rarely in part 2-flow-
ered). disarticulating above glumes. Glumes minute
to as long as or longer than lemma, usually
1-nerved. Leinnui firm-membranous. 3-nerved, gla-
brous or variously pubescent, awnless or mucro-
nate to long awned from acute or bifid apex; callus
short, glabrous or usually pubescent. Paica equal-
ling or slightly shorter than lemma, often pubescent
between the two nerves. Anthers commonly purple
or light yellow. Caryopsis fusiform, closely covered
by pericarp, usually reddish brown. Basic chro-
mosome number .v = 10, rarely a = 9.
1. Plants annual or short-lived perennial.
2. Lemma awnless, mucronate. or occasionally with
awn as much as 1 mm long.
.^. Glumes glabrous.
4. Panicles delicate, very diffuse; pedicels slen-
der, capillary; ligule with conspicuous mar-
ginal "auricles"; blades with white cartilag-
inous margins and midnerve I. M.fragiUs
4. Panicles not delicate and diffuse; pedicels
short, stoulish; ligule membranous without
longer points on margins; blades usually
green throughout.
5. Panicles with ascending or spreading
branches, often purple; lemma 1-1.2 mm
long; anthers 0.2-0.3 mm long , 2. M . wolfii
5. Panicles with short appressed branches,
dark green; lemma 2-2.5 mm long; anthers
0.6-fl.7 (-0.91 mm long 3. M.filiformis
3. Glumes pubescent at least at apex.
6. Spikelets 1-1.3 (-1.5) mm long; glumes and
lemma obtuse or subacute; lemma awnless
4. M. minutissima
6. Spikelets (1.3-) 1.5-1.8 mm long; glumes and
lemma acute or acuminate; lemma with awn
0.1-0.5 (-1) mm long 5. A/. Icxiinu
2. Lemma conspicuously awned. the awn (3-) 10-20 mm
long or longer.
7. Lemma usually conspicuously ciliate on lateral
margins; sheath with tuft of long hairs on mar-
gins at throat 6. M. ciliala
1 . Lemma vanously pubescent, but without conspic-
uous cilia on margins; sheath not as above.
8. Glumes much shorter than floret, obtuse; lem-
ma short pubescent on lower 'a to Vy. on
midnerve and lateral margins; awn 10-20
(-301 mm long; cleistogenes commonly pres-
ent in axils of lowermost branches of culms.
9. Lemma 2.5-3.5 (-4) mm long; glumes 0.5-
1.2 mm long; ligule mostly 1-1.5 (-2) mm
' Contributed by Charlotte G. Reeder.
Fig. 44.
1951.
Lyciiris phlcoidcs: plant, glumes, floret. From Gould.
long; panicle branches ascending or
spreading 7. M. microsperma
9. Lemma (4.5-) 5-6 mm long; glumes 1-2 mm
long; ligule mostly 2-3 mm long; panicle
branches closely appressed .. 8. M. appressa
8. Glumes commonly as long as or longer than
floret; lemma densely villous on lower Vi-
-V. awn 7-8 (-10) mm long; no cleistogenes
present 9. M. brandegei
1. Plants perennial.
10. Culms robust, mostly 1 m or more tall.
11. Culms profusely branched at upper nodes, with
numerous inconspicuous panicles terminating
branches; resembling a small bamboo
10. M. dumosa
1 1 . Culms unbranched above, with one large panicle
terminating culm; plants densely cespitose.
12. Lower sheaths compressed-keeled; blades
flat or folded; panicles narrow to broadly
pyramidal. 20^0 cm long; ligule 10-30
mm long 11. M. cmcrsleyi
12. Lower sheaths rounded; blades soon be-
coming involute; panicles spicate. 30-60
cm long; ligule short, truncate. (0.5-) 1-
3 mm long -. 12. M. rigcns
10. Culms slender, mostly less than I m tall.
13. Rhizomes present.
14. Lemma awnless or mucronate.
15. Panicles open, diffuse, nearly as wide
as long 13. M. uspcrijoliti
15. Panicle narrow, contracted, interrupted
below.
16. Culms striate and nodulose-rough-
ened; ligule 1.5-2 (-3) mm long
14. M. richardsoni.s
16. Culms smooth, glabrous ("pol-
68
Gould and Moran
ished"); ligule 0.5-1 mm long
15. M. n-pcns
14. Lemma with awn (5-) 10-20 mm long
16. M. arsenei
13. Rhizomes absent; culms cespitose or erect from
a wiry, knotty base.
17. Panicles very narrow, spike-like, often in-
terrupted below.
18. Lower sheaths rounded; blades invo-
lute, elongate, 15-50 cm long, taper-
ing to long slender point; ligule trun-
cate, firmish, (0.5-) 1-3 mm long;
panicles pale gray-green or tawny
12. M. rigens
18. Lower sheaths keeled; blades fiat or
folded (may become involute in
drying), mostly to 5 cm long; ligule
membranous, 0.5-1 mm long (rarely
more); panicles dark green or plum-
beous 17. M. nrightii
17. Panicles open, narrow, or somewhat con-
tracted but rather loosely flowered, not
spicate.
19. Nodes of culm obscure, plants densely
cespitose; blades elongate, 15-30 cm
long, crowded at base 18. M. rigida
19. Nodes of culms several to many, con-
spicuous; blades mostly 10 (-15) cm
long or less.
20. Lemma mucronate or with awn to
1.5 mm long.
21. Panicles open, 4-8 cm wide,
usually purple, the branches
spreading 19. M. arizonica
21. Panicles narrow, mostly not
over 1 cm wide, dark green,
the short branches appressed
3. M. fiUfonnis
20. Lemma with awn (3-) 5-10 mm
long or longer.
22. Panicles open, pyramidal or
ovoid, with slender capillary
pedicels.
23. Glumes broad, narrowed
irregularly into short awn
points; lemma densely
short pilose on callus;
anthers orangeish, 1.5-
1.6 mm long _
20. M. alamosae
23. Glumes lanceolate, acute
or acuminate; lemma
short appressed-pubes-
cent along midnerve and
lateral margins on lower
V2\ anthers purple or be-
coming pale yellowish,
2-2.2 mm long
21. M. porleri
22. Panicles narrow or contracted,
usually longer than wide;
pedicels short, scabrous.
24. Glumes obtuse. 0.5-1 (-1.2)
mm long; cleistogenes
usually present in axils of
lowermost culm branches
7. M. microspernui
24. Glumes acute or acuminate
(or awn-tipped) over 1.5
25
25
mm long; no cleisto-
genes present.
Lemma scaberulous on
nerves on upper part
with only a few
short appressed hairs
on callus
22. M. pauciflora
Lemma pubescent on
lower Vi-'A
16. M. iirsenei
1 . Muhlenbergia fragilis Swallen. Contr. U.S. Natl.
Herb. 29:206. 1947. Annual. Culms delicate, erect
or spreading, freely branching at lower nodes, 10-
35 cm tall, scaberulous to strigulose below nodes.
Sheaths often longer than internodes, scaberulous
with hyaline margins. Lii>nle hyaline, erose to lac-
erate with longer points ("auricles") on margins,
1-3 mm long. Blades flat, 2-6 (-10) cm long, 1-2
mm wide, scabrous below, strigulose above, with
prominent white thickened margins and midrib.
Panicles fragile, very diffuse, often breaking away
at maturity, 9-15 cm long, 4-7 (-10) cm wide, the
branches capillary, stiffly spreading or partially re-
flexed, the branchlets divergent. S pikelets slender,
mostly on straight spreading capillary pedicels.
Glumes glabrous, 0.5-0.7 mm long, obtuse or sub-
acute. Lemma 1-1.2 mm long, obtuse, glabrous to
densely short appressed-pubescent on margins and
midnerve (use a good lens). Palea ca. as long as
lemma, glabrous to densely short appressed-pubes-
cent between nerves. Anthers 0.3-0,5 mm long,
purple. Caryopsis elliptic, slightly flattened dorsal-
ly. ca. 0.7-0,8 mm long, reddish brown.
Western Texas to southern Arizona. California,
and Mexico, on open moist sandy soil or grassy
rocky slopes. Baja California Norte: At 1200-
2000 m: Sierra Juarez (NW of Rancho Marcos; El
Rincon de Santa Catarina: Portezuelo de Jamau);
Sierra San Pedro Martir (Arroyo el Picacho; N of
Vallecitos).
Muhlenbergia fraiiilis, often misidentified as M.
minutissima (Steud.) Swallen. is distinguished by
the delicate diffuse panicle 4-7 cm wide, spikelets
with glabrous glumes, ligules with long points ("au-
ricles") on either side, and blades with conspicuous
white thickened margins and midnerve.
2, Muhlenbergia wolfii (Vasey) Rydb., Bull. Torrey
Hot. Club 32:600. 1905. Sporobolus wolfii Vasey.
S. racemosus Vasey. Small delicate annual, not in-
frequently mixed with other annual species. Culms
slender, striate, minutely scaberulous below nodes,
branching below, erect or spreading. 6-25 cm tall.
Sheaths shorter than internodes, glabrous or mi-
Grasses of Baja California
69
nutely scaberulous especially on margins. Ligule
hyaline, truncate. 0.3-0.5 mm long. Blades flat,
(0.5-) 1-3 cm long, 1 mm or less wide, becoming
involute, glabrous below, puberulent above. Pani-
cles ovoid or deltoid, often purple, 2-6 cm long, I-
2.5 cm wide, the ascending or spreading branches
mostly simple, few flowered. Spikelcts sm?!!, on
short stiff scaberulous appressed pedicels. Glumes
glabrous, equal or nearly so, obtuse or subacute,
0.5-0.6 (-0.7) mm long. Lemma 1-1.2 mm long,
rather turgid, minutely short appressed-pubescent
on margins and at base of midrib, to almost gla-
brous, often mottled and darker than glumes. Palea
ca. as long as lemma. Anthers purple, 0.2-0.3 mm
long. Caryopsis 0.8-1 mm long, elliptical, brown-
ish.
Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, to northern
Mexico, on open or wooded slopes in thin or dis-
turbed soil. Baja California Norti;: Sierra San
Pedro Martir, 2200-2500 m: (Verba Buena; La En-
cantada — in both collections mixed with M. minn-
tissima). Baja California Sur: Cape region: Sier-
ra de la Laguna (Brandegee in 1899); La Chuparosa
(Brandei>ee in 1893. mixed with M. ciliata and M.
texana).
Previously included under Sporohohis ramulosus
(H.B.K.) Kunth [=M. ranmlosa (H.B.K.) Swallen],
a closely related species of more southern distri-
bution, which has smaller spikelets (0.8-0.9 mm
long), glabrous lemmas, and a caryopsis ca. 0.5 mm
long (cf. Swallen, 1947).
3. Muhienbergia filiformis (Thurb.) Rydb., Bull.
Torrey Hot. Club 32:600. 1905. Vilfa gracillima
Thurb. in S. Wats., not Muhienbergia graeillinia
Torr. PULL-UP muhly. Annual, or often appearing
to be perennial, 5-20 (rarely to 35) cm tall. Culms
slender, glabrous, loosely tufted, erect or genicu-
late-spreading, often prostrate and rooting at lower
nodes. Sheaths glabrous or scaberulous, mostly
longer than internodes. Ligule hyaline, 1-2 (-3) mm
long, rounded, becoming erose or lacerate. Blades
1_3 (_5) cm long, 1-1.5 (-2) mm wide, flat or folded
near tip, glabrous or scaberulous below, scabrous
to pubescent above. Panicles plumbeous or dark
green, narrow, interrupted, few-flowered, long-
exserted, 2-6 (rarely more) cm long, the branches
closely appressed. Spikelets usually dark green,
awnless or mucronate. Glumes subequal. 1-nerved,
obtuse, often somewhat erose, (0.6-) 0.8-1 mm
long. Lemma ca. 2 mm long, scaberulous at tip,
awnless or mucronate. the callus glabrous. Palea
about equal to lemma and of similar texture, sca-
berulous at apex. Anthers purplish, becoming pale,
0.6-0.7 (-0.9) mm long or longer. Caryopsis fusi-
form, 1-1.2 mm long, ca. 0.3-0.4 mm wide, reddish
brown.
South Dakota and British Columbia to Kansas,
New Mexico, Arizona, California, and northern
Mexico, in open moist meadows and woods and
along stream banks. Baja California Norte:
Sierra San Pedro Martir, 1500-2200 m: La Encan-
tada (Moran & Thome 14350); La Joya, on Arroyo
Valladares {Moran 23748); La Grulla (Moran &
Thome 14444); La Vfbora, Arroyo La Grulla (Mor-
an 24419). These collections, originally determined
as M. richardsonis (Trin.) Rydb., a rhizomatous
perennial, are larger and coarser than most speci-
mens of M. filiformis from the United States. Stout-
er plants of M. filiformis that may appear perennial
and that have ligules 2-2.5 mm long, spikelets over
2.5 mm long, and anthers over 1 mm long, have
been segregated as M. filifitrmis var. fi>rtis E. H.
Kelso.
4. Muhienbergia minutissima (Steud.) Swallen,
Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 29:207. 1947. Delicate an-
nual, the slender culms erect or spreading, branch-
ing at lower nodes, 8-20 (-30) cm tall, scaberulous
to strigulose below nodes. Sheaths usually shorter
than internodes, glabrous or scaberulous. Ligule
hyaline, toothed or becoming lacerate. 1-2 mm
long. Blades flat, becoming involute, 1-3.5 (rarely
to 10) cm long, ca. 1 mm wide, short pubescent
above, scabrous below. Panicles open, diffuse, 4-
20 (or more) cm long, 1.5-5 cm wide, the branches
and pedicels slender, capillary, ascending or
spreading. Spikelets (I-) 1.1-1.3 (-1.5) mm long.
Glumes subequal, 0.5-0.8 (-1) mm long, mostly
obtuse, pubescent at least near apex. Lemma 1-1.3
(-1.5) mm long, obtuse or subacute, very short
closely appressed silky pubescent along midnerve
and margins on lower Vt. to V2 (must use good lens)
to almost glabrous with only very few hairs. Palea
ca. as long as lemma, glabrous or often short ap-
pressed silky pubescent between nerves on lower
half. Anthers purplish, (0.3-) 0.5-0.7 mm long.
Caryopsis fusiform to elliptic, brownish, (0.6-) 0.8-
0.9 mm long.
Montana to Washington, Texas, California, and
southern Mexico (Jalisco and Michoacan), in open
sandy or rocky areas, along streams, and in open
woodlands. Baja California Norte: Sierra Jua-
rez, 1550-1650 m C'Tantillas Mountains"" [vicinity
of El Progreso], E. Palmer 390 of 1875; Laguna
Hanson); Sierra San Pedro Martir, 2100-2750 m
70
Gould and Moran
(Cerro Venado Blanco; Arroyo Copal; Verba
Buena; upper Vallecitos; Corral de Sam; La En-
cantada; La Gruila).
A widely distributed annual species distinguished
by the pubescent glumes and small anthers. Muh-
li'iihcrgia tc.xana Buckl. differs in its acute or acu-
minate glumes and larger lemmas (mostly 1.6-1.8
mm long) with short awns (0.1-0.5. rarely to 1 mm
long). The closely related M. sinuosa Swallen, not
known from Baja California, has spikelets on long
flexuous pedicels, very hairy glumes, and large an-
thers (1-1.2 mm long). One specimen {Wif^f^ins
16600) from the Sierra San Pedro Martir tentatively
identified as M. sinuosa is actually M. minutissiina.
Early reports of Sponiholiis vonfiisits (Fourn.)
Vasey [=M. confiisa (Fourn.) Swallen] in Baja Cal-
ifornia appear to be based on specimens of M. nii-
niitissinia. Swallen (1947) separated various ele-
ments formerly placed in 5. confiisus and 5. mi-
crospermus (Lag.) Hitchc. Although he distin-
guished M. confusa and M. minutissiina partly on
the basis of lemma pubescence (closely appressed
short-pubescent in A/, minutissiina and glabrous in
M. confusa). he seems to have put the emphasis on
spikelet size and on distribution. Collections from
the USA and northern Mexico with slightly larger
spikelets are determined as M. minutissiina. those
from southern Mexico as M. confusa. Wiggins &
Dcmarec 4912 (from La Encantada), with essen-
tially glabrous lemmas 1-1.1 mm long, was deter-
mined by A. S. Hitchcock as 5. confusus but later
[no date) was annotated by Swallen as M. minutis-
siina.
The report by Correll and Johnston (1970:233) of
the closely related M. cludens C. Reeder in Baja
California is an error (personal communication from
M. C. Johnston, July 17, 1977).
5. Muhlenbergia texana Buckl., Proc. Acad. Nat.
Sci. Philadelphia 1862:91. 1862. Annual. Culms
slender, delicate, 10-35 cm tall, branching at base,
erect or spreading, strigulose below nodes. Sheaths
shorter than intemodes, short puberulent. Ligule
hyaline, erose or toothed, ca. 1-2 mm long, decur-
rent. Blades flat or loosely involute, 2-5 cm long,
ca. 1-1.5 mm wide, scabrous below, often short-
puberulent above. Panicles open, 5-12 cm long. 3-
6 cm wide, Vs to Vi length of entire plant, the
branches ascending or spreading, the spikelets on
somewhat capillary spreading pedicels 2-5 mm
long. Spikelets slender, lanceolate, ca. 1.5 mm
long. Glumes subequal. lanceolate, acute or acu-
minate, 0.8-1.5 mm long, sparsely hirsute. Lemma
slender (1.3-) 1.5-1.8 mm long, minutely ap-
pressed-pubescent on midrib and margins on lower
Vi to Vi (use good lens), minutely bidentate. awned
from between minute teeth, the awn (0.1-) 0.2-1
(-1.3) mm long. Palea ca. as long as lemma, mi-
nutely appressed-pubescent between nerves on
lower part. Anthers 0.4-0.5 mm long.
Rocky canyons and slopes, western Texas to
southern Arizona and northern Mexico, easily over-
looked and so probably more common than the col-
lections indicate. Not infrequently mixed with other
annual species. Baja California Sur: Collections
in 1893 and 1899 by Brandegee in Cape region: Sier-
ra de la Laguna (with M. ciliata): La Chuparosa
(Brandegee 58 of 1893, delicate plants of M. te.x-
ana. M. wolfii, and M. ciliata): Sierra San Francis-
quito.
Closely related to M. minutissiina (Steud.) Swal-
len. which is distinguished by awnless lemmas and
acute or obtuse glumes. Some specimens of M. te.x-
ana from Baja California were originally deter-
mined as Sporobolus annuus Vasey [=M. annua
(Vasey) Swallen), which is known only from a very
few collections in Chihuahua and is distinguished
by the acuminate hirsute glumes as long as or longer
than the lemma.
6. Muhlenbergia ciliata (H.B.K.) Kunth. Rev.
Gram. 1:63. 1829. Annual. Culms slender, filiform,
glabrous, weakly striate, freely branching at lower
nodes, erect or lax and spreading, 10-30 cm tall.
Sheaths glabrous or sparsely pilose on margins,
shorter than intemodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane
0.3-0.5 mm long, the sheath margins with tuft of
hairs to 1 mm long. Blades slender, flat or loosely
involute, mostly less than 1 mm wide, 1-3 cm long
(rarely longer), glabrous below, often sparsely pi-
lose above. Panicles numerous, terminal, 4-6 (-10
or more) cm long, the ascending or spreading
branches 1-2 cm long, rather distant, densely flow-
ered to base, the spikelets appressed. Glumes nar-
rowly lanceolate, acuminate or short aristate, prom-
inently 1-nerved, glabrous, subequal, 1-1.5 mm
long. Lemma narrow, 3-nerved with ridges between
nerves which appear as two extra veins, about 2
mm long, prominently ciliate on lateral nerves on
upper part, with flexuous awn 5-20 mm long (or in
Baja California specimens mostly 1.5-5 mm long);
callus minutely short pubescent. Palea a little
shorter than lemma, narrow, acuminate. Anthers
pale, 0.3-0.4 mm long.
Mexico to Panama and in Ecuador and Peru, on
moist rocky slopes, walls, and sides of ditches, and
Grasses of Baja California
71
on moist open ground. Baja California Sur:
known only from collections by Brandegce in 1893
and 1899 in the Cape region: Sierra de la Laguna;
La Chuparosa (mixed with M. uolfii and M. ic.x-
an(i): Sierra San Francisquito.
7. Muhlenbergia microsperma (DC.) Kunth, Rev.
Gram. 1:64. 1829. M. dcbilis (H.B.K.) Kunth. M.
purpurea Nutt. littleseed muhl^ . Annual or
short-lived perennial. 10-60 (-70) cm tall, erect or
spreading, much branched below. Culms slender,
striate and scaberulous below nodes. Sheaths com-
monly shorter than internodes, glabrous or scaber-
ulous. Ligulc membranous, hyaline, toothed or lac-
erate, often slightly longer on margins, decurrent.
1-1.5 (-2) mm long. BUules often deciduous, 4-6
(rarely -10) cm long, flat or loosely involute, 1-1.5
mm wide, rarely more, scabrous below, often strig-
ulose above. Panicles numerous, mostly terminal,
narrow but loosely flowered, often purple, 5-20 cm
long (rarely more in robust plants), 1-3 cm wide,
the branches ascending to spreading, appressed
when young. SpikeU'is (2.5-) 3-3.5 (-4) mm long.
Ghimes obtuse, 1-nerved (rarely 2-nerved in ter-
minal spikelet of branch), subequal, the first 0.5-1
mm long, the second 0.7-1.2 mm long. Lemma nar-
row, 3-nerved, (2.5-) 3-3.5 (-4) mm long, biden-
tate, awned from between minute teeth, scabrous
on nerves, usually short-pubescent along midnerve
and lateral margins on lower ki, the callus short-
pubescent, the awn 10-20 (-30) mm long, flexuous,
usually purple. Palea slightly shorter than lemma,
short-pubescent between nerves near base. Anthers
purple, of varying lengths within same floret, 0.3-
0.9 (-1 , rarely more) mm long, not infrequently with
one anther sac smaller and/or aborted. Cary apsis
narrowly fusiform, 2.2-2.5 mm long, reddish
brown. Cleistogamous spikelet s usually present,
few or numerous, in axils of lowermost branches of
culm, developing within a short indurate narrowly
conical greatly reduced sheath, devoid of glumes,
consisting of lemma with short awn, palea. and
more rounded caryopsis.
Nevada. Arizona, and southern California, to
Guatemala, and Colombia and Venezuela to Peru,
mostly in open ground or rocky places but not in-
frequently in the protection of thorny shrubs or
cacti. This is the commonest species of Muhlen-
hergia in Baja California. Baja California: the
length of the peninsula at 5-2000 m, but especially
common at lower elevations.
Plants vary from small and spreading (in open
sites) to those with rather elongate lax sprawling
culms and with lax feathery panicles (among thorny
bushes and cacti). Spikelet measurements (includ-
ing anther length) and vegetative characteristics are
extremely variable, depending apparently upon the
growing conditions and habitat. Plants with robust
leafy somewhat perennial culms and larger spikelets
(3.5-4.5 mm long) may grow near "typicar" M.
microsperma: Reedcr & Reeder 6767 ("typical"")
and 676^ (robust) grow at Juncalito bay. south of
Loreto, the robust plants at the base of a steep cliff
among rather dense vegetation.
Most specimens from Baja California are easily
recognizable; however, several are worthy of note
and give some indication of the variability found
within the species. J. H. Thomas 8240 (Laguna de
Guerrero Negro) consists of unusually small plants
with very narrow panicles. Moran 9J4I (SD) from
Isia Catalina includes a diminutive plant with a nar-
row panicle along with several quite ordinary spec-
imens. A few collections, all from Baja California
Sur, are noteworthy for their unusually long an-
thers: Moran & Reveal 20199 (Volcan las Tres Vir-
genes), Reeder ct- Reeder 675U (Buena Vista),
Reeder ct- Reeder 6768 (Juncalito bay), Gould 12136
(El Triunfo), Gould 12160 (SE of San Antonio), and
Breedlove & Axelrod 43247 (Sierra de la Laguna).
All these collections have some anthers as much as
1.8-2 (or more) mm long. Two specimens have con-
spicuously hairy lemmas: Beetle M-2627 (Cabo San
Lucas) and Moran 7069 (La Palmilla).
The following collections deserve special notice:
Moran & Reveal 20199 (Volcan las Tres Virgenes),
Beetle M-2627 (Cabo San Lucas), Goidd 12136 (SE
of San Antonio), Breedlove A Axelrod 43247 (Sierra
de la Laguna), Moran 17463 (Isla San Martin), 9143
(Isla Carmen), and 6548 (Islas los Coronados). In
these specimens the ligules are 1-1.5 (-2) mm long
and the panicles 1-2 (-3) cm wide, with ascending
branches. Although the glumes are mostly 1-1.5
mm long, the lemmas are extremely variable within
the same inflorescence, ranging from 3.5 to 4 mm
long, with the terminal spikelet of a branch often as
much as 4.5-5 mm long. At first glance these col-
lections might seem to be M. appressa C. Good-
ding, a closely related species. However, typical
plants of M. appressa have very narrow panicles
with loosely flowered appressed branches, lemmas
5-6 mm long with glumes 1-2 mm long, and ligules
2-3 mm long. The anther length in A/, appressa
varies within a single spikelet. ranging from 0.4 to
0.9 (rarely more) mm long. Occasionally the two
species occur together.
Three robust perennial-like collections (Carter.
72
Gould and Moran
Alexander, & Kellogg 2343, 2388, and 2391), from
the Sierra de la Laguna of Baja California Sur,
which are certainly conspecific, were identified by
Swallen in 1948 as M. parviglumis Vasey. How-
ever, they all seem referable to M. microspcrma
because of the somewhat open panicles with as-
cending branches and the rather long purple anthers
in all three collections and the presence of cleisto-
genes in the axils of the lower culm branches in
2388. Unfortunately, there is no good base on 2343.
and 2391 is well past its prime — which may account
for the lack of cleistogenes in these two collections.
In M. parviglumis the panicles tend to be very nar-
row and stiffly erect and the scabrous blades longer
and more rigidly erect, and the anthers are usually
pale yellowish. The Brandegee collections of 1889.
1893, and 1899, from Comondii, Saucito, Sierra San
Francisquito, and La Chuparosa, are similar in
being rather robust plants with spikelets 3.5^ mm
long, anthers 1 .5-1.7 mm long, and only a few cleis-
togenes in the axils of the lowermost culm branch-
es. All these Brandegee specimens (except that
from Saucito — which does not appear) are listed by
Hitchcock (1913:294) under M. microspenmi.
Brandegee 22 (February 17, 1889) from Comondii
was originally reported by Vasey (in Brandegee,
1889) as M. calamagrostidca Kunth [=M. teniii-
folia (H.B.K.) Kunth, a rather common annual or
short-lived perennial of mainland Mexico].
Since plants of this species are annuals (or short-
lived perennials) and produce cleistogenes, and
since the upper spikelets apparently may develop
cleistogamously, minute variations may be repro-
duced indefinitely with little or no influence from
other members of the population. More cytological
information is badly needed to understand fully the
systematics of this complex. Hybridization between
M. microspcrma and M. apprcssa might possibly
explain the unusually large spikelets found in the
few collections cited above.
8. Muhlenbergia appressa C. Goodding, J. Wash.
Acad. Sci. 31:504. 1941. Annual, erect or decum-
bent. Culms slender, 10-40 cm tall, much branched
below, striate, scabrous to hispidulous below
nodes. Sheaths shorter than internodes, becoming
open and flattened, glabrous or scaberulous. Ligulc
(1.5-) 2-3 mm long, hyaline, decurrent, rounded,
becoming toothed or lacerate. Blades flat or folded,
1-5 (-7) cm long, 1-2 mm wide, scabrous below,
puberulent above. Panicles numerous, mostly ter-
minal, 5-20 cm long, very narrow, loosely flow-
ered, the branches closely appressed. Spikelets
slender, on short appressed scabrous pedicels.
Glumes about equal, 1-2 mm long, obtuse or sub-
acute, at times somewhat erose, thin, with conspic-
uous nerve in basal half; in terminal spikelet one
glume sometimes 2-nerved. Lemma slender, (4.5-)
5-6 mm long, scaberulous above, densely pubes-
cent at base and along margins on lower 14 to Vi,
the awn 10-30 mm long. Palca about same length
as lemma, closely appressed-pubescent between
nerves on lower 14 to V^, the nerves projecting as
short awn-tips. Anthers often varying within a sin-
gle floret, 0.3-0.9 mm long. Caryopsis narrowly fu-
siform, 2-2.5 mm long, brownish. Cleistogamous
spikelets in axils of lowermost culm branches sim-
ilar to those of M. microspcrma, the single spikelet
tightly enclosed in reduced somewhat indurated
sheath, consisting of lemma ca. 2.5-3.5 mm long,
with awn 1.5-3.5 mm long, a palea, anther or an-
thers 0.2-0.3 mm long, and well-developed pale
pinkish caryopsis ca. 1.6-2 mm long and 0.5 mm
wide.
Southern Arizona to Baja California, in canyons
and on rocky slopes. Baja California Norte:
Sierra Juarez, 1350-1750 m (El Progreso; Santa Ca-
tarina; Portezuelo de Jamau); Tinajas de Moraga,
Cerro Matomi, 1150 m: Sierra San Borja, 1200 m.
Baja California Sur: Rancho la Laguna, Sierra
San Francisco, 1340 m; Cerro Azufre, 1450 m (Mor-
an 18758. mixed with M. microspcrma): Sierra de
las Palmas, south of Santa Rosalia.
Closely related to M. microspcrma, which is dis-
tinguished by its open panicles with ascending or
spreading branches, shorter ligules (1-1.5 mm
long), shorter glumes (0.5-1.2 mm long), and short-
er lemmas (2.5) 3-3.5 (-4) mm long.
9. Muhlenbergia brandegei C. Reeder, Madrofio
13:248. 1956. Fig. 45. Annual. Culms erect or as-
cending, 15-25 cm tall, striate and scabrous on
nerves below nodes, otherwise mostly glabrous,
branching from lower nodes. Sheaths glabrous to
minutely scabrous, mostly shorter than internodes,
the margins scarious. Ligulc membranous, erose,
ca. 0.7-1.0 mm long, the pointed margins to 1.5
mm. Blades flat or with apex somewhat involute,
3^ (-7) cm long, 1-1.5 (-2) mm wide, scaberulous
below, scabrous to sparsely short-pubescent above.
Panicles contracted, pale greenish, 3-10 cm long,
0.5-0.7 cm wide, the branches appressed, densely
flowered to base, the pedicels appressed, 1-3 mm
long. Spikelets ca. 3^.5 mm long: glumes sub-
equal, usually longer than lemma, with prominent
scabrous nerve, otherwise glabrous. Lemma 3-3.5
Grasses of Baja California
73
(-4) mm long, densely pubescent with longer white
hairs near apex and shorter at base, the apex acu-
minate, bifid, with awn (5-) 7-8 mm long from be-
tween teeth. Palea about as long as lemma, con-
spicuously pubescent between nerves. Anthers
purplish, ca. 1-1.5 (-2) mm long. Caryopsis fusi-
form, ca. 1.4-1.8 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, dark
brownish.
Endemic to Baja California. Baja California
Sur: Isla Santa Margarita (Brandegee 16 of 1889,
type); rocky slope near beach at 5 m. Isla Catalina
(Moron 9361); arroyo opening onto small beach,
west shore of Isla Partida [Espiritu Santo] (Wig-
gins. Carter, ct Ernst 434 A). The Isla Partida col-
lection is not typical, having short glumes (1.5-2
mm long), a lemma 2.5-3 mm long with awn 8-10
mm long, and anthers only 0.4-0.5 mm long.
Hitchcock (1913:294) identified the Brandegee
collection as M. biloba Hitchc, a related and rarely
collected species confined to the mountains of Chi-
huahua and Durango.
10. Muhlenbergia dumosa Scribn. ex Vasey, Contr.
U.S. Natl. Herb. 3:71. 1892. M. dumosa var. minor
Scribn. ex Beal. Perennial from short thickened rhi-
zome; resembling a small bamboo. Ciihns some-
what woody below, erect or becoming lax and
sprawling. 1-3 m tall, glabrous, freely branching
from upper nodes. Lower sheaths glabrous, becom-
ing loose, flattened, papery, remaining after fall of
blades. Ligule short, truncate, ca. 0.5 mm long.
Prophyils prominent, appearing as long slender sca-
brous or minutely ciliate appendages. Blades nu-
merous, narrow, lax, flat soon becoming involute,
glabrous or minutely scaberulous, the longest 6-8
(-12) cm long, ca. 1-1.5 mm wide, often extending
into narrow setaceous point. Panicles inconspic-
uous, numerous, terminating branches, 1-3 cm
long, narrow, lax. Spikelets subsessile or on short
pedicels, green or purplish, 2.5-3 mm long. Glumes
subequal, subobtuse, acute or awn-tipped, promi-
nently 1-nerved, 1-2 mm long (including awn tips).
Lemma pale with prominent green nerves, narrow,
2.5-3 mm long, pubescent on lower '<4-'/i along
midnerve and on lower V3-V2 on lateral margins,
with slender usually slightly bent or curved awn 2-
7 mm long from between teeth of minutely bifid
apex. Palea acute or acuminate, slightly shorter
than lemma, pubescent on lower V2 between nerves.
Anthers 0.8-0.9 mm long.
Southern Arizona to Jalisco, Mexico, in rocky
canyons and on steep slopes where protected from
most grazing animals. Flowering early in spring.
Fig. 45. Muhlenbergia hrundegei: A, plant; B. panicle branch
with spikelets; C, D, ligule; E, glumes; F. floret; G. flattened
lemma, adaxial view. From the original publication of Reeder.
Baja California Sur: On broken terrain of vol-
canic mountain top. La Champagna, Sierra de las
Palmas, S of Santa Rosalia, 1300-1500 m, 27-29
Apr. 1952 (Gemry ct- Fox 11798. US).
II. Muhlenbergia emersleyi Vasey, Contr. U.S.
Natl. Herb. 3:66. 1892. M. vaseyana Scribn. bull-
grass. Robust perennial, forming dense clumps.
Culms coarse, erect, 80-100 (-150) cm tall, gla-
brous or minutely scaberulous below the 3 or 4
nodes. Sheaths commonly compressed-keeled, gla-
brous or scabrous. Ligule 10-25 mm long, tapering
into long acuminate hyaline lacerations, firmer be-
low on margins; or on innovations ligules long, nar-
row, membranous throughout. Blades flat or fold-
ed, scabrous below, more or less glabrous above,
elongate, 20-50 cm long, (I-) 2-4 (-6) mm wide,
the margins coarsely scabrous. Panicles forming
purplish or tawny narrow to broadly pyramidal
plumes, 20-40 cm long, (3-) 4-7 cm wide, the
branches ascending and rather densely flowered on
outer part, naked below. Spikelets on glabrous or
scabrous pedicels. Glumes thin, only very faintly
1-nerved, acute to obtuse, subequal, as long as or
74
Gould and Moran
slightly longer than floret, 2.5-3.5 (^) mm long,
scaberulous to scabrous. Lenuna 3-nerved, 2.5-3
mm long, pubescent along midnerve and lateral
margins on lower Vi-%, very slightly bifid at apex,
awnless or more commonly with midnerve extend-
ing into flexuous usually purple awn as much as 10-
20 mm long, the awns early deciduous or a few
persisting. Palca about as long as lemma, with few
to many short appressed hairs between nerves on
lower '/3-'/2. Anthers 1.5-1.6 mm long, purplish.
Caryopsis narrowly fusiform, red-brown, ca. 1.5
mm long.
Texas to Arizona and southern Mexico, on rocky
or wooded slopes. In Baja California at 1500-2000
m. Baja California Norte: Sierra Juarez (N of
Laguna Hanson, Moran 16639): Sierra San Pedro
Martir (Arroyo el Picacho SE of Rancho Nuevo,
Moran 24847; Santa Rosa, Moran & Thorne
14404). The lemmas in Moran 16639 and 24847 are
mostly awnless, with occasional awns 2.5-5 mm
long. Some lemmas of Moran tt Thome 14404 have
awns to 15 mm. Baja California Sur: Sierra de
la Giganta (Cerro la Giganta); Sierra de la Laguna
(S of Pico la Aguja; El Picacho de la Laguna; sev-
eral collections without precise locality by Bran-
degee in 1890 and 1899); Sierra San Francisquito
(Brandegee in 1890 and 1899); Sierra el Taste (El
Taste and El Taste ridge).
The collections of T. S. Brandegee in 1890, 1893,
and 1899 were variously determined and reported
as M. grandis Vasey and M. distichophylla Kunth.
These species, both members of Muhlenhcrgia
Sect. Epicampes, are confined to mainland Mexico
(cf. Soderstrom, 1967).
Muhlenbergia emersleyi. an extremely variable
member of Sect. Epicampes, is distinguished by the
robust densely cespitose habit and the compressed-
keeled sheaths. The spikelets have thin, glabrous
or scaberulous glumes with inconspicuous nerves.
The glumes are equal to or slightly longer than the
floret. The lemmas, which are pubescent on mid-
nerve and margins on the lower half, may be awned
or awnless.
12. Muhlenbergia rigens (Benth.) Hitchc, J. Wash.
Acad. Sci. 23:453. 1933. Epieanipes rigens Benth.
deer grass. Coarse cespitose perennial with stiff
erect mostly glabrous culms 60-100 cm or more tall.
Sheaths rounded, glabrous or scaberulous, often
overlapping and crowded, not infrequently purplish
at base, becoming flat and somewhat papery in age.
Blades elongate, (10-) 15-50 cm long, 1-4 mm
wide, stiff, becoming involute, tapering into long
slender point, mostly glabrous below, scabrous be-
tween prominent ridges above. Ligide somewhat
firm, truncate or with rounded auricles, (0.5-) 1-3
mm long, often somewhat ciliate along top, gla-
brous or scaberulous on margins. Panicles elon-
gate, narrow, spikelike, grayish green or tawny,
mostly 30-60 cm long, often interrupted at base, the
lower branches 1-4 (-7 or more) cm long, florifer-
ous to base. Spikelets 2.5-3.5 mm long. Glumes
subequal, commonly shorter than lemma, acute or
obtuse, scabrous or scaberulous, 2-3 mm long.
Lemma 2.5-3.5 mm long, acute to obtuse, often
mucronate with mucro to 1 mm long, scabrous to
scaberulous above with few short appressed hairs
at base along midnerve and margins. Palea about
as long as lemma, scabrous or glabrous between
nerves. Anthers 1.5-1.7 (-1.8 or more) mm long,
yellowish, often becoming purplish in maturity.
Caryopsis fusiform, ca. 2 mm long.
Texas to southern California and northern Mex-
ico, in gravelly or sandy canyon bottoms, often in
moist soil along small streams; in Baja California at
50-2500 m. Baja California Norte: "Tia Juana"
(Susan Stokes in 1895); Guatay [Jatay) Grade; Ca-
nada las Palmas, S side Valle las Palmas; Sierra
Juarez (Rancho Santa Isabel; Caiiada Rincon); Si-
erra San Pedro Martir (El Picacho; Vallecitos mead-
ow; Verba Buena; La Corona; La Encantada; Los
Encinos; Canon Teledo; La Vibora); Cafiada el Is-
lay, NW of San Telmo; head of Arroyo Matomi, Ca-
tion de Matomi. Baja California Sur: Near San
Javier {Beetle M-2454); Sierra San Francisquito
(Brandegee in 1899).
As treated here, M. rigens includes M. mundula
and M. marshii, both named by I. M. Johnston in
1943. Dr. T. R. Soderstrom (1967) in studying this
complex found no satisfactory characters to distin-
guish these "species".
13. Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Nees & Mey.) Paro-
di, Univ. Nac. Buenos Aires Rev. Agron. 6:117.
1928. Sporoholus asperifolius (Nees & Mey.) Nees.
scratchgrass. Low spreading perennial with slen-
der, shiny, scaly rhizomes. Cidms glabrous ("pol-
ished"), erect or spreading and decumbent, com-
pressed, 10-50 (-60) cm tall. Sheaths more or less
compressed, usually overlapping, glabrous, often
minutely pubescent on margins. Ligule short, trun-
cate, membranous, sometimes erose and/or short-
ciliate, 0.2-0.5 mm long. Blades flat or folded, com-
monly 2-6 cm long, 1-1.5 (-2) mm wide, scabrous
(to strigulose) above, more or less glabrous below.
Panicles diffuse, 6-15 (-17) cm long, 6-14 cm wide.
Grasses of Baja California
75
often breaking away at maturity, the slender
branches widely spreading, few flowered. SpikcU'ts
usually purple, occasionally 2-flowered. on long
capillary scabrous pedicels. Glumes ca. equal,
(0.6-) 1-1. ."^ mm long, acute to obtuse. Lcnuna 1.5-
1.7 (-2) mm long, glabrous, awnless or with mucro
0.1-0.2 mm long. Palca equal to lemma or a little
longer. Anthers purplish, ca. 1-1.2 mm long. Ctiry-
opsis elliptical, 0.8-0.9 mm long, 0.4-0..^ mm wide.
Alberta and British Columbia to Illinois, Texas,
California, and Mexico, and in southern South
America; in open areas, often in alkaline soil, and
along irrigation ditches and stream banks. In Baja
California at 1100-2100 m. Baja California
Norte: Sierra Juarez (road from Ojos Negros to
Rancho Neji: Laguna Hanson; Santa Catarina);
Sierra San Pedro Martir (Potrero de los Encinos;
La Encantada; La Grulla; Santa Rosa).
An easily recognized species, with scaly creeping
rhizomes, open diffuse usually purple panicles, and
awnless spikelets.
14. Muhlenbergia richardsonis (Trin.) Rydb., Bull.
Torrey Bot. Club 32:600. 1905. M. si/tiarrosa
(Trin.) Rydb. mat muhly. Perennial from hard
knotty base, with short scaly rhizomes, often some-
what mat-forming. Culms erect, spreading, or
somewhat decumbent, branching from lower nodes,
5-60 cm tall, striate and minutely nodulose-rough-
ened below nodes. Sliealhs mostly shorter than in-
ternodes, striate, glabrous. Ligulc membranous, 1-
2 (-3) mm long, erose or shallowly toothed. Blades
short, flat becoming involute, 1-3 (-5) cm long
(rarely longer, especially on sterile shoots), 1-1.5
(-2) mm wide, strigulose above, glabrous or sca-
berulous below. Panicles narrow, 2-10 cm long,
interrupted below, the branches short, appressed,
greenish or tawny. Spikelets on short pedicels,
somewhat crowded on short appressed branches.
Glumes subequal, obtuse or subacute, shorter than
lemma, glabrous, 1-nerved, 1-1.5 mm long. Lemma
acute, acuminate, or mucronate, scabrous near
apex, 2.5-3 mm long, the callus glabrous. Palea a
little shorter than lemma, scaberulous at apex. An-
thers 1.2-1.5 mm long. Caryopsis fusiform, ca. 1.2
mm long, brownish.
New Brunswick and Maine to Alberta and New
Mexico, and west to the higher elevations of eastern
Washington to Baja California, in open often alka-
line soil and in sandy arroyo bottoms. Baja Cali-
fornia North: Sierra San Pedro Martir, ca. 2200
m: in small arroyo, Tasajera trail N of Rancho Viejo
(Moran 24496); on margins of meadow and adjacent
slopes. La Encantada {Wii>f>ins & Demaree 4932);
gravelly arroyo bank. Los Llanitos (Moran 28016).
Similar to Muhlenheriiia repens (PresI) Hitchc,
which has glabrous ("polished") culms, more
spreading habit, and shorter ligules (0.5-0.7 (-1)
mm long). "There are two intergrading forms of this
species; one with rather stout decumbent or some-
what spreading culms (M. squarrosa (Trin.)
Rydb.), the other with slender erect culms {M.
richardsonis (Trin.) Rydb.)" (Chase, 1951:382).
As far as can be ascertained, the 1899 Brandegec
collection from Sierra de la Laguna reported by
Hitchcock (1913:295) as Muhlenbergia squarrosa
is the same as that labeled Sporoholus utilis (Torr.)
Scribn. at US. This is M. repens (Presl) Hitchc.
15. Muhlenbergia repens (Presl) Hitchc. in Jeps.,
Fl. Calif. 1:111. 1912. creeping muhly. Low pe-
rennial with scaly rhizomes. Culms glabrous ("pol-
ished"), erect or somewhat spreading, decumbent,
usually 5-20 cm long but sometimes longer.
Sheaths mostly glabrous, shorter than internodes.
Liiiule membranous, decurrent, short truncate,
often becoming split, 0.5-1 mm long. Blades short,
flat or soon becoming involute, arcuate-spreading,
glabrous below, scabrous to strigulose above, ca.
1 mm wide, 1-3 (-5) cm long, longer on sterile
shoots. Panicles narrow, interrupted below, loose-
ly few flowered, usually tawny or pale greenish, 1-
4 cm long. Spikelets on short pedicels, appressed
or ascending on short branches. Glumes obtuse or
acute, glabrous or scaberulous, shorter than floret,
1-nerved, 1.5-2 mm long. Lemma 2.5-3 (-3.5) mm
long, scaberulous above, acute or tapering to short
mucro (0.1-0.3 mm long). Palea of same length and
texture as lemma. Anthers 1-1.5 mm long. Caryop-
sis 1.3-1.5 mm long.
Texas to Arizona, SE California, and Mexico, on
open sandy ground and in canyon bottoms. Rare in
Baja California, at 2000-2500 m. Baja California
Norte: Sierra San Pedro Martir: local in dry sandy
soil in meadow, Rancho Viejo, 2100 m (Moran
19176). Baja California Sur: Sierra de la La-
guna, Brandegee 33 of 1899 (as Sporoholus utilis
(Torr.) Scribn. I ; Sierra de la Laguna, S of Pico la
Aguja, Breedlove & A.xelrod 43399.
This species is distinguished by its scaly rhi-
zomes, glabrous "polished" culms, and mostly gla-
brous awnless or mucronate lemmas 2.5-3 mm
long. Related to M. utilis (Torr.) Hitchc, which has
smaller spikelets (1.5-2 mm long) and finer widely
spreading blades; M. utilis is unknown for Baja
California.
76
Gould and Moran
16. Muhlenbergia arsenei Hitchc, Proc. Biol. Soc.
Wash. 41:161. 1928. Perennial from short knotty
base, with short rhizomes. Plants with loosely tuft-
ed appearance from branching at lowermost nodes.
Culms 10-45 (-50) cm tall, erect or decumbent-
spreading, strigulose or strigose below nodes.
Sheaths shorter than internodes, strigulose espe-
cially near top. Ligule membranous, 1-1.5 (-2) mm
long, erose or toothed, strigulose on outer margins,
which may be slightly extended. Blades mostly bas-
al, the upper ascending or spreading, flat becoming
involute, 1-5 (-6) cm long, ca. 1-1.5 (-2) mm wide,
hispid or short pubescent above, scabrous or strig-
ulose below. Panicles narrow, loosely flowered,
becoming long exserted, 5-11 (-13) cm long, the
distant branches appressed, but ascending or
spreading during anthesis, the lower as much as 3-
4 cm long. Spikelets on short strigulose pedicels,
mostly closely appressed to branchlets. Glumes
subequal, acuminate or aristate, a little shorter than
to as long as floret, scabrous on upper part of con-
spicuous green nerve, (2.5-) 3-4 mm long. Lemma
(3.5-) 4-5 mm long, pubescent along midnerve near
base and up lateral margins for '/3-'/2 length, taper-
ing into flexuous purple awn (5-) 10-20 mm long.
Palea ca. as long as lemma, pubescent on lower Vi
between nerves. Anthers purplish, (1.3-) 1.5-1.8
mm long. Stii^mas plumose, purple.
Northern New Mexico and SE Utah to southern
California (Clarke Mountains) and northern Baja
California, in crevices among rocks of arid slopes
and arroyos. Baja California Norte: Sierra San
Pedro Martir, 1900-2500 m: upper Vallecitos mead-
ow (Moran 23729); Campo de las Viejas, N of La
Encantada (Wiggins 16652); La Encantada (Wig-
gins & Demaree 4946); La Vibora, Arroyo La Gru-
11a (Moran 24448); Santa Rosa (Moran & Thome
14408).
Although Wiggins & Demaree 4946 was deter-
mined by A. S. Hitchcock as the closely related M.
polycaulis Scribn., it seems better referred to M.
arsenei; M. polycaulis has smaller spikelets (2.2-
3.5 mm long), and the anthers are orangeish. The
distribution of M. arsenei is puzzling, and there is
a possibility that with more field study, along with
cytological information, the Baja California plants
may prove to represent an undescribed species.
17. Muhlenbergia wrightii Vasey in Coulter, Man.
Bot. Rocky Mt. 409. 1885. spike muhly. Perennial.
Culms usually densely tufted from hard knotty
base, erect or somewhat spreading, (15-) 20-60 cm
tall, striate and strigulose below the usually 3-5
nodes. Sheaths compressed-keeled, glabrous or
minutely scaberulous, shorter than internodes. Lig-
ule a truncate ciliate membrane 0.5-1 (-3) mm long.
Blades flat or folded, erect or ascending, with
prominent midrib and margins, as much as 5 (-6)
cm long, 1-3 mm wide, glabrous below, scaberu-
lous to strigulose above, often with long-attenuate
tip. Panicles dark green or plumbeous, erect, stiff,
densely flowered, narrow spicate, interrupted be-
low, 5-10 (-15) cm long. Spikelets crowded on
branches, dark green. Glumes about equal, 0.5-1
mm long, acute or obtuse, abruptly narrowed into
short awn 0.5-0.8 mm long. Lemma 2.5-3 mm long,
with closely appressed short hairs along midnerve
and margins on lower Va-Vi. acuminate or tapering
into short awn 0.3-0.5 (-1) mm long. Palea about
as long as lemma, with closely appressed short hairs
between nerves on lower half, the apex with two
short teeth. Anthers greenish, ca. I mm long.
Colorado and Utah to Oklahoma, New Mexico,
Arizona, and northern Baja California, in meadows
and woodlands. Rare in Baja California. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Sierra San Pedro Martir: flat in
Jeffrey pine forest. Verba Buena, 2500 m (Moran
& Thome 14236).
Muhlenbergia wrightii is distinguished by its rel-
atively low stature, dark green spicate interrupted
inflorescences, compressed-keeled sheaths, and
glumes which are broad below but taper abruptly
to an awn point.
18. Muhlenbergia rigida (H.B.K.) Kunth, Rev.
Gram. 1:63. 1829. M. luxiflora Scribn.. Zoe 4:389.
1894. PURPLE MUHLY. Perennial. Culms densely
cespitose, stiffly erect, 50-100 cm tall, glabrous or
minutely scaberulous below the obscure nodes.
Sheaths often persistent, rounded, mostly gla-
brous. Ligule firmer below, hyaline toward apex,
the lower ones truncate or obtuse, 1^ mm long,
the upper longer, the firm edges appearing as sca-
berulous extensions of sheath margins. Blades
elongate, 15-30 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, flat soon
becoming involute, glabrous or usually minutely
whitish papillose-roughened below, strongly ribbed
above, scabrous. Panicles usually purple, loosely
flowered, from narrow to somewhat open and lax,
10-30 cm long, the slender branches ascending or
spreading; lower branches to 8 cm long. Spikelets
on appressed or spreading scabrous capillary pedi-
cels 3-10 mm long. Glumes about equal, short, ob-
tuse or acute, 1-1.5 (-1.7) mm long, I-nerved, gla-
brous. Lemma 4-4.5 (-5) mm long, slender, with
a few short appressed hairs on callus, scaberulous
Grasses of Baja California
77
above, tapering into slender flexuous awn (3-) 5-15
(-20) mm long. Palcii about as long as lemma, sca-
berulous above. Anthers purple, ca. (1.5-) 1.8-2
mm long.
Te.xas to Arizona, Mexico, and South America,
on rocky hillsides and in canyons. Baja Califor-
nia Sur: Cape region: Valley of La Laguna. S of
Pico la Aguja, Sierra de la Laguna, ca. 2000 m
(Breedlove & Axelrod 43389); La Chuperosa (Bruit'
dciicc 74. 17 October 1893. type of M. laxiflora
Scribn.).
The Brandegee collection is noteworthy for its
narrow panicle and short-awned (-3 mm long) lem-
mas. However, this appears to be only one of the
many "forms"" of the polymorphic species. In the
Breedlove & Axelrod collection the panicle is rath-
er narrow but loosely flowered, the lemmas have
awns 10-12 mm long, and the glumes are acute to
pointed. Plants of this species have panicles from
open and diffuse to narrow and contracted but
loosely flowered. The midnerve of the lemma may
extend into an awn, which may be long and flex-
uous or short and straight, or the lemma may be
awnless. Glumes may be obtuse or acute at the
apex. Thus far, no sharp discontinuities have been
found to justify segregating these variants as formal
taxa.
|y. Muhlenbergia arizonica Scribn., Bull. Torrey
Bot. Club 15:8. 1888. Low loosely tufted perennial.
Culms slender, erect or decumbent at base, un-
branched above but with short lateral offshoots in
basal tuft, 15-40 cm tall, scabrous to strigulose be-
low nodes. Sheaths, especially lower, keeled, gla-
brous or scaberulous. Ligule decurrent, hyaline,
rounded or becoming erose or toothed, 1-2 mm
long. Blades short, flat or folded, mostly less than
5 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, glabrous or scabrous be-
low, often scabrous-pubescent above, with con-
spicuous white cartilaginous margins and midnerve.
Panicles open, becoming long-exserted, purple, 5-
15 cm long. 4-8 cm wide. Spikelets on long slender
capillary pedicels. Glumes about equal, obtuse or
subacute, glabrous, ca. 1 mm long. Lemma slender,
prominently 3-nerved, slightly bifid at apex, 2.5-3
mm long, minutely short appressed-pubescent on
lower Vi along midnerve and lateral margins. Awn
slender, 0.5-1.5 mm long. Palea about as long as
lemma, glabrous. Anthers purple, 1.5-1.6 mm long.
Southern Arizona to Durango, Mexico, on rocky
hillsides. Baja California Sur: La Champagna,
Sierra de las Palmas, S of Santa Rosalia, between
1300 and 1500 m (Gentry & Fox 11763).
20. Muhlenbergia alamnsae Vasey, Bot. Gaz.
16:146. 1891. Perennial. Culms cespitose, erect,
wiry, with many exposed nodes, striate, glabrous,
30-60 cm tall. Sheaths shorter than internodes, gla-
brous or scaberulous, sometimes flattened and di-
vergent. Ligule 1-2 (-4) mm long, firm-membra-
nous, scaberulous outside, often left exposed after
disarticulation of blades. Blades flat, lax, spread-
ing, early deciduous, 5-15 cm long, 1-2 (-3) mm
wide, scaberulous on both surfaces. Panicles open,
loosely flowered, ovate or pyramidal, (4-) 6-12 cm
long, 2-6 cm wide, commonly purple, the axis sca-
berulous, the branches somewhat divergent-spread-
ing. Spikelets on pedicels usually shorter than lem-
ma. Glumes subequal, ca. 1 mm long, acute, erose,
or dentate at apex, with awn tip 0.5-1 mm long.
Lenuiui (2-) 2.5-3 mm long, densely short pilose
on callus, with slender flexuous awn 5-10 (-15) mm
long. Palea ca. as long as lemma, short-pilose on
lower half between nerves. Anthers orangeish, 1.5-
1.6 mm long.
Mexico, in Sonora to Morelos and southernmost
Baja California, on mossy cliffs and in moist ra-
vines, flowering early in spring. Baja California
Sur: Cape region: Sierra de la Laguna, March 26,
1892 (Brandegee 79). This specimen was originally
identified as M. calamagrostidea Kunth [=M. te-
nuifolia (H.B.K.) Kunth], an annual or short-lived
perennial common in mainland Mexico but so far
unknown in Baja California.
21. Muhlenbergia porteri Scribn. ex Beal, Grasses
N. Amer. 2:259. 1896. M. texana Thurb. ex Porter
& Coulter, not M. texana Buckl. bush muhly.
Perennial. Culms numerous, somewhat cespitose
from knotty persistent wiry base, widely spreading
or clambering among thorny shrubs, striate, sca-
berulous below nodes, freely branching from the
various nodes, 30-100 (or more) cm long. Sheaths
shorter than internodes, glabrous, often diverging
from culm revealing conspicuous prophyllum. Lig-
ule decurrent, 1-2 (-4) mm long, hyaline, toothed
or lacerate, with longer points ("auricles"') on mar-
gins. Blades early deciduous, lax, flat or folded, 2-
6 (-8) cm long, ca. 1-1.5 mm wide, usually scabrous
above and glabrous below. Panicles numerous,
open, loosely flowered, often purple, 5-10 (rarely
more) cm long, about as wide, the branches and
branchlets delicate, fragile, widely spreading, bear-
ing few spikelets near tips. Spikelets ca. 3—4 (—4.5)
mm long, on long slender capillary pedicels.
Glumes subequal, acute or acuminate, glabrous ex-
cept scabrous on prominent nerve, 2-2.5 (-3) mm
78
Gould and Moran
long. Lemma 3-4 (—4.5) mm long, acuminate, short
appressed-pubescent on both sides of midnerve and
along margins on lower 1/2- V4, with slender awn
(3-) 4-8 (-10) mm long. Palea ca. as long as lemma,
glabrous or puberulent between nerves. Anthers
purple (or pale yellowish in aging), ca. 2-2.2 mm
long.
Colorado and Nevada to Texas, California, and
northern Mexico, on dry mesas and rocky slopes —
especially in the protection of thorny shrubs, for it
is highly palatable to livestock. Formerly much
more abundant. Baja California Norte: Vicinity
of Paso San Matias, 700-1200 m (Moran 24687.
24772. 24795, 24820).
The report by Wiggins (1969:322) of M. porteri
in the Desierto Vizcaino is in error (letter from Dr.
Ira Wiggins, June 22, 1975).
22. Muhlenbergia pauciflora Buckl., Proc. Acad.
Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1862:91. 1862. new-mexi-
CAN MUHLY. Perennial, loosely tufted, erect or as-
cending from knotty, wiry base, branching and rare-
ly rooting at lower nodes. Culms 30-60 (-70) cm
tall, striate, often glaucous below the several to
many nodes. Sheaths rounded, becoming flat and
spreading at maturity, glabrous or minutely scaber-
ulous, mostly shorter than internodes. Ligide mem-
branous, 0.5-1 mm long, erose or toothed, the mar-
gins extended to form ■'auricles"" 1-2 (-3) mm long.
Blades slender, early deciduous, ca. 1 mm wide, 5-
7 (-12) cm long, flat becoming involute, glabrous
below, scaberulous above. Panicles narrow, con-
tracted, interrupted, 5-15 (rarely less) cm long,
often purple, the short appressed or ascending
branches rather densely flowered to base. Spikelels
crowded, on short appressed scabrous pedicels.
Glumes ca. equal, acuminate or aristate, 1.5-2.5
(-3.5) mm long, glabrous, prominently 1-nerved.
Lemma 4-4.5 mm long, with few short appressed
hairs on callus, scaberulous on nerves above, ta-
pering into slender flexuous awn (5-) 10-20 mm
long. Palea ca. as long as lemma, glabrous, or sca-
berulous between nerves. Anthers purple, 1.5-1.8
(-2) mm long.
Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, to western Texas
and northern Mexico, on rocky hills and in can-
yons. Baja California Norte: Sierra San Pedro
Martir, 2200-2750 m: Cerro Venado Blanco (Moran
15642). Arroyo Copal (Moran 15461). Verba Buena
(Moran & Thome 1421 1), La Encantada (Wiggins
& Demaree 4961). SE of La Encantada (Wiggins
16608).
Specimens of M. pauciflora and M. arsenei have
been confused, since both have rather knotty bases
and narrow panicles with awned spikelets. Muh-
lenbergia pauciflora does not have a rhizomatous
base, and the lemmas are glabrous or scabrous ex-
cept for a few short appressed hairs on the callus.
Wiggins (1980:889, 890) included two species for
which I have seen no Baja California collections.
( 1 ) Muhlenbergia californica Vasey is a rhizoma-
tous perennial with scabrous blades 3-6 mm wide,
spikelets 3-4 mm long, and scabrous lemmas tipped
with short awns. It was thought to be endemic to
the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains of
southern California, but Wiggins reported it from
■"foothills and lower mountain slopes of n B.C."
(2) Muhlenbergia glama (Nees) B. D. Jackson [In-
dex Kew. 2:269, 1894, thus antedating Mez, 1921]
is a rhizomatous perennial with blades 2 mm or less
wide, spikelets 3-4 mm long, and lemmas pilose on
lower half and with awns 1-3 mm long. It occurs in
the mountains from Texas to SE Arizona and ad-
jacent Mexico. Early collections of M. glauca
(Canby 58) and four other grasses are labeled as
from Jamacha, in western San Diego Co., Califor-
nia; but because none of these species had since
been found in the county, Higgins (1949:10) ques-
tioned the labels. According to Wiggins, M. glauca
occurs in "Creosote Bush scrub, e San Diego Co.,
California, and adjacent B.C."".
49. Sporobolus R. Br.
Annuals and perennials, the annuals mostly
small, tufted, and delicate, the perennials various,
some large and cespitose, others with stout rhi-
zomes. Ligule usually a minute densely pilose
membrane. Leaves often basally clustered, mostly
linear and narrow, flat, folded, or involute. Inflo-
rescence an open or contracted panicle of small
awnless 1-flowered spikelets. Disarticulation above
glumes. Glumes and lemmas 1-nerved, usually
thin. Paleas well developed, mostly as long as lem-
ma or longer. Grain obovate, somewhat asymmet-
rical.
1. Plants with stout creeping rhizomes; leaves of sterile
shoots conspicuously distichous I. S. virginiiiis
1 . Plants lacking creeping rhizomes; leaves of sterile shoots
not conspicuously distichous.
2. Inflorescence open or narrow but not tightly contract-
ed, at least some branches somewhat spreading.
3. Anthers 1.2-2.5 mm long; plants with coarse and
sometimes tall culms mostly densely cespitose
from a hard base 2. S. airoides
3. Anthers 0.2-0.4 mm long.
4. Lower panicle branches usually in whorls of 4-
12 or more at lowermost node
3. S. pyramidatus
Grasses of Baja California
79
4. Lower panicle branches solitary at nodes or 2-
i at lowermost node.
5. Second glume usually much shorter than
lemma, commonly only half as long; leaf
sheath collar glabrous 5. S. ulrovircns
5. Second glume about as long as lemma; leaf
sheath collar with lateral tufts of hair,
b. Panicle branches densely flowered, both
branchlets and spikelets appressed
along main branches; panicle axis slen-
der but stiff, not strongly recurving
6. S. cryplandrus
6. Panicle branches loosely flowered, at
least some widely spreading from main
branches; panicle axis slender and
weak, more or less recurved
7. S. flexUDSus
2. Inflorescence tightly contracted, cylindrical; no
branches spreading 4. 5. ctmlracliis
1. Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth, Rev. Gram.
1:67. 1829. seashore dropseed. Coarse perennial
with erect culms arising singly or in small clusters
from extensive stout yellowish rhizomes. Culms
smooth, shiny, the erect shoots mostly 10-50 cm
tall. Sheaths mostly overlapping, glabrous except
for a few hairs on each side of collar. Blades firm,
usually involute on drying but sometimes fiat, most-
ly 3-10 cm long and 1.5^ or 5 mm broad. Panicles
slender, tightly contracted and densely flowered,
mostly 2-8 cm long and 6-7 mm thick. Spikelets
glabrous, shiny, 1.8-3.2 mm long, the glumes and
lemmas inconspicuously nerved. First i;lia>u' vari-
able in length, sometimes as long as second glume.
Second glume as long as lemma or slightly longer.
Paleas of same size and texture as lemmas. An-
thers ca. 1.5 mm long.
Frequent on sandy beaches along the warmer
coastlines of North, Central, and South America
and the Caribbean: also in South Africa. Baja Cal-
ifornia Sur: Common along coast below 27°N:
Islas Monserrate, Catalina, and San Jose.
2. Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr., Rept. Expl. R.
R. Miss. Pacific 7(3):21. 1856. zacaton alcalino,
ALKALI SACATON. Coarse perennial, usually form-
ing large clumps. Culms glabrous, mostly 0.5-2.0
m tall. Sheaths rounded, shorter than internodes.
with long stiff hairs at side of collar, Ligule a ciliate
membrane or absent. Blades coarse and tough,
elongate, 2-6 mm broad, fiat or involute. Panicles
open, with spreading to ascending stiff branches.
Spikelets 1.5-2.5 mm long. Glumes thin, hyaline,
the first acute, ca. half as long as spikelet. the sec-
ond longer and broader. Anthers 1.2-2.5 mm long.
1. Culms 0.3-1.0 m tall; panicle branches in age spreading.
the branchlets naked below
2a. S. uiriyiJcs var. airi>ijcs
I . Culms mostly 1-2 m tall; panicle branches ascending, the
branchlets densely flowered nearly to base
2b. .v. iiiriiijes var. wrif;hiii
2a. Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr. var. airoides.
Culms mostly 0.3-1 m tall, to ca. 3 mm thick.
Blades soon involute. Panicle mostly purplish. 20-
45 cm long, 15-25 cm wide, the branches ascending,
in age spreading, the branchlets naked below. Ped-
icels 0.5-2 mm long, spreading.
Western USA to northern Mexico, in meadows
and valleys, especially in alkaline soils. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Tijuana; Valle Redondo. 220 m;
Ojos Negros, 675 m; Sierra Juarez, 1000-1400 m
(Mesa los Alacranes; NE of El Topo; Agua Flores;
NW of El Rodeo: Los Pocitos): NW of San Telmo.
70 m.
2b. Sporobolus airoides var. wrightii (Munro ex
Scribn.) Gould, Madrofio 10:94. 1949. S. wrightii
Munro ex Scribn. 5. altissimus var. nunor Vasey,
Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., Ser. 2, 2:213. 1889. S. ex-
pansus Scribn., Zoe 4:390. 1894. More robust, com-
monly 1-2 m tall, the culms to 9 mm thick. Blades
often flat. Panicle mostly tawny or pale, 20-60 cm
long, 12-25 cm wide, the branches more ascending,
the secondary branches densely flowered nearly to
base. Pedicels ca. 0.5 mm long, mostly appressed.
Southeastern California to Oklahoma. Texas, and
central Mexico, on rocky slopes and open ground
often in alkaline soils. Baja California Norte:
Sierra San Borja (San Enrique). Baja California
Sur: Cape region: NE of Punta Pescadero; San
Jose del Cabo.
The type of 5. altissimus var. minor was col-
lected by T. S. Brandegee at San Enrique in May
1889; it was referred here by Hitchcock ( 1935«:966).
The type of 5. expansus was collected near Pes-
cadero by T. S. Brandegee 23 September 1893.
3. Sporobolus pyramidatus (Lam.) Hitchc. U.S.
Dept. Agr. Misc. Publ. 243:84. 1936. S. pulvinatus
Swallen. .V. argutus (Nees) Kunth. zacaton py-
ramidal, WHORLED DROPSEED. Fig. 46. Tufted pe-
rennial, the culms 10-50 cm tall, usually in small
clumps. Sheaths shorter than culm internodes, usu-
ally glabrous except for a few hairs on upper mar-
gins and sometimes lateral tufts of hair on collar.
Blades firm, usually flat, often stiff and tapering to
slender tip, mostly 2-4 mm broad, ciliate on lower
margins and often sparsely hispid on adaxial sur-
face. Panicles 3-16 cm long, at first narrow and
with contracted branches, later branches spreading
and inflorescence becoming pyramidal: branches
naked on lower ' .^-' 2. the lower in whorls of few
to several, the upper successively shorter and most-
80
Gould and Moran
Fig. 46. Sporobohis pyramidatus: upper culm with panicle,
spikelet. From Gould and Box, 1965.
ly single at nodes. Spikelcts 1.5-2 mm long.
Glumes thin, acute, the first short and broad, usu-
ally '/4-'/5 as long as spikelet, the second usually
as long as lemma. Lemmas 1.2-2 mm long, acute.
Paleas broad, about as long as lemmas. Anthers
0.2-0.3 mm long. Grains plump, minutely rugose,
mostly 0.6-0.8 mm long.
Kansas and Colorado, through Mexico, the Ca-
ribbean, and Central America, to South America,
frequent on coastal sands and inland on sandy dis-
turbed sites and saline clay or alkaline soils. Baja
California Sur: At low elevations, mostly on
coastal sands: Santa Rosalia, Loreto, Santa Rita,
Pichilingue, La Paz, NE of Todos Santos. La Ri-
bera, San Jose del Cabo. Cabo San Lucas; Isla Co-
ronados.
4. Sporobolus contractus Hitchc. Amer. J. Bot.
2:303. 1913. spike DROPSEto. Plants essentially like
5. eryptandrus. but panicle remaining dense and
contracted, the short erect branches densely flow-
ered to base. Panicles mostly 15-50 cm long and
0.5-0.7 (-1) cm broad.
On open dry, usually sandy, sites, Colorado,
Texas, Arizona, and southern California, to Baja
California Sur and Sonora. Baja California
Norte: rocky hillside. La Hechicera, Sierra Jua-
rez, 1225 m; granitic slope, Paso San Matias, 1000
m; sandy bottom of Canon San Simon 5 km above
mouth, 100 m. Baja California Sur: Along beach
or on sandy flats immediately behind beach: Las
Lagunas; Arroyo de San Gregorio.
5. Sporobolus atrovirens (H.B.K.) Kunth, Rev.
Gram. 1:68. 1829. Low perennial, with culms 8-30
cm tall, usually in small dense tufts. Leaves gla-
brous, typically without hairs on sheaths or blades
except ligule a minute ciliate membrane. Blades flat
or involute, mostly 2-5 cm long and 1-2 mm broad.
Inflorescence open, well-exserted, 3-15 cm long,
with spikelets mostly clustered along primary
branches or, in larger panicles, along primary and
short secondary branches. Glumes short, unequal,
the second variable in length but usually not more
than '/2 as long as lemma. Lemmas and paleas dark,
similar and about equal in length, mostly 1.2-1.5
mm long. Grains broadly rounded, flattened later-
ally, dull brown, mostly 0.7-0.9 mm long.
Central and southern Mexico, on open or brush-
covered slopes. Baja California Sur: Cape re-
gion: El Taste (Brandegee in 1893 and 1902. cited
by Hitchcock. 1913:311. and confirmed by Char-
lotte Reeder).
Grasses of Baja California
81
An attractive low tufted grass with somewhat the
aspect of Sporoholiis cryptandius but without hairs
on leaf collar and with both glumes relatively short.
6. Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray, Man.
576. 1848. ZACATON desgranador, sand drop-
seed. Perennial with culms mostly 30-100 cm or
more tall, usually in small to moderately large
clumps. Sheaths rounded, glabrous on back, usu-
ally with tuft of long white hairs on each side of
collar. Ligule a short fringed membrane. Lower
blades elongate, fiat or folded, glabrous or sca-
brous. PanicU's 15-30 (^0) cm long, usually re-
maining partially enclosed by elongated upper
sheath. Primary panicle branches narrowly spread-
ing and floriferous to base or widely spreading and
bare of spikelets below, the spikelets and branchlets
tending to be appressed to primary branches.
Spikelets subsessile or short-pediceled, mostly 1.5-
2.5 mm long. Glumes thin, membranous, acute, the
first short, the second as long as spikelet. Lemmas
and paleas thin, membranous, the palea broad but
slightly shorter than lemma. Anthers 0.2-0.3 mm
long. Grains broad, rounded, minutely rugose, ca.
1 mm long.
On dry loose sandy soils almost throughout tem-
perate and subtropical North America except in SE
USA; south to central Mexico. Baja California
Norte: Sierra Juarez, 1 100-1700 m (between Ojos
Negros and Neji: near Canon Cantiles; NE of Cerro
Pihon); Sierra San Pedro Martir, ca. 2100 m (Corral
de Sam; Santa Rosa). Baja California Sur:
southwest coast about Bahia Magdalena (Boca de
las Animas; S of El Pescador; San Carlos — all ac-
cording to Charlotte Reeder).
7. Sporobolus flexuosus (Thurb.) Rydb. Bull. Tor-
rey Bot. Club 32:601. 1905. mesa dropseed. Ces-
pitose perennial with erect culms mostly 35-100 cm
tall. Sheaths rounded, usually with tuft of long
white hairs on each side of collar. Panicles open,
usually 10-30 cm long and 4-9 cm broad, with main
axis drooping or recurved above and primary
branches widely spreading and divaricate or re-
flexed, with curved pubescent pulvini in their axils.
Spikelets 1.9-2.5 mm long, lead-colored. Glumes
unequal, lanceolate. Lemma and palea equaling or
slightly shorter than upper glume.
Southern Utah to western Texas, southern Cali-
fornia, and northern Mexico. Baja California
Norte: Reported by Wiggins (1980:895) in "desert
areas below 1200 m. Creosote Bush Scrub, ne
B.C.". We have seen no specimens.
Fig. 47. Blephanmcuron irirluilcpis: plant, glumes, floret.
From Hitchcock. 1935.
50. Blepharoneuron Nash
1. Blepharoneuron tricholepis (Torr.) Nash, Bull.
Torrey Bot. Club 25:88. 1898. pastillo del pinar,
pine dropseed. Fig. 47. Cespitose perennial with
stiffly erect culms 20-70 cm tall. Leaves mostly in
basal cluster. Ligule a short rounded membrane.
Blades filiform, involute. 2 mm or less broad, gla-
brous or scabrous. Panicles narrow, loosely con-
tracted or open, usually 6-20 cm long. Spikelets 1-
flowered. awnless, 2.5-3.8 mm long, bluish-gray.
Gould and Moran
on slender pedicels mostly 2-5 mm long. Disurti-
culation above glumes. Glumes broad, rounded on
back, faintly nerved, somewhat unequal, the sec-
ond slightly shorter than lemma. Lemmas firm, 3-
nerved, pubescent on midnerve to above middle
and on margins nearly to apex, the apex broad and
rounded, occasionally apiculate. Pcilcd large, pu-
berulent between nerves.
Utah and Colorado to Arizona, New Mexico,
Texas, and NW Mexico, mostly in open woodlands
at medium to high elevations. Baja California
Norte: Sierra San Pedro Martir. 2400-2800 m (c.t,'.
above Arroyo Copal; Cerro la Cupula; Vallecitos;
W rim of Carion Diablo; La Tasajera).
51. Crypsis Ait.
Annuals with commonly prostrate many-noded
culms. Leaf blades short, flat; ligule a row of short
hairs; sheaths short, rounded, the upper inflated,
spatheate. Inflorescence of terminal and axillary
dense spicate panicles. Spikelets 1 -flowered, later-
ally compressed, disarticulating below glumes.
Glumes 1-nerved, shorter than or equalling floret,
the lower narrower. Lemma thin. 1-nerved. Pa-
lea hyaline, nearly or quite equalling lemma, 1- or
2-nerved, often splitting in fruit. Grain obovate;
seed coat free from pericarp.
Our treatment is based on that of Hammel and
Reeder(1980).
1. Collar and margins of sheath glabrous; glumes unequal,
shorter than lemma, glabrous on margins; anthers
mostly 0.4 mm long 1. C schoenoides
I. Collar and margins of sheath pilose; glumes subequal.
equalling or exceeding lemma, at least the lower pilose
on margins; anthers mostly 0.6-0.7 mm long
2. C. vaginiflitra
1. Crypsis schoenoides (L.) Lam.. Tabl. Encycl.
1;166. 1791. Heleochloa schoenoides (L.) Host.
Fig. 48e-i. Plants often pink to purplish. Culms
commonly few branched, to 75 cm long, seldom less
than 5 cm. Leaves 2-10 cm long; collar and sheath
margins glabrous. Panicles mostly few per culm
and separated, short-pedunculate, half or less in-
cluded in leaf sheath, ovoid to cylindric, 3-75 mm
long. 5-15 mm thick. Spikelets mostly 2.7-3.2 mm
long. Glumes shorter than floret, the first shortest,
their margins glabrous. Anthers 0.7-1.1 mm long.
Native to Eurasia and northern Africa; natural-
ized in western North America, especially in Cali-
fornia, on drying lake margins and in vernal pools.
Baja California Norte; Shallow roadside
depression just E of Tijuana airport tower. 150 m
(Moran 27996).
2. Crypsis vaginiflora (Forssk.) Opiz. Naturalien-
tausch 8:83. 1823. C. niliaca Fig. & DeNot. Fig.
48a-d. Plants mostly green. Culms much branched,
to 30 cm long, in dwarf plants as little as 1 cm.
Leaves 1-5 cm long; collar and sheath margins pi-
lose. Panicles crowded and successively smaller on
lateral branches, subsessile. mostly included in leaf
sheaths, ovoid, 3-15 mm long, 3-6 mm wide. Spike-
lets mostly 2.5-3.2 mm long. Ghnnes both subequal
to floret, the first pilose on margins. Anthers 0.5-
0.9 mm long.
Native to northern Africa; naturalized widely in
California and locally elsewhere in western North
America, on drying lake margins and in vernal
pools. Baja California Nortf: In vernal pool
and in sandy to mucky soil near pond behind coastal
dunes 1-2 km N of El Cipres. S of Ensenada. 5 m
(Moran 28558, 28632. 29U78. 29081). Reported by
Wiggins ( 1980:888) as sparingly present around ver-
nal pools on mesas between Tijuana and Ensenada.
Tribe 1 1 . Chlorideae
52. Cynodon L. Rich.
1. Cynodon dactylon(L.)Pers.,Syn. PI. 1:85. 1805.
PATA DE GALLO, BERMUDA GRASS. Fig. 49. Low
sod-forming rhizomatous and stoloniferous peren-
nial. Culms mostly stoloniferous, with slender erect
flowering branches mostly 10-50 cm tall. Sheaths
with tuft of hair on each side of collar and into lig-
ular area. Ligule a ciliate membrane 0.2-0.5 mm
long. Blades glabrous, flat, linear, 1-3 (-4) mm
broad. Inflorescence of usually 3-5, occasionally
2-7, digitately arranged slender spicate branches
mostly 2-6 cm long and floriferous to base. Spike-
lets sessile or nearly so, awnless, with single perfect
floret, the rachilla prolonged behind palea and often
bearing rudimentary floret. Glumes 1-nerved, lan-
ceolate, slightly unequal, the second about % as
long as lemma. Lemmas 2-2.5 mm long, firm,
shiny, acute. 3-nerved. Paleas narrow, slightly
shorter than lemma.
Native to warm parts of Africa but now wide-
spread in warmer regions of the world. Frequent
from central and southern USA to South America,
cultivated as a lawn or forage grass, established as
a common weed of roadsides, ditches, and waste
places, and often naturalized in wild areas. Baja
California: Common as a weed in inhabited areas
and occasional elsewhere: at edge of salt marsh, in
arroyo beds, and in meadows, mostly at low ele-
vations but to 1675 m in Sierra San Pedro Martir;
Islas los Coronados and Cedros.
Grasses of Baja California
83
W.r^. -
v-
^IK
■\
^
Fig. 48. Crypsis: a-d, C. vaginiflora: a. spikelet; b. culm with
leaves and panicle; c, grain; d, plant, e-i. C. schocnniilcs: e.
spikelet; f, floret; g. culm with leaves and panicle; h. grain; i.
plant. From Mason. 1957.
Beetle (1977«:342) listed CynocUm plectostachy-
iiin (Schum.) Pilger (pasto estrflla) as "persis-
tent after cultivation" in Baja California Sur. Har-
lan et al. (1964) described this as a large robust
diploid (2// = 18) with long thick stolons but with-
out rhizomes. We have seen no specimens.
53. Microchloa R. Br.
1. Microchloa kunthii Desv., Opusc. 75. 1831. M.
Iinllcd of Hitchc. not Kuntze. Puspalum tcnuissi-
Duiiu M. E. Jones. Contr. W. Bot. 18:24. 1933. Fig.
50. Tufted perennial with slender culms mostly 10-
25 cm tall. Ligules ciliate. 1-1.5 mm long. Bhules
filiform, rarely over 1 mm broad, usually involute.
Inflorescence a curved filiform unilateral spike
mostly 3-8 cm long and 1-1.5 mm thick. Spikclets
closely imbricated in 2 rows on one side of flattened
rachis, 1 -flowered, awnless, disarticulating above
or between glumes. Glumes 1 -nerved, lanceolate,
subequal, 2-3 mm long. Lemmas thin, slightly
Fig. 49. CynaJdii iliu tylon: plant with rhizomes and stolons,
inflorescence, glumes, floret. From Gould, 19.^1, I96.'i.
shorter than glumes, faintly 3-nerved at base, ciliate
and broad above. Palea similar to lemma but short-
er. Caryopsis reddish-brown, oval, flattened, slight-
ly over 1 mm long.
Southern Arizona (Sycamore Canyon) to Mexico
and Argentina, on dry gravelly hills and plains, in
both sandy and clayey soils. Baja California
Sur: Hitchcock (1913:328) cited three collections
of this relatively rare species from the Cape region:
Sierra San Francisquito {BranJei^ee in 1899); La
Chuparosa {Brandcgee in 1893): El Taste (Bian-
degce in 1893).
The type of Puspalum teniiissimum {Jones
27584) is from "the prairie at the laguna. Laguna
mts., L. Calif., lower temperate life zone. 6500 ft.
alt., and along the down trail ... in granite gravel
along with Bouteloua olif'ostachya'" (Jones,
1933:24). Jones thought it "strange that Brandegee
and Goldman did not get this very common grass
on the Laguna mesa".
54. Chloris Sw.
Annuals and perennials of diverse habit. Culms
and leaves usually glabrous, occasionally pilose.
Ligule a ciliate rim or absent. Inflorescence of usu-
84
Gould and Moran
Fig. 50. Micrmhloa kunthii: plant, spikelet, floret. From
Chase, 1951,
ally 5-25 unilateral spicate branches verlicilled or
clustered at apex of flowering culm. Spikelets
closely or distantly spaced in 2 rows on branch,
with 1 (rarely 2) perfect florets and 1-3, usually 1,
sterile floret above. Disarticulation above glumes.
Glumes usually unequal, lanceolate or acuminate.
1 -nerved, shorter than lemmas. Lemma of perfect
floret awned or awnless, 3-nerved, the nerves often
pubescent. Reduced floret or florets rudimentary to
inflated-obovoid, awned or awnless.
This treatment is based on the monograph of
Dennis E, Anderson (1974),
1 . Plants annual; upper margins of fertile lemma long-ciliate
with spreading hairs 1. C. virguta
1. Plants perennial.
2. Lemmas 1 -awned.
3. Spikes up to 20, in 2 or more well-separated ver-
ticils; sterile floret one.
4. Cleistogamous underground spikelets borne on
slender rhizomes; awn of fertile lemma 6.5-
15 mm long 2. C. chtoridea
4. Cleistogamous underground spikelets lacking;
awn of fertile lemma 1-4.5 mm long
3. C. brandegei
3. Spikes 9-30, in one terminal verticil; sterile florets
2—4 5. C. gayana
2. Lemmas 3-awned 4. C. crinita
1, Chloris virgata Sw., F, Ind, Occ, 1:203, 1797,
VERDILLO PLUMERITO, ZACATE MOTA, SHOWY
CHLORIS, Fig, 51, Weedy annual, extremely vari-
able in size and habit, but culms usually numerous,
geniculate-spreading below, mostly 15-60 cm tall
but taller under optimum growing conditions. Low-
er sheaths laterally compressed, keeled, Ligide
short, ciliate, sometimes absent. Blades thin, flat,
usually 3-8 mm broad but occasionally much broad-
er, glabrous or, less frequently, pilose. Panicles
with 4-20 erect spicate branches tightly clustered
at culm apex, the branches 2-6 (-10) cm long,
Spikelets closely imbricated in 2 rows to base of
branch rachis, with single reduced floret above per-
fect one. Glumes unequal, the second acute to
short-awned, ca, as long as lower lemma. Lemma
of lower floret 2.5-4.2 mm long, notched at apex
and with awn 2,5-4,2 mm long, the midnerve and
lower part of marginal nerves variously pubescent
to nearly glabrous, the upper margins with tufts of
long hairs. Reduced floret broad and truncate at
apex, with awn usually 3-9,5 mm long.
Worldwide in tropical and warm-temperate re-
gions, common in open disturbed soils, Baja Cal-
ifornia Sur: Common from near coast to over
1000 m, from near Asuncion (27°13'N) to Cape re-
gion; Isla Magdalena.
2. Chloris chloridea (PresI) Hitchc, Proc, Biol,
Soc, Wash. 41:162. 1928. verdillo cacahua-
TOIDE, BURYSEED CHLORIS. Perennial with stiffly
erect culms to 1 m tall from firm base: slender
branched rhizomes bearing cleistogamous spikelets
characteristically developed. Lowermost sheaths
laterally flattened and keeled, Ligules of lower
Grasses of Baja California
85
leaves fringed with hairs 3-5 mm or more long,
those of upper leaves reduced. Blades flat, folded,
or involute, scabrous, occasionally pilose, 3-8 (-10)
mm broad. Inflorescence with 3-15 long slender
spreading often flexuous branches: these solitary,
paired, or in verticels of 3-4 at widely separated
rachis nodes. Spikelets appressed and rather widely
spaced on branch rachis. Glumes glabrous except
for scabrous midnerve, narrowly lanceolate, un-
equal, shorter than lemma. Lemma of lower floret
narrowly lanceolate, with scabrous back and ciliate
margins. 4.5-7.4 mm long, with awn 6.5-15 mm
long. Reduced floret slender, scabrous to short-pi-
lose, 1.4-3 mm long, with awn 1.4-3 mm long.
Texas, southern Arizona, and northern Mexico,
to Honduras, in low grassy areas and occasionally
on pastured brushy slopes. Baja California Sur:
Anderson { 1974) referred to this species a collection
from El Triunfo(y<w(^.y 5./L. 6 Oct. 1930). See under
C. hrandegei.
3. Chloris brandegei (Vasey) Swallen. Amer. J.
Bot. 22:41. 1935. Diplachne brandegei Vasey in
Brandegee, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. Ser. 2, 2:213.
1889. Goiiinia hrandegei (Vasey) Hitchc. Perennial
with culms to 1 m tall from coarse firm base. Similar
to Chloris chloridea except in lacking underground
spikelets on slender rhizomes and in having lemma
awns 1-4.5 mm long rather than 6.5-15 mm long
(Anderson, 1974).
Endemic to southern Baja California. Baja Cal-
ifornia Sur: On rocky hillsides and sandy flats
and along arroyos, commonly at low elevations but
also to 1100 m, from SE of San Ignacio to Cape
region: Islas Coronados, Carmen, Danzante, Mon-
serrate, and San Jose. The type was collected by T.
S. Brandegee on Isia Magdalena in 1889.
Possibly C. hrandegei is only a variant of C.
chloridea: their relationship needs further study.
Two collections (Bahia Piilpito, Moran 9078: San
Antonio, Gould 1 2 161) have slender rhizomes but
also have the short-awned lemmas of C. brandegei.
The only Baja California collection of C. chloridea
cited by Anderson (1974) is by Jones from El Triun-
fo; but another Jones collection from El Triunfo is
cited as C. hrandegei.
4. Chloris crinita Lag., Nov. Gen. Sp. 5. 1816.
Trichloris crinita (Lag.) Parodi. Cespitose perennial
with stiffly erect culms to I m tall; short stolons
occasionally produced. Lower sheaths keeled and
laterally compressed, glabrous or hirsute. Blades
long and relatively narrow, mostly 2-5 mm broad.
Panicles with 6-20 erect bristly branches closely
Fig. 51. Chloris virgalu: plant, glumes, florets. From Hitch-
cock, 1935.
clustered on upper part of the inflorescence axis,
the branches usually 8-15 cm long. Spikelets
closely placed on branch axis. Spikelets 2- (rare-
ly 3-) flowered, the upper floret reduced. Glumes
1 -nerved, lanceolate-attenuate, usually short-awned.
Lemma of lower floret dorsally flattened, scabrous
above middle, 3-nerved and 3-awned, the body 2.4-
3.8 mm long, the central awn 8-12 mm long the
lateral awns shorter. Reduced floret cylindrical, 1-
1.5 mm long, gradually narrowing to subequal awns
5-7 mm long.
Texas to Arizona and through western Mexico to
South America, usually in heavy alluvial soils of
bottomlands. Baja California Sur: Arroyo 8 km
S of Pescadero, Cape region {Moran 71)20).
5. Chloris gayana Kunth, Rev. Gram. 1:89. 1829.
RHODts GRASS. Perennial with glabrous erect culms
1-1.5 m or more tall and commonly with long leafy
86
Gould and Moran
Stolons. Ligule a ciliate fringe. Blades flat, sca-
brous, to 30 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. Panicles of
9-30 ascending pale spikes 8-15 cm long, with im-
bricate spikelets. Glumes lanceolate, scabrous, the
first 1.4-2.8 and the second 2.2-3.5 mm long. Fer-
tile lemma 2.5^.2 mm long, prominently hairy on
upper margins, with awn 2-6 mm long. Reduced
florets 2-4, the first like fertile lemma but smaller,
awned, often staminate.
Native to Africa but widely grown as a forage
grass in warm regions and widely naturalized. Baja
California Norte: Planted in Valle de Mexicali
(S of Puebla, 10 m, Moran 2975^).
55. Bouteloua Lag.
Annuals and perennials, some with stolons and
rhizomes. Leaves mostly basal, with rounded
sheaths and linear flat or folded blades. Lii^ule com-
monly a ring of hairs. Inflorescence with 1 to nu-
merous short spicate branches scattered along slen-
der main rachis, each branch with 1 to many sessile
spikelets. Disarticulation at base of inflorescence
branch in one section of the genus and above
glumes in the other. Spikelets with 1 perfect flo-
ret and 1-3 staminate or sterile florets above.
Glumes 1-nerved, lanceolate. Lemma of perfect
floret 3-nerved, awnless or awned. Palea well-de-
veloped, the 2 nerves occasionally awn-tipped.
This treatment is based on the revision by Gould
(1980).
1. Inflorescence branches deciduous at maturity, the spike-
let falling with branch; spikelets all or mostly 1-16 per
branch.
2. Inflorescence branches 1-20 per culm.
3. Upper floret typically neuter, reduced to cylindri-
cal awn column and i awns of equal or nearly
equal length.
4. Inflorescence branch rachis sharp-pointed at
base, densely pubescent, at least near base;
spikelets appressed to rachis __ \. B. arisiidoklcs
4. Inflorescence branch rachis not sharp-pointed
at base, glabrous or scabrous; spikelets
spreading from rachis 2. B. uiiniia
3. Upper floret staminate or neuter, well-developed,
usually as large as or larger than lower floret
3. B. repens
2. Inflorescence branches 2.'i-100 per culm.
5. Culms with 1-2 (-3) nodes elevated above base of
plant; spikelets relatively large, the second
glume usually 6-8 mm long; upper floret usually
neuter but well-developed
4. B. curlipendiila var. caespilosa
5. Culms typically with 4-7 nodes elevated above
base of plant; spikelets relatively small, the sec-
ond glume 3-5 (-6) mm long; upper floret greatly
reduced, sometimes represented by awn column
alone, the body completely reduced 5. B. reflcxa
I. Inflorescence branches persistent, the spikelets disartic-
ulating above glumes; spikelets all or mostly20-60 per
branch.
6. Plants perennial.
7. Second (outer) glume with papilla-based hairs.
8. Inflorescence branch rachis projecting beyond
terminal spikelet 6. B. hirsiita
8. Inflorescence branch rachis not projecting be-
yond terminal spikelet 7. B. gracilis
7. Second (outer) glume glabrous or scabrous.
9. Culm intemodes, at least the lower, woolly-pu-
bescent II. B. eriopoda
9. Culm intemodes not woolly-pubescent.
10. Lemma of lower floret glabrous, with awn
usually .5 mm or more long „.. 8. B. Irifida
10. Lemma of lower floret pubescent below,
with awn 2-3 mm long
9b. B. hurbulu var. rolhrockii
6. Plants annual: culms weak, usually spreading.
11. Inflorescence usually with 3-7 short spreading
spicate branches . __ 9a. B. barbata var. hurbulu
1 1. Inflorescence a unilateral spike 10. B. simplex
1. Bouteloua aristidoides(H.B.K.)Griseb., Fl. Brit.
W. I. 537. 1864. NAVAJiTA aguja, needle grama.
Fig. 52. Tufted short-lived annual with weak slen-
der spreading-erect culms mostly 6-50 cm long.
Sheaths usually much shorter than intemodes. Lig-
ule a puberulent rim. Blades thin, short, 1-2 mm
broad, usually glabrous but occasionally with a few
long hairs at base. Inflorescence mostly 2.5-10 cm
long, with usually 4-15 widely spaced spreading
readily deciduous short branches; branches mostly
1-2 cm long and with 1-4 appressed spikelets, with
sharp-pointed hairy basal callus: branch rachis flat-
tened, with curved tip extended 5-10 mm beyond
insertion of terminal spikelet. Lenuna of h>\\ermost
spikelet awnless or minutely awned, usually with-
out rudiment (upper floret). Upper spikelets with
3-awned lemma; rudiment reduced to awn column
and awns mostly 2-6 mm long. Glumes unequal,
acute or acuminate. Lenuna ca. as long as upper
glume, with short or long awns. Caryopsis narrow,
mostly 2.5-3 mm long.
Texas to California and south through Mexico:
also in South America to Argentina: mostly in loose
sandy soil at low elevations. Baja California: In
the NW chiefly at 900-1200 m (to 1550 m) N and S
from Paso San Matias (e.g. SE of San Salvador;
Arroyo Alamar); common in desert areas, mostly
at low elevations, south to Cape region; Islas Co-
ronados and Carmen and probably others.
Bouteloua aristidoides is the weediest of the gra-
ma grasses and one of the commonest grasses of
Baja California Sur. Frequently this tufted annual
has greatly reduced inflorescences with much re-
duced short-awned spikelets.
2. Bouteloua annua Swallen, J. Wash. Acad.
25:414. 1935. Tufted annual with culms mostly 5-
Grasses of Baja California
87
25 cm tall, usually forming dense clumps; but often
very small and depauperate on dry sites. Sheaths
glabrous, much shorter than internodes. Lit^iilc a
minute ciliate rim. Blades thin, flat, folded or in-
volute, short, mostly 1.5-2 mm broad, often pubes-
cent on adaxial surface. Inflorescence with usually
2-7 spicate branches 1.5-2.5 cm long and with 4-9
spikelets. Chimes lanceolate, unequal, the second
broad, usually 6-8 mm long. Leinnuis mostly 7-9
mm long. 3-lobed, often with 3 short awns. Upper
Jioret rudimentary, reduced to 3 awns 5-7 mm long.
Endemic to southern Baja California, on dry
rocky slopes. Baja California Sur: ""4 miles east
of San Ignacio" {Shrere 7032. the type collection);
Santa Rosalia; Ligiii; La Paz; Todos Santos.
3. Bouteloua repens (H.B.K.) Scribn. & Merr.,
Bull. U.S.D.A. Div. Agrost. 24:26. 1901. B.fiUfor-
mis (E. Fourn.) Griffiths, navajita pelillo, slen-
der GRAMA. Low tufted perennial with culms 15-
45 cm tall. Ligule a minute fringed membrane.
Blades linear, thin, flat, 1-3 (-5) mm broad, gla-
brous or sparsely hirsute. Inflorescence of 3-9 (-12)
short deciduous spicate branches bearing usually 3-
9 awned spikelets, the branch with spikelets mostly
1.5-3 cm long. Spikelets with I large well-devel-
oped staminate or neuter floret above perfect one.
Rachilla often extended as short awn. First glume
4-7 mm long, the second slightly longer. Lemma of
lower floret 4.5-8 mm long, glabrous or occasion-
ally bearded at base, awnless or with 1 or 3 short
awns. Palea narrow but usually slightly longer than
body of lemma. Anthers 3—4.5 mm long.
Southern Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona,
through Mexico, Central America, and the Carib-
bean, to Venezuela and Columbia, in a wide variety
of grassland, brushland, and shoreline habitats.
Baja California Sur: On rocky slopes at low to
moderately high elevations: La Paz; Triunfo, 365
m; Sierra el Taste, 1230 m.
Throughout its range B. repens shows consider-
able morphological variation and also has three
levels of ploidy: diploid (2/; = 20), tetraploid (2/; =
40), and hexaploid (2/? = 60). Plants of west-coast
Mexico, including Baja California, apparently all
are hexaploid (Gould, 1969).
4. Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. var. caes-
pito.sa Gould & Kapadia. Brittonia 16:203. 1964.
Fig. 53 [var. curtipendula]. navajita bandi.rilla,
siDEOATS grama. Perennial with stiffly erect culms
mostly 0.5-1 m tall in small to large clumps from
firm, often knotty base; creeping rhizomes absent.
Fig. ^2. B(iitU'li)iiu iiri.'itidi'ide.i: plant, inflorescence branch
with two spikelets, lowermost spikelet. From Gould. 1951.
Ligule a short dense fringe of hairs. Blades linear,
firm, flat, mostly 3-6 mm broad, usually ciliate on
lower margins. Inflorescence usually with 25-80
short pendent branches, the lower ones longer, av-
eraging 1.5-2.5 cm long, with 2-7 spikelets. Glumes
glabrous or scabrous, lanceolate, unequal, the sec-
ond usually 5.5-8 mm long. Lemma of perfect floret
usually slightly shorter than second glume, glabrous
or scabrous-strigose, acute or slightly 3-toothed and
with the 3 nerves extended as short awns. Paleas
shorter than lemmas and similar in texture. Rudi-
mentary upper floret usually consisting of lemma
with short membranous base and 3 unequally de-
veloped awns, the terminal one occasionally as
much as 7 mm long. Anthers usually orange, oc-
casionally yellow or maroon.
Utah, Colorado, and Oklahoma, through Mexico,
and in South America to Argentina; in loose sandy
or rocky, often limey, soils. Baja California
Norte: Sierra Juarez. 1050-1700 m (Valle los Pi-
nos; E of Rancho San Pedro; N of Laguna Hanson;
Cerro Prieto; SSE of El Rodeo; Canada Rincon;
Portezuelo de Jamau); NE of Cerro Pinon, 1 100 m;
Sierra San Pedro MaiTir. 775-2050 m (Paso San
Matias; Arroyo Picacho; Canon del Diablo; Rancho
Gould and Moran
Fig. 53. BiHitclotiu curiipcnilula (var. curtipcndula\: plant,
spikelet with glumes separate. From Gould, 19.'>l, (Var. laes-
pilosa is from knotty base, lacking rhizomes.]
San Pedro Martir; Arroyo la Grulla; Santa Rosa).
Baja California Sur: Cerro la Laguna, Sierra
San Francisco, 1450 m (Moran 23848): Cerro Me-
chudo. Sierra de la Giganta, 940 m (Moran 18928).
5. Bouteloua reflexa Swallen, N. Amer. Fl. 17:632.
1939. SACATE MATEADO. Plants perennial from hard
knotty base. Culms stiffly erect, mostly 60-120 cm
or more tall, with numerous (4-9) nodes and elon-
gated internodes. Ligules membranous, often cil-
iate, 1-2 mm long. Blades flat and narrow, mostly
2-6 mm broad. Inflorescences 13-30 cm long, with
usually 40-100 short spreading or reflexed readily
deciduous spicate branches, each typically bearing
3-9 widely spaced small spikelets, usually only the
terminal 1 or 2 spikelets developing seed. Spikelets
pale green, straw-colored, or yellowish-brown,
rarely purplish. Glumes lanceolate, slightly un-
equal. Lemmas mostly 4-6 mm long, the 3 nerves
usually extended into short awns. Upper floret ir-
regularly and poorly developed, the lateral awns
short or absent, the central awn usually 3-8 mm
long but occasionally shorter. Anthers usually or-
ange or maroon-orange.
Western Mexico, on exposed rocky slopes and
brushy hills at low elevations. Baja California
Sur: Sierra de la Giganta to Cape region, from sea
level to 850 m; all islands from Isla Coronados to
Isla San Francisco.
6. Bouteloua hirsuta Lag., Var. Cienc. 4:141. 1805.
NAVAJiiA VELLUDA, HAIRY GRAMA. Ccspitosc pe-
rennial. Culms mostly 15-40 cm tall, usually with
4-6 nodes and elongated internodes. Sheaths gla-
brous or thinly pilose. Ligule a short ciliate mem-
brane. Blades thin, flat or subinvolute, 1-2 (-3) mm
broad, glabrous or sparsely ciliate on lower mar-
gins. Inflorescence with 1-4 short divergent spicate
branches mostly 2.5-4 cm long and with 20-50
closely placed pectinately spreading spikelets.
Branch rachis tapering to sharp point 5-8 mm or
more long beyond terminal spikelet. Spikelets 4-7
mm long, with 2 rudimentary florets above perfect
one. Glumes unequal, the first 1.5-3 mm long, mi-
nutely hispid, the second 3-5 mm long, with papilla-
based hairs on midnerve and with short-awned
apex. Lemma 5-6 mm long, more or less puberu-
lent. Lowermost rudiment with 3 hispid awns ca.
4 mm long, the upper rudiment a minute scale.
Rachilla not hairy below lower rudiment. Anthers
usually yellow, 2-2.5 mm long. Caryopsis ovate,
1.5-2 mm long.
I. Culm internodes glabrous 6a. B. hirsuta var. hirsuta
1. Culm internodes hirsute 6b. B. hirsuta var. ^hmdulosa
6a. Bouteloua hirsuta Lag. var. hirsuta. Wisconsin
and North Dakota through central and western
USA and Florida and throughout most of Mexico,
in grassland and woods borders in a wide variety of
soils. Baja California Norte: Cerro Prieto, east
rim of Sierra Juarez, 1650 m (Moran 181 17). Baja
California Sur: Cerro la Laguna, Sierra San
Francisco, 1450 m (Moran 23849 in part); Sierra de
la Laguna, 1900 m (Carter et at. 2385).
6b. Bouteloua hirsuta var. glandulosa (Cerv.)
Gould, J. Arnold Arbor. 60:320. 1979. B. glandu-
losa (Cerv.) Swallen. B. hirticulmis Scribn., Circ.
U.S.D.A. Div. Agrost. 30:4. 1901. Apparently dif-
fering from the var. hirsuta only in the hirsute
culms.
Central and western Mexico, in rocky soil on
open or brushy slopes, in Baja California at 1500-
1900 m. Baja California Sur: Sierra San Fran-
cisco; Sierra de la Laguna; Sierra San Francisquito
Grasses of Baja California
89
(Brandegee 11.29 Sept. 1899, type of B. hirtkid-
in'ts). Moran collected vars. hirsuta and i;htiidiilosa
at one place in Sierra San Francisco and Carter at
one place in Sierra de la Laguna.
7. Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Griffiths, Contr.
U.S. Natl. Herb. 14:375. 1912. Perennial, often with
short rhizomes. Culms mostly 25-60 cm tall, erect
or geniculate-spreading at base, with glabrous or
minutely pubescent nodes. Lii^ulc a fringe of short
hairs, often with long hairs on margins. Blades
short, flat, 1-2.5 mm broad. Inflorescence with 1-
3 (-4) thick and densely flowered branches 1.5-5
(-7) cm long. Branch rachis terminating in spikelet.
Spikelets commonly 40-90 or more per branch,
closely placed and pectinately spreading. First
glume glabrous or hirsute. Second glunw hirsute on
midnerve with papilla-based hairs. Lemmas 4-5.5
mm long, pubescent at least below.
Widespread in northern and western North
America and to southern Mexico in the highlands.
Baja California Norte: Reported by Wiggins
(1980:903) from dry hillsides, mesas, and bajadas,
in northern Baja California; but we have seen no
specimens.
8. Bouteloua trifida Thurb. in S. Wats.. Proc.
Amer. Acad. Arts 18:177. 1883. red grama. Pe-
rennial with slender wiry culms 8-30 (-40) cm long,
densely tufted from firm, often somewhat rhizo-
matous base. Leaves mostly in basal clump, gla-
brous or puberulent. Ligule a minute fringed mem-
brane. Blades mostly 4-8 cm long and 1.5 mm or
less broad. Inflorescence with 2-7 slender persis-
tent branches, each 1.2-2.5 cm long, with 8-24
(-32) spikelets. Spikelets ca. 2 mm long, with one
rudimentary floret above perfect one. Glumes gla-
brous, acute, acuminate, or slightly mucronate.
Lemma glabrous or with hairs at base not over 0.5
mm long, with awn ca. twice as long as body. Ru-
diment with short awn column and awns 3.5-6 mm
long.
Southern Utah to Texas and southern California
and through much of Mexico, on dry plains and
rocky slopes. Baja California Norte: Granitic
south slope with Pachycereus. Fouquieria. Agave.
Canon San Matias 1 1 km E of San Matias. 700 m
{Moran 24797).
9. Bouteloua barbata Lag.. Var. Cienc. 4: 141 . 1805.
B. arenosa Vasey. navajita anual. sixwffks
grama. Low tufted annual or weak perennial with
spreading or erect culms 8-40 cm tall. Sheaths with
tuft of hair on each side of collar. Ligule a short
fringed membrane. Blades thin, mostly 1.5-7 cm
long and 1-1.5 (-3) mm broad, occasionally stri-
gose. Inflorescence with usually 3-7 narrow persis-
tent branches each typically 1-3 cm long, with 25-
40 closely placed and pectinately spreading spike-
lets. Spikelets 2.5-4 mm long including short awns,
usually with 2 rudimentary florets above perfect
one. Glumes glabrous, unequal, acute or acumi-
nate. Rachilla with silvery tuft of hairs below
awned (lower) rudiment. Lemma of perfect floret
lobed and 3-awned, the awns from shorter than
lobes to 3 mm long. Body of lemma densely pubes-
cent, at least on margins. Lower ruditnent with
rounded lobes and 3 awns ca. as long as those of
lemma. Upper rudiment reduced to minute inflated
awnless vestige.
\. Plants annual; culms geniculate-spreading at base, oc-
casionally rooting at lower nodes
9a. B. barbata var. barbata
I . Plants perennial, usually short-lived; culms usually erect
from base 9b. B. harhalu var. rolhrockii
9a. Bouteloua barbata Lag. var. barbata. Chondro-
sium polystachyum Benth., Bot. Voy. Sulphur 56.
1844. B. polystachya (Benth.) Torr. Fig. 54.
Southwestern USA, through Mexico to Guer-
rero, and in Argentina, an inconspicuous grass of
rocky slopes, open plains, roadsides, and waste
places, usually in sandy soils. Baja California:
In the NWat 900-1300 (-1550) m. Sierra Juarez and
N Sierra San Pedro Martir (e.g. Agua Hechicera;
Cerro Chichi de la India; Portezuelo de Jamau; Paso
San Matias; Lazaro Cardenas; Arroyo Alamar);
common in deserts to Cabo San Lucas; Islas Angel
de la Guarda. Carmen. Monserrate. San Jose, and
Espiritu Santo, and probably others. The type of
Chondrosium polystachyum was collected by Bar-
clay at Bahia Magdalena.
9b. Bouteloua barbata var. rothrockii (Vasey)
Gould. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 66:403. 1979. B.
rothrockii Vasey. B. polystachya var. major Va-
sey. Tufted short-lived perennial with wiry culms
usually 25-60 (-75) cm tall. Culms stiffly erect or
slightly geniculate and spreading below. Sheaths
glabrous. Blades glabrous or sparsely hirsute. 1-3
(-4) mm broad. Inflorescence branches (3-) 4-8 per
culm, mostly 1.5-3 cm long and ca. 3 mm broad
excluding awns. Spikelets usually 35-50 per
branch, closely placed and pectinate on rachis.
about 5 mm long. Lemma pubescent below, broad
and lobed above, with awn 1.5-3 mm k)ng from
notched apex. Reduced florets 1 or 2, the lower
90
Gould and Moran
Fig. 54. BiHiutoiiu hiirhulii var. hurhuta. From Gould. 19.^1.
reduced to awn column and 3 stout awns, the upper
when present fan-shaped, awnless.
New Mexico, Arizona, southern California, and
through NW Mexico to Durango and Sinaloa. on
dry slopes and sandy flats. Baja California Sur:
Cape region: sandy plain S of La Paz {Rauli 25499):
Arroyo Salate (Purpus 401): sandy roadside above
beach, Cabo San Lucas (Monin 19047).
10. Bouteloua simplex Lag.. Var. Cienc. 4:141.
1805. MAT GRAMA. Tuftcd annual with usually
spreading culms 3-20 (-30) cm tall. Sheaths gla-
brous. Ligulc a minute fringed membrane. Blades
2-10 cm long and 0.5-1.5 mm broad, often pilose
on adaxial surface and ciliate on margins above lig-
ule. Inflorescence a unilateral spike (actually a sin-
gle terminal branch) 1-2.5 cm long, with 30-80
closely placed pectinate spikelets. Spikelels with
perfect floret below and 1-2 rudimentary florets
above. Rachilla with tufts of hair below lower floret
and first rudiment. Disarticulation at base of lower
floret. Glumes glabrous, or scabrous at tips, the
first ca. half as long as second, the second 3.5-5
mm long. Lemma body 2.5-3.5 mm long, pubescent
on nerves, with 3 short stout awns. Lower rudiment
a stout awn-column and three awns 1-2 mm long,
the membranous body vestigial or absent. Upper
rudiment, when present, an awnless fan-shaped
scale.
Colorado, Utah, and western Texas, through
Mexico to Guerrero, and widespread in South
America, mostly on dry open slopes and plains, at
intermediate to high elevations. Baja California
Sur: San Jose del Cabo (Jones in 1928).
II. Bouteloua eriopoda (Torr.) Torr. U.S. Rep.
Expl. Miss. Pacif. 4:155. 1856. black grama. Pe-
rennial with wiry culms 20-60 cm long from knotty
base. Culms usually decumbent and often stolonif-
erous below, woolly-pubescent on lower inter-
nodes. Blades flat or folded, 0.5-2 mm broad. In-
florescence with 3-8 widely spaced persistent
slender floriferous branches, mostly each 2-5 cm
long, with 8-18 non-pectinate spikelets. Branch
rachis densely white-woolly at base. Spikelets with
single awned rudiment above perfect floret. Lemma
1.5-3 mm long, bearded at base, tapering above to
stout awn and much-reduced lateral awns. Rudi-
ment usually bearded at base, with 3 awns 4-8 mm
long and firm, non-membranous base.
On dry slopes and plains, Colorado and Utah to
Arizona and northern Mexico. Baja California
Norte: Reported by Wiggins (1980:903) on "dry
rocky hillsides, mesas, and bajadas, n B.C.": but
we have seen no specimens.
Wiggins (1980:903) also reported Bouteloua rad-
icosa (E. Fourn.) Griffiths from "rocky hillsides
and canyons, nl B.C."". It is highly doubtful that
this grass occurs on the peninsula: possibly the re-
cord is based on robust plants of B. repens.
56. Aegopogon Humb. & Bonpl.
Tufted annuals, with slender curving-erect culms
mostly 10^0 cm tall. Ligule an acute or lacerate
membrane 1-2 mm long. Blades thin, flat, glabrous
or puberulent, 1-6 (-10) cm long and 1-1.5 mm
broad. Inflorescence usually 2-8 cm long, with
usually 15-20 or more short-peduncled spikelet
Grasses of Baja ("alifornia
91
Fig. 55. Aci;opiii>iin icncHu.s: plant, group of spJikelets, lateral
and central spikelets. From Hitchcock. 1935.
clusters (inflorescence branches) 2.5-3 mm long ex-
clusive of peduncle and awns. Spikclct cluster of
2-3 spikelets, one sessile or nearly so and perfect,
the other 1-2 with longer pedicels and staminate or
neuter. Lemma of perfect spikelet 3-lobed at apex.
3-nerved and 3-awned, the midnerve awn 3—4 times
as long as lemma body. Glumes of perfect spikelet
1 -nerved, narrow, awned. Lemmas o/' reduced
spikelets with awn 3 or more times as long as body,
sometimes reduced to only the awn.
1. Glumes and lemmas of staminate and neuter spikelets
with narrow margins and narrowing above to a pointed
or erose apex; one spikelet of cluster sessile or short-
pediceled 1. A, cenchnndcs var. hrfvif;liitni.\
I . Glumes and lemmas of staminate and neuter spikelets
with broad margins and broad lobes at apex; all spike-
lets of cluster distinctly pediceled 2. .4. icnclliis
I. Aegopogon cenchroides Humb. & Bonpl. var.
breviglumis (Scribn.) Beetle. Univ. Wyoming Publ.
13:23. 1948. A. iieminiflorus hreviiihiiuis Scribn..
Zoe 4:386. 1894. A. hrerii;lumis (Scribn.) Nash.
Spikelet clusters (branches of inflorescence) 2.5-3
mm long excluding awns; one spikelet of cluster
sessile or shoil-pediceled. Leniina iiwn of perfect
spikelet usually 3-4 times as long as membranous
base.
Fig. 56. Spiirtiitu fulinsa: panicle, spikelet. From Hitchcock.
1935.
Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela, in moist
open or forested sites, often in fertile loamy soils.
Baja California Sur: Mountains of Cape region,
mostly at 700-1650 m: La Laguna, Sierra de la La-
guna; Saucito {Brande^ee in 1893, the type collec-
tion); Sierra San Francisquito; El Taste.
It is possible that some of the Baja California
specimens should be referred to A. cenchroides
var. cenchroides. In the typical variety, the nerves
of the neuter or staminate spikelets extend into an
awn not more than twice as long as the body, and
the spikelet clusters are 3-4 mm long. In var. bre-
viglumis the awns of the staminate or neuter spike-
lets are 3-4 times as long as the body, and the spike-
let cluster is 2.5-3 mm long.
2. Aegopogon tenellus (DC.) Trin.. Gram. Unifl.
164. 1824. Fig. 55. Spikelet clusters mostly 3-4 mm
long excluding awns; all spikelets with well-devel-
oped pedicels. Lemma awn of perfect spikelet usu-
ally longer, rarely shorter, than body of lemma.
In the same habitats and at the same elevations
as A. cenchroides var. hrevii^'lumis. Baja Cam-
92
Gould and Moran
FORNiA Sur: Cape region: La Laguna, Sierra de la
Laguna (Jones 27647).
57. Spartina Schreb. ex Gmel.
1. Spartina foliosaTrin., Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-
Petersbourg, Ser. 6. Sci. Math. 4:114. 1840. 5.
leiantha Benth.. Bot. Voy. Sulphur 56. 1844. Fig.
56. Coarse perennial with tough fibrous leafy culms
mostly 70-100 cm tall from spreading rhizomes.
Sheaths crowded, longer than culm internodes.
Ligule a short ring of hairs fused together at base.
Blades long, firm, glabrous, flat or folded, 5-10 mm
broad at base, the margins scaberulous. Inflores-
cence of usually 10 to many erect-appressed spicate
branches, floriferous to base with sessile laterally
compressed awnless 1-flowered spikelets. the lower
branches 4.5-7 cm long. Glumes large, slightly un-
equal, the second as long as or longer than lemma.
Lemmas usually 8-10 mm long, broadly acute, gla-
brous except for sparsely ciliate margins. Paleas
ca. as long as lemmas.
Abundant at low levels in coastal salt marsh,
northern California to southern Baja California.
Baja California Norte: W coast (Ensenada;
Estero Punta Banda; Bahia San Quintin; Laguna
Manuela). Baja California Sur: W coast from La-
guna Scammon to Bahia Magdalena and Isla Mag-
dalena; E coast in vicinity of La Paz.
The type of S. leiantha was collected by Barclay
at Bahia Magdalena.
58. Hilaria H.B.K.
Perennials, mostly rhizomatous or stoloniferous.
Leaves basal or well-distributed on culms, usually
short, flat or involute. Ligiile a lacerate, often cil-
iate, membrane. Inflorescence a slender dense bi-
lateral spike, the spikelets in clusters of 3 to each
node of zigzag rachis, the cluster deciduous as a
whole, Spikelets of cluster dissimilar, the 2 lateral
ones 2-flowered, staminate, the central one 1-flow-
ered, perfect. Glumes firm, flat, few- to several-
nerved, usually asymmetrical and often bearing
awn from one side about middle. Lemmas thin,
3-nerved, awned or awnless. Paleas about as large
as lemmas and similar in texture.
1. Culm internodes woolly-pubescent, at least near base of
plant 2. H. rigida
1. Culm internodes not woolly-pubescent.
2. Plants with stout culms from thick scaly rhizomes;
stolons not developed 1- H. mulica
2. Plants with slender culms from tufted, non-rhizoma-
tous base, with or without wiry stolons.
3. Glume awns of lateral spikelets not hispid-ciliate.
4. Spikelets light-colored; spikes mostly 4-.'> (-6)
mm thick; plants without stolons
3. H. helangeri var. longifolia
4. Spikelets dark brown, purple, or black; spikes
mostly 6-9 mm thick; plants usually develop-
ing long looping stolons 4. H. ccmhroides
3. Glume awns of lateral spikelets (at least some)
coarsely hispid-ciliate; spikelets light colored,
often tinged with pale violet -">• H. ciliuui
1. Hilaria mutica (Buckl.) Benth., J. Linn. Soc.
Bot. 19:62. 1881. Pleiiraphis mutica Buckl. zacate
TOBOSO, TOBOSO coMUN, TOBOso. Rhizomcs thick
and usually much-branched. Culms firm and tough,
glabrous or scabrous-puberulent at nodes, mostly
30-70 cm tall, forming large clumps or sod. Leaves
glabrous or with few long hairs. Ligule 1 mm or
less long. Blades firm, often involute, 2^ (-5) mm
broad. Spikes mostly 4-8 cm long and 6-8 mm
thick, with usually 8-25 sessile spikelet clusters.
Spikelet clusters 6-9 mm long, with tuft of hairs at
base. Glumes of lateral spikelets broadened upward
to fan-shaped, rounded, or truncate apex, ciliate on
margins, the medial glumes with lateral scabrous or
hairy awn 0.5-3 mm long. Glumes of central spike-
let narrow, usually short, irregularly cleft, with
awn-tipped nerves. Lemmas thin, entire or irregu-
larly erose at apex, often minutely awn-tipped. An-
thers 3-4 mm long.
On dry sandy or rocky slopes and plains, Texas
to Arizona and northern Mexico. Baja California
Sur: Near summit of Cerro Teombo, Sierra de la
Giganta, 1065 m {Carter 5070).
2. Hilaria rigida (Thurb.) Benth. ex Scribn., Bull.
Torrey Bot. Club 9:86. 1882. Pleuraphis rigida
Thurb. big galleta. Fig. 57. Culms stout, usually
in large clumps, mostly 35-100 cm tall, hard and
rhizomatous at base. Sheaths rounded, woolly-pu-
bescent or glabrous. Ligule a short ring of soft
hairs. Blades firm, usually involute, glabrous or
woolly-pubescent. Spike mostly 4-10 cm long and
6-9 mm thick. Spikelet clusters 7-10 mm long,
densely long-hairy at base. Glumes of lateral spike-
lets ciliate, broad and notched or lobed at apex,
several-nerved, with 1-3 nerves extending into
short awns. Glumes of central spikelet narrow, cil-
iate. Lemma thin, papery, ciliate, that of central
spikelet 2-lobed, often short-awned.
Southern Utah, Nevada, and California, to Ari-
zona, Sonora, and Baja California, on dry rocky or
sandy foothills and plains mostly below 1000 m.
Baja California Norte: Common in the desertic
NE: E slope of Sierra Juarez; Sierra de los Cuca-
pas; Cerro del Borrego; S of San Felipe.
Grasses of Baja California
93
3. Hilaria belangeri (Steud.) Nash var. longifolia
(Vasey) Hitchc, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 41:162.
1928. CURLY MESQUiTE. Low tufted perennial with
slender erect fioriferous culms mostly 10-30 cm tall
in small clumps. Culm nodes, especially lower
ones, often densely bearded. Li^ulc a short lacerate
membrane. Blades short, flat or involute, 1-2 (-3)
mm broad, often sparsely pilose. Spikes mostly 2-
3.5 cm long, well-exserted on slender, nearly fili-
form, peduncles, with usually 4-8 spikelet clusters.
Spikelet clusters usually 4.5-6 mm long. Glumes of
lateral spikelets pale, scabrous, united below, the
outer glume slightly broadened above, notched or
lobed, the inner shorter and narrower; both fre-
quently mucronate. Glumes of central spikelet gla-
brous or scabrous, slightly broadened above, with
scabrous awn mostly 2.5-5 mm long. Lemmas thin,
narrowed above, awnless.
Texas to Arizona and northern Mexico, on dry
hillsides and grassy plains; in BaJa California to
1200 m. Baja California Sur: San Julio, Sierra
San Francisco (Brandegee): La Purisima (Brande-
gee)\ Sierra de la Giganta (C«m'/-'^/70, 5029. 5213).
The typical variety of Hilaria belangeri charac-
teristically develops long looping stolons,
4. Hilaria cenchroides H.B.K., Nov. Gen. Sp.
I; 117. 1816. TOBOSO menudo. Plants usually with
wiry creeping or looping stolons. Erect culms slen-
der, mostly 6-30 cm tall, usually with bearded
nodes. Sheaths glabrous or with few hairs on collar.
Ligule a lacerate membrane usually 1-2 mm long.
Blades glabrous or sparsely hirsute, flat or folded,
2-5 mm broad. Spikes mostly 2-5 cm long and with
5-10 spikelet clusters. Spikelet clusters 5-6 mm
long, often nearly as broad as long. Glumes firm or
hard at base and fused together below, smooth or
finely scabrous, thickly beset with small dark
glands, variously lobed and short-awned.
Baja California, Durango, and San Luis Potosi,
to Guatemala, on dry grassy or brushy hills. Baja
California Sur: Open volcanic south slope, Cer-
ro la Laguna, Sierra San Francisco, 1340 m (Moran
23839). Swallen (1964:267) reported this species
from Comondii, but his report may be based on
Shreve 7I2U. referred here to H. ciliata.
5. Hilaria ciliata (Scribn.) Nash, N. Amer. Fl.
17(2): 136. 1912, H. cenchroides H.B.K. var. ciliata
Scribn. Stoloniferous perennial generally similar to
H. cenchroides. but culms to 60 cm tall, glumes
without dark-colored glands, and lateral awns or
narrow lobes of lateral spikelets of cluster usually
coarsely scabrous or hispid.
Fig. 57. Hilaria rigidu: plant; 1. perfect spikelet; 2, staminate
spikelet; 3. spikelet cluster. From Gould. 19.51.
Southern, central, and western Mexico, on
brushy or open rocky slopes, in sandy, clayey, or
volcanic soils at low to moderately high elevations.
Baja California Sur: NE of Comondii {Shreve
7120); Cerro Gabilan. Sierra de la Giganta, 1250 m
(Carter 5113); E of Datil (Wiggins 6104).
Tribe 12. Zoysieae
59. Tragus Hall.
1. Tragus berteronianus Schult., Mant. 2:205. 1824.
ABROJO ESPIGADO, SPIKE BURGRASS. Fig. 58. LoW
annual with weak usually geniculate-erect culms 5-
30 (-40) cm long. Ligule a hyaline membrane
fringed with short soft hairs. Blades short, flat or
folded, 1.5-5 mm broad, usually with whitish
coarsely hispid margins. Inflorescence contracted,
cylindrical, mostly 4-12 cm long and 5-7 mm thick,
with many bristly burs closely placed on stout pu-
berulent axis. Burs of 2-5 spikelets on short rachis,
the uppermost usually reduced or rudimentary.
Spikelets 1-flowered. First glume thin, small or ab-
sent. Second glume of lower 2 spikelets large and
firm, bearing three rows of stout hooked spikes.
Lemmas of lower spikelets thin and flat.
94
Gould and Moran
Fig. 58. Tragus berieronianus: plant, spikelet i;luster. From
Gould. 1951.
An Old World grass now widespread in warmer
parts of the Americas, a weed of disturbed soils,
usually in sandy sites. Baja California Sur:
Mostly below 700 m: Sierra de la Giganta between
Loreto and San Javier; La Paz; El Triunfo; N of
Todos Santos; N of Cabo San Lucas.
Tribe 13. Aeluropodeae
60. Monanthochloe Engelm.
1. Monanthochlole littoralis Engelm., Trans. Acad.
Sci. St. Louis 1:437. 1859. shore grass. Fig. 59.
Low mat-forming dioecious perennial with decum-
bent much-branched stoloniferous culms and with
unisexual spikelets borne on short branches in axils
of fascicled leaves. Erect floriferoiis branches com-
monly 8-15 cm tall. Leaves mostly clustered and
distichous on short lateral shoots and at main
branch tips. Sheaths rounded, glabrous or puber-
ulent at base, mostly 0.4-0.6 mm long. Ligule a
minute ciliate membrane. Blades firm, thick, sharp-
pointed, usually folded or involute, 1-2 (-3) mm
broad, seldom over 1 cm long. Spikelets 3-5-fiow-
ered. borne singly in leaf axils and I to few per
branch. Glumes absent. Lemmas rounded on back.
Fig. 59. Monalhdchln'c UlloraUs: plant, pistillate spikelet (up-
per), staminate spikelet. From Gould and Box. 1965.
several-nerved, those of pistillate spikelets like leaf
blades in texture. Palea 2-nerved. about as long as
lemma.
Along the coast on saline flats and in marshlands,
southern California, Texas to Florida, Cuba, and
the northern half of Mexico. Baja California:
Abundant the length of the peninsula on both
coasts, wherever suitable habitats occur; Islas San
Martin, Angel de la Guarda, Rasa, Santa Catalina,
San Jose, San Francisco, and Espiritu Santo.
61. Distichlis Raf.
Low to moderately tall dioecious perennials with
stout creeping rhizomes and short overlapping
2-ranked leaves. Culms tough, firm, many-noded,
the nodes glabrous. Blades firm, flat or involute,
sharp-pointed. Inflorescence a contracted panicle
or spike-like raceme, with relatively large several-
flowered awnless spikelets. Spikelets unisexual, the
staminate and pistillate similar except for exserted
anthers and stigmas. Disarticulation above glumes
and between florets. Glumes firm. 3-9-nerved,
nearly equal, awnless. Lemmas similar to glumes
Grasses of Baja California
95
but longer and broader, faintly 5-ll-nerved,
ally compressed and keeled, acute at apex.
later-
I . Lemmas 3-6 mm long; leaves usually u Ith a few lung
stiff hairs laterally on upper margins of sheath at junc-
tion with blade I. P. spiiala
I. Lemmas X-15 mm long; leaves usually with tufts of Hne
woolly hairs laterally at junction of sheath and blade
2. D. pulmeri
1. Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene, Bull. Calif. Acad.
Sci. 2:415. 1887. ZACATt salado. salt grass. Fig.
60. Erect culms mostly 10-60 cm tali, in tufts or
decumbent-erect from stout creeping many-noded
rhizomes or stolons. Lcdvc-s of rhizonu's. and often
hasal leaves of culms, scale-like. Sheaths rounded
on back, glabrous or puberulent. Li^ulc a minute
membranous collar. Bhulcs commonly 1-4 mm
broad and 2-8 (-20) cm long, involute on drying.
Inflorescence usually 2.5-8 cm long, the pistillate
generally more congested and irregular than the sta-
minate. Spikelets mostly 5-15-flow'ered and 6-18
mm long. Paleas large, the 2 nerves slightly to
strongly keeled.
Coastal salt marshes and saline and alkaline
places of coast and interior, widespread in North
and South America. Baja California Norte:
Common in salt marshes and fiats along W coast;
occasional in interior (e.g. Vallecitos, 440 m; Valle
Ojos Negros. 680 m). to 1600 m in Sierra Juarez
(e.g. Laguna Hanson; Rancho Calabozo) and to 900
m in Sierra San Pedro Martir (San Isidore); Islas
San Martin and Cedros. Baja California Sur: W
coast to Bahia Magdalena; E coast to La Paz.
For the variable D. spicata Beetle (1943) recog-
nized 7 varieties in North America. In his recent
listing of Mexican grasses (Beetle, 1977(/:346), he
cited two of these and implied a third for Baja Cal-
ifornia. According to his 1943 paper, these differ as
follows;
D. spicata var. divaricata Beetle. Culms 1-4 dm
tall, stiffly erect; leaf blades divaricate, rigid, rarely
more than 5 cm long; spikes rarely congested, the
pedicels visible; pistillate spikelets 5-12-flowered.
Coastal or interior.
D. spicata var. stolonifera Beetle. Culms to 3 dm
long, usually prostrate, often stoloniferous; leaf
blades erect, lax, mostly 1-2 dm long; spikes con-
gested, the short pedicels hidden; pistillate spikelets
5-9-fiowered. Mostly coastal.
D. spicata var. stricta (A. Gray) Beetle. Fig. 60.
Culms 1-3.5 dm tall, mostly erect; leaves ascend-
ing, lax, the blades 1-2 dm long; spikes rarely con-
gested; pistillate spikelets 5-20 flowered. Interior.
2. Distichlis palmeri (Vasey) Fassett ex I. M. Jin.,
Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., Ser. 4, 12:984. 1924. Uniola
Fig. 60. Di.slichlis spivciui var.
From Gould. 1451.
sirula: plant, spikelel, floret.
palmeri Vasey. wild-ricf. Cnhns stout, coarse.
25-60 or more cm tall, from thick scaly rhizomes.
Blades mostly 3-5 mm broad at base and 4-12 cm
long. Inflorescence tightly contracted. 6-20 cm
long, the lower branches o'( staminate inflores-
cences to 8 cm long, those of pistillate all short.
Spikelets mostly 7-9-fiowered. the staminate 1.5-2
cm long, the pistillate usually 2.5-3 cm long. Lem-
mas acuminate, sharp-pointed, the lowermost usu-
ally ca. 1.5 cm long.
In coastal salt marshes of eastern Baja California
and NW Sonora, often forming large dense stands.
Baja California: E coast from mouth of Rio Col-
orado to La Ribera. SE of La Paz; Islas Angel de
la Guarda, Coronados. Carmen, Danzante, Santa
Catalina. San Jose, San Francisco, and Espiritu
-Santo.
This is a grain plant formerly important to the
Cocopa people: quoting from several sources. Cas-
tetter and Bell (1951:192-194) told of the annual
harvest in late April and early May. at an otherwise
lean period in their food cycle. Dr. Edward Palmer,
botanical discoverer of the species, reported it
96
Gould and Moran
Fig. 61. Uniola pillieri: plant, spikelel, floret. From Swallen.
1955.
abundant in an area 1-20 miles wide along the Rio
Colorado in the delta area, covering an estimated
forty to fifty thousand acres. Many Cocopa came
to camp there each season. From rafts, or walking
in the mud at low water, they cut the stems while
the grain was still slightly green and took them
ashore to dry in the sun or with a fire before thresh-
ing. Later, when the grain was ripe, they would
harvest by knocking it into a basket-tray held by a
cord around the neck. Many grains that fell in the
water were gathered where they washed up in wind-
rows on the shore. The grain was carried home in
bags or in nets lined with straw. For use, it was
ground and made into a mush.
62. Jouvea Fourn.
1. Jouvea pilosa (Presl) Scribn., Bull. Torrey Bot.
Club 23:143. 1896. Rhizomatous dioecious peren-
nial with coarse much-branched culms forming
clumps 1 m or more wide. Leaves thick and tough.
Sheaths short, broad, rounded on back, with thin
membranous margins. Ligule a dense ring of hairs
0.5-1 mm long. Blades 4-15 cm long, 2-5 mm
broad, folded or involute, spine-tipped. Pistillate
inflorescences few to several in axils of reduced
upper leaves, each of 2-4 fascicled spikelets or a
solitary spikelet. Pistillate spikelets with i-3 florets
embedded in thick spongy rachilla. only the termi-
nal floret free. Staminate inflorescences more or
less elongated few-flowered spikes or panicles ag-
gregated at branch tips in contracted clusters. Sta-
minate spikelets awnless, with 8-20 or more rather
loosely imbricated florets. Glumes of staminate
spikelets I-3-nerved, similar to and only slightly
shorter than the thin 3-nerved lanceolate lemmas.
Palcas of staminate florets nearly as long as lemmas
but narrower.
On sandy beaches, western Mexico to El Salva-
dor. Baja California Sur: Cape region (near La
Paz; Todos Santos; Migriho; San Jose del Cabo;
Cabo San Lucas); Islas Coronados, Carmen, Dan-
zante, Monserrate, Santa Catalina, San Jose, San
Francisco, Espiritu Santo, and Cerralvo.
Tribe 14. Unioleae
63. Uniola L.
1. Uniola pittieri Hack., Oesterr. Bot. Z. 52:309.
1902. Fig. 61. Stoloniferous perennial with culms to
2 m tall. Lower leaves distichous. Sheaths ciliate
with long white hairs and these forming tufts just
below collar, glabrate in age. Blades long, firm, to
15 mm broad, involute on drying. Inflorescence a
contracted panicle 10-44 cm long of large awnless
spikelets. Spikelets short-pediceled, 6-24-flowered,
8-25 mm long, 6-1 1 mm broad. Lower 2-6 florets
of spikelet neuter, the upper bisexual. Glumes firm,
subequal, 1.5-6 mm long, acute to slightly bifid or
mucronate. Lemmas firm, 3-7- (-9-) nerved, acute
to slightly mucronate, the margins ciliate to cilio-
late. Paleas shorter than lemmas. Anthers 2-3 mm
long. Caryopsis narrow, ca. 1.5 mm long.
On sandy beaches. Sonora to Ecuador. Both
Hitchcock (1913:370) and Yates (1966:379) cited a
specimen {Dewey in 1874) from Baja California
without exact locality. Presumably this was Comdr.
George Dewey of the U.S.S. Narragattsett, who
surveyed the shores of Baja California in 1874 and
1875 but also visited mainland Mexico. We have
seen no other collections attributed to Dewey,
though Surgeon Thomas Hale Streets of the Nar-
ragansett made a "small but interesting collection
of plants" (Gray. 1877:162). Since this conspicuous
grass apparently has not since been found in Baja
California, the source of the Dewey specimen re-
mains doubtful.
Grasses of Baja California
97
Tribe 15. Pappophoreae
64. Pappophorum Schreh.
1. Pappophorum vaginatuni Buck!.. Prelim. Rep.
Cieol. Agr. Surv. Texas, App. 1. 1866. f. inmronu-
liiiiiin auth., not Nees. barb(>n puniiagudo. Fig.
62. Perennial with culms 30-80 cm tall, glabrous,
erect or geniculate belov\ . Sheaths with tuft of long
hairs on each side of collar, the hairs deciduous in
age. Li^iilc a ring of short hairs, but base of blade
immediately above ligule with hairs 2^ mm long.
Blades flat or involute, scabrous, 10-20 (-30) cm
long, 1.5-5 mm broad. Panicle narrow, tightly con-
tracted, whitish or tawny, rarely purple-tinged,
mostly 12-25 cm long. Spikelels with 1, rarely 2,
pertect florets and 2 reduced florets above; disartic-
ulation above glumes. Glumes subequal, thin,
membranous, 1-nerved. Lemmas firm, rounded on
back, indistinctly many-nerved, the nerves extend-
ing into 1 1 or more unequal glabrous or scabrous
awns. Body of lowermost lemma 3-4 mm long. Pa-
tea about as long as body of lemma.
Texas to southern Arizona and northern Mexico.
Baja California Sur: Wiggins (1980:919) report-
ed P. mucroiudatum Nees "on grassy plains and
valley floors, introduced into s B.C.". That is a
South American species whose name has long been
used for P. vagimitum. We have seen no Baja Cal-
ifornian specimens of Pappophorum.
65. Enneapogon Desv. ex Beauv.
I. Enneapogon desvauxii Beauv., Ess. Agrost. 82,
161. 1812. P. wrightii S, Wats, zacate ladkra.
Ft;ATH[£R pappusgrass. Fig. 63. Low tufted peren-
nial with slender wiry often geniculate culms 10-50
cm tall. Culms pilose, at least on nodes. Ligule a
ring of soft hairs ca. 1 mm long. Blades filiform,
hispid, mostly 2-12 cm long and 0,5-2 mm broad,
folded or involute on drying. Inflorescence a con-
tracted bristly panicle mostly 2-9 cm long and 6-10
(-15) mm thick, grayish or lead-colored. Spikelets
commonly 5-7 mm long including awns, usually
3-flowered with only lower floret perfect. Glumes
thin, puberulent, subequal, the first 5-7-nerved. the
second 3-4-nerved. Lemmas shorter than glumes,
broad, pubescent, with rounded back, the body
mostly 1.5-2 mm long, with 9 nerves and 9 equal
plumose awns 3—4 mm long. Palea about as long as
body of lemma, with widely divergent nerves.
Occasional on dry open slopes, Utah to Texas.
Arizona, and Mexico: also Bolivia, Peru, and Ar-
gentina. In Baja California at 100-1650 m. Baja
California Norte: Rare in the NW (SSH of El
Fig. 62. Puppuphorum vaaimiiiini: plant, spikelet, perfect flo-
ret. From Hitchcock, 1935.
Rodeo, 1040 m); Punta Prieta: Bahia de los Angeles;
Sierra San Borja; Calmalli. Baja California Sur:
S of El Arco; La Tinaja, E of Picachos de Santa
Clara; Cerro Azufre; Volcan las Tres Virgenes;
Sierra de la Giganta; La Paz.
Tribe 16. Orcuttieae
66. Orcuttia Vasey
Low tufted viscid and odorous annuals, with
short usually unbranched culms ending in spikelike
racemes of large many-flowered spikelets. /.<-«/ di-
vision into sheath and blade often marked only by
a slight constriction, the blade broad at base and
gradually tapering to point. Ligule usually not evi-
dent. Spikelets with upper florets reduced and neu-
ter. Glumes subequal. entire or 2-5-toothed. Lem-
nuis strongly several-nerved, irregularly toothed
and short-awned at apex. Paleas about as long as
98
Gould and Moran
Fig. 63. Eiiiicap(>f>(>n desvauxii: plant, spikelet. spikelet with-
out glumes. From Gould, 1978.
lemmas, with 2 green keels. Caiyopsis laterally flat-
tened, with large basal hiliim.
I. Glumes, at least the first, toothed, 2-4 mm long _-
I. O. californica
I. Glumes acuminate, not toothed, ca. 7 mm long
2. O. fragitis
1. Orcuttia californica Vasey. Bull. Torrey Bot.
Club 13:219. 1886. Fig. 64. Culms numerous in the
tuft, 5-20 cm long, usually pilose on and below
nodes. Sheaths and blades thin, similar in texture,
pilose, the hairs often papillate at base. Blades
mostly 2-4 cm long and 1.5-3 mm broad. Inflores-
cence 2-5 cm long, more or less viscid-glandular,
with usually 3-8 densely to sparsely pilose spikelets
appressed-erect on short, stout pedicels. Spikelets
mostly 0.8-2 cm long, with usually 8-16 or more
florets. Glumes narrow to broad, coarsely 3-5-
toothed, shorter than lemmas. Lemmas mostly 4-
5 mm long, with usually 11-15 nerves; deeply
toothed at ape.x, the teeth often short-awned.
Rare in southern California and NW Baja Cali-
fornia, in a few vernal pools and now a few roadside
ditches, at low elevations. Baja California
Norte: vernal pools, since destroyed. Tijuana air-
port (Mora/; 16053, 16113. /6/25); abundant in large
vernal ponds, mesa N of Cabo Colonet [Cape
ColnettJ {Moran 27576. 27591. 27611): local in bor-
row pits by highway SE (and ± down wind) of Cabo
Fig. 64. Uniittia californica: plant, lemma, palea. spikelet.
From U.S.D.A. Bull. No. 7.
Colonet, S of Colonet (village) {Moran 26281) and
near Ejido Ruben Jaramillo {Moran 23508); near
Bahia San (Juintin {Orcutt 1439, the type collec-
tion).
2. Orcuttia fragilis Swallen. J. Wash. Acad. Sci.
34:308. 1944. Low tufted annual, similar to O. cal-
ifornica but culms to 40 cm long, blades mostly 6-
12 mm broad, spikelets 3-8-flowered, glumes en-
tire, acuminate, the upper lemmas successively
smaller, minutely toothed and mucronate.
Endemic to the Magdalena Plain of southern Baja
California, in the bed of a shallow sometimes lake
that is more often a dry plain, abundant in years of
good rainfall and absent other years. Baja Cali-
fornia Sur: Known only from Llanos de Hiray.
Llanos de Magdalena. ca. 20 m {Gentry 4192. the
type collection; Griggs s.n.; Reeder & Reeder
7131. 7155. &c.).
The type kKality was given originally as "Llano
Dirai" and by Swallen (1964:249) as "Llano Datil-
Grasses of B;ij;i (':ilit'oinia
99
laie"". but according to Reeder ( I9KI) it is "Llanos
de Hiiay".
Howaid Gentry discovered this grass in January
1939 and reported it abundant over the great flood-
plain following rain storage. In January 1977 Tom
Griggs found only old dried plants: he collected
seeds and raised them at Davis. California, that
spring (letter and specimen to Moran. October
1980). John and Chailotte Reeder (I9K()) told of vis-
iting Llanos [ = plains] de Hiray several times from
1974 to 1978 and finding them dry and parched, with
little herbaceous vegetation and no living Orcuttia.
In May 1979, in a year of good rainfall, they found
an essentially pure stand of Orcuttia in flower over
hundreds of acres. And in early June 1980 they
found the Llanos under water and the Orcuttia
forming an unbroken greensward on the margins.
Gentry's label called this a forage grass, reported
excellent for cattle. In May 1979 the Readers
thought that grazing animals seemed to avoid it if
anything else was available; but in June 1980. when
there was little else, they found cattle eating it.
Tribe 17. Aristideae
67. Aristida L.
Low to moderately tall cespitose annuals and pe-
rennials, without rhizomes or stolons. Blades elon-
gate, narrow, often involute. Lii^ulc a ring of hairs
or a minute ciliate membrane. Inflorescence an
open or contracted panicle of usually large awned
1 -flowered spikelets. Disarticulation above the usu-
ally large lanceolate. I- (-3-) nerved glumes. Lem-
nui terete, indurate. 3-nerved. with hard sharp-
pointed callus at base and rounded awn column at
apex usually bearing 3 awns, the lateral awns totally
or partially reduced in a few species. Caryopsis
long and slender, permanently enclosed by firm
lemma and thin palea.
1. Awn column jointed al base, disarliculating uith slight
pressure at maturity.
2. Culm internodes pubescent I. A, ratifornicu
2. Culm internodes glabrous 2. A. f;luhrani
1. Awn column not jointed at base, persistent.
3. Plants annual 3. A. iuIm cnsiniiis
3. Plants perennial.
4. Lateral awns absent or reduced, rarely over 2 mm
long.
.'^. Awn column strongly twisted 4. A. schicJiumi
5. Awn column not or only slightly twisted.
6. Awn usually 15-20 (7-301 mm long, more or
less arcuate but not recurved with a semi-
circular bend f'. A. Icrnipcs
6. .\wn usually about 8 mm long, recurved and
with a semicircular bend . 7. ,4. inirjni\iana
4. Lateral awns present, more than 2 mm long.
7. Panicle open or loose, at least the lower branch-
es spreading — A
7. Panicle contracted, the branches usually all ap-
pressed along main axis AA
A (Panicle open)
8. Main panicle branches stiffly spreading, often widely so;
awns not more than 2..'< cm Umg.
9. Pedicels and branchlets mostly appressed. the latter
without calluses in their axils.
10. Awn column not or only slightly twisted, usually
short and stout _ 6. A. hamulosa
10. Awn column strongly twisted, usually slender
and long 8. A. divariciilti
y. Pedicels and branchlets mostly spreading, the latter
usually with calluses in their axils . .._ 9. A. burhala
8. Main panicle branches slender, at least some curving in
a "U" or "S" shape under weight of mature spikelets,
mostly 1-4 cm long; awns mostly 4-8 cm long
14. A. longiseta
A A (Panicle contracted)
I I. Lemma tapering to a slender, usually twisted awn col-
umn 3-6 mm long.
12. Glumes equal or nearly so. the second mostly 13-
18 mm long; leaf blades narrow, flat or folded,
the lower ones usually flat and often curled
II. /I. arizonica
12. Glumes unequal, the second mostly 10-14 mm long.
often twice as long as the first; blades strongly
involute 12. A. glauca
1 1. Lemma at maturity thick nearly to base of awns, not or
only slightly twisted above.
13. Second glume typically l6-2.'i mm long; awns usu-
ally 4-10 cm long 14. A. loiif^iscta
13. Second glume typically I.'' mm or less long; awns
3.5 cm or less long.
14. Blades mostly 10-20 cm long, not in a conspic-
uous basal tuft \0. A. HTii^hlii
14. Blades 10 cm or less long in a conspicuous bas-
al tuft _. \3. A. fcmllcriunu
1 . Aristida californica Thurb. ex S. Wats.. Bot. Cal-
if. 2:289. 1880. A. peninsulans Hitchc. Contr. U.S.
Natl. Herb. 22:521. 1924. Tufted perennial (often
appearing annual), with freely branched culms
mostly 15-50 cm long, at least the lower internodes
finely and densely puberulent. Sheaths mostly
much shorter than internodes. Blades filiform, in-
volute, mostly 1-2 mm broad. Inflorescence a few-
flowered contracted raceme with large long-awned
spikelets on short appressed pedicels, each plant
with many inflorescences terminating the many
wiry branches. Glumes unequal, the second mostly
10-16 mm long, the first ca. half as k>ng. Lemma
articulate with the awn column, the body mostly 5-
7 mm long, purple or miittled bluish-purple at ma-
turity, densely pubescent on callus with stiff hairs.
Awn column slender, light-colored, loosely twisted.
1.5-2 (-2.5) mm long. Awns mostly 2.5^.5 cm
long, the three awns ca. equal.
On dry sandy open or brushy plains, mostly at 5-
50 m. SE California, SW Arizona, Baja California,
100
Gould and Moran
and Sonora. Baja California Norte: In desert
parts {e.g. San Quintin: Puertocitos; Punta Prieta;
Bahia de los Angeles); Islas Angel de la Guarda and
San Lorenzo. Baja California Sur: Widespread,
most frequent in coastal sands.
Aristida pcninsiilaris was based on a specimen
collected November 1887 by Edward Palmer (No.
501) on sandy beaches at Los Angeles Bay [Bahia
de los Angeles). It was said to differ from A. cali-
fornica in being annual and in having larger glumes
(the first ca. 1 cm. the second ca. 2 cm long), larger
lemmas (ca. 8 mm long), and longer awns (3-5 cm
long). Because only A. ccilifornua and no distinct
annual plant has since been found at Bahia de los
Angeles, it seems that A. pcninsiilaiis must be only
an annual-appearing form of A. californicu. Aris-
tida fugitiva Vasey in S. Wats. (Proc. Amer. Acad.
Arts 24:80. 1889) is a nomen nudum apparently
based on the same type.
2. Aristida glabrata (Vasey) Hitchc, Contr. U.S.
Natl. Herb. 22:522. 1924. A. califomica var. gla-
brata Vasey, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., Ser. 2, 3:178.
1891. Perennial, generally similar to A. califomica
but culm internodes glabrous or scabrous, the lem-
ma awn column mostly 1-1.8 cm long, and the awns
mostly 1.5^ cm long.
Southern Arizona. Sonora. and Baja California,
mostly on sandy or gravelly slopes in desert scrub
and grassland at low elevations. Baja California
Norte: Los Emes, SW flank of Sierra San Pedro
Martir; Bahia San Francisquito. Baja California
Sur: Bahia Magdalena; Cape region (San Antonio;
Eureka; Santiago; Todos Santos; San Jose del
Cabo; Cabo San Lucas). Based on Brandegee col-
lections from Todos Santos and San Jose del Cabo.
Aristida califomica var. major Vasey in Brande-
gee, nomen nudum (Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. Ser. 2.
2:213. 1889), based on Brandegee in 1889 from Isla
Magdalena, belongs here according to Hitchcock
(1935^:798).
3. Aristida adscensionis L., Sp. PI. 82. 1753. A. bro-
nioides H.B.K. tres aristas de agua, zacate de
agua tres barbas. sixweeks threeawn. Fig. 65.
Tufted annual, extremely variable in size, growth
habit, and length of life. Culms wiry, often genic-
ulate-spreading and freely branched, mostly 10-50
cm tall. Sheaths much shorter than internodes. Lig-
ules short, densely ciliate-pubescent. Blades flat,
folded, or involute, 1-2.5 mm broad. Panicles nar-
row, contracted, rather dense, mostly 5-15 cm
long, the branches short and closely flowered to
base. Glumes unequal, the second usually 8-1 1 mm
long, the first shorter. Lemmas 6-9 mm long, usu-
ally scabrous in lines, pubescent on callus, thick to
base of awns. Awns about equal, conspicuously
flattened at base, 7-15 (-20) mm long, usually not
widely spreading even at maturity.
Dry sandy or rocky slopes, plains, and washes,
often weedy on disturbed soils, western Missouri,
California, and Texas, to Argentina. Baja Cali-
fornia: Occasional in the NW and common in the
deserts, including most of the desert islands.
Beetle (1974) discussed variation in A. adscen-
sionis and recognized seven varieties for Mexico.
We accept three for Baja California.
1. Culms mostly .10-7.'^ cm tall, often branchmg above the
base: awns (8-) 10-20 mm or more long.
2. Awns flexuous, not reflexed
3a. A. adscensionis var. adscensionis
2. Awns stiffly reflexed _.
3b. A. adscensionis var. decolorata
1. Culms less than 30 cm tall, infrequently branching above
the base: awns 1-15 mm long, occasionally completely
reduced 3c. A. adscensionis var. modesta
3a. Aristida adscensionis L. var. adscensionis. A.
interrupta Cav. A. adscensionis L. var. interrnpta
(Cav.) Beetle. A. dispersa Trin. & Rupr. var. ni-
grescens (Presl) Trin. & Rupr. A. adscensionis L.
var. nigrescens (Presl) Beetle. The typical variety
of A. adscensionis occurs throughout the range of
the species, varying considerably in size and gen-
eral appearance depending on available moisture
and on other environmental factors.
3b. Aristida adscensionis L. var. decolorata (E.
Fourn.) Beetle. Phytologia 28(4):317. 1974. A.
grisebachiana E. Fourn. var. decolorata E. Fourn.
Beetle (1974) noted "This plant is characterized by
its striking habit of producing whorled vegetative
branching well above the base".
Endemic to Mexico, occurring on the Yucatan
Peninsula, in Oaxaca, and most commonly in Baja
California Sur.
3c. Aristida adscensionis L. var. modesta Hack, in
Stuckert, Anales Mus. Nac. Hist. Nat. Buenos
Aires Ser. 3, 4:89. 1904.
California and Arizona to Argentina, the common
variety in the north, Baja California: Frequent
on sandy sites at low elevations, occasionally on
dry mountainsides to 1000 m.
4. Aristida schiedeana Trin. & Rupr., Mem. Acad.
Imp. Sci. St.-Petersbourg, Ser. 6, Sci. Math. 7:120.
1843. A. orcuttiana Vasey, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club
13:27. 1886. Fig. 66. Perennial with culms in small
or large clumps, mostly 30-100 cm tall, branched
only at base. Sheaths rounded or basal ones be-
coming flattened. Ligule a dense fringe of short
hairs. Blades elongate, 1-3 mm broad, the lower
Grasses ol B;ij;i California
101
Fig. 65. Arislida ads
ccnsioiiis.
From Hitchcock. 19.15.
Fig. 66. Aristidci svhicdcuna: plant, panicle, spikelet with floret
separated from glumes. From Gould. 1951.
often fiat, the upper usually becoming involute.
Panicles open, mostly 15-30 cm long, with slender
fiexuous branches, the lower usually widely spread-
ing or defiexed at maturity and often bare of spike-
lets below middle. Branchlcts and spikelets more
or less appressed along main branches. Glumes gla-
brous or scabrous-pubescent in lines, the second
usually 8-15 mm long, the first about -?. to as long.
Body of lemma mostly 6-9 mm long, dark violet or
blotched with violet. Awn column scabrous, tightly
twisted, mostly 1-A mm long. Lateral awns absent
or to 1 (-2) mm long. Central awn sharply diver-
gent, mostly 6-13 mm long.
Dry rocky and often brushy hills and desert grass-
lands, western Texas to southern California and
through Mexico to Guatemala. Baja California
North: Sierra Juarez: Cerro el Topo. 1700 m (Mor-
an 15593): Hansen's Ranch (Laguna Hanson. 1600
m| (Orcutt 507): Sierra San Pedro Martir: Canon
del Diablo. 1165 m (Chambers 636): Arroyo la
Grulla. 1900 m {Moran 24418. 24480): Santa Rosa.
2050 m {Moran ct Thome 14406). Baja Califor-
nia Sur: Cape region: La Chuparosa (Brande^ee
in 1897): Sierra San Francisquito (Brandciice in
1899): Isla Espiritu Santo {Wii^'^ins 15248. 19111).
Hitchcock (1935fl, \935b) and Chase (1951) have
used the name of A. orcuttiana for plants of SW
USA and NW Mexico, but there seems to be no
consistent basis for distinguishing this entity from
A. schiediana. The type oi A. orcuttiana is Orcutt
507, from Hansen's Ranch [Laguna Hanson], in the
Sierra Juarez.
5. Aristida ternipes Cav., Icon. PI. 5:46. 1799. A.
scabra (H.B.K.) Kunth. tres aristas arqueado,
spidergrass. Cespitose perennial with firm stiffly
erect culms mostly 40-130 cm tall. Sheaths round-
ed, scabrous. Ligule a minute puberulent rim.
Blades long, narrow, firm, involute on drying, gla-
brous or hispid on adaxial surface. Panicles mostly
10-55 cm long, typically open and with a few long
and spreading or drooping branches bare of spike-
lets on lower ' /3-'/2 but occasionally with branches
remaining short and erect-spreading. Branchlcts
and spikelets conspicuously appressed along pri-
mary branches. Glumes unequal to nearly equal,
scabrous, acute or acuminate, variable in size but
second usually 8-14 mm long; first glume early de-
ciduous, the second persistent. Lemma scabrous,
mottled purple, variable in size and length of awn,
the body (to base of lateral awn junction) commonly
102
Gould and Moran
7-18 mm long, the awn straight to flexuous, or bent
at right angle. (5-) 7-25 mm long. Lateral awns
often completely suppressed but occasionally as
much as 2 mm long.
Western Texas to Arizona and through Mexico;
also on islands of the Caribbean and in South Amer-
ica. On dry rocky or sandy, often brushy, slopes
and plateaus. Baja California Sur: Frequent
throughout the state S of Santa Rosalia at 200-
1000 m.
6. Aristida hamulosa Henr.. Meded. Rijks-Herb.
54:219. 1926. Cespitose perennial essentially similar
to A. tcrnipcs but with lateral awns of lemma well-
developed and only slightly shorter than central
one. Central aun typically 14-25 mm long though
occasionally shorter.
On dry rocky slopes in desert grasslands and
scrub areas and in open forest at higher elevations,
southern California to western Texas and Guate-
mala. Baja California Norte: Sierra Juarez.
1000-1225 m (La Hechicera; Agua Flores: El Ro-
deo); Arroyo el Picacho. Sierra San Pedro Martir.
1525 m; Valle de San Juan, Sierra San Borja,
1100 m.
7. Aristida purpusiana Hitchc Contr. U.S. Natl.
Herb. 17:276. 1913. Description from Hitchcock
(1935/7:383): ""Plants perennial; culms erect, slen-
der, rigid, glabrous. 50-60 cm high, the branches
stiffly ascending; sheaths glabrous, pilose at the
throat; blades 1-2 mm wide, 5-10 cm long, becom-
ing involute; panicle narrowly pyramidal, 15-25 cm
long, the branches few, short, few-flowered, finally
spreading or reflexed, the lower 5-6 cm long, the
branchlets and pedicels stiffly ascending; glitnies
somewhat unequal, the first about 6 mm, the second
8 mm long, smooth. 1-nerved, slightly notched at
the apex; lemma conspicuously pilose at the base,
about 1 cm long to base of awns, straight, minutely
scabrous on the short beak, the lateral awns scarce-
ly 1 mm long; terminal ann about 8 mm long, re-
curved by a semicircular bend."
As dehmited by Hitchcock (1913, \935b), con-
fined to the Cape region of Baja California. Baja
California Sur: San Jose del Cabo iPurpus 394.
the type collection; Brandegee in 1890; Beetle
M-2607).
Aristida purpusiana is doubtfully distinct from A.
ternipes: plants with curved lemma awns are oc-
casional throughout the range of that species. A col-
lection from near Guaymas, Sonora (Gould 12072)
has stout curved awns, but the plant is almost 1 m
tall. Several collections of A. ternipes from Yuca-
tan have long curved lemma awns, some semi-cir-
cular and some S-curved.
8. Aristida divaricata Humb. & Bonpl. in Willd.,
Enum. PI. 1:99. 1809. A. palmeri Vasey. tres ar-
ISTAS BARBADO. TRES ARISTAS ABIERTO, POVERTY
THREE AWN. Ccspitosc perennial with slender wiry
culms mostly 25-60 cm tall. Sheaths rounded, usu-
ally with lateral tufts of short hair on collar. Ligule
a dense fringe of short hairs. Blades elongate, most-
ly 2 mm or less broad, usually involute on drying.
Panicles mostly 10-30 cm long, the lower branches
usually long, widely spreading, and bare of spike-
lets on lower '/2 or '/.i. Secondary branches ami ped-
icels appressed along primary branches. Glumes
subequal, acute to acuminate, mostly 9-14 mm
long. Lemma with body mostly 5-7 mm long in-
cluding rather long stiffly bearded callus. Awn col-
umn twisted, scabrous, usually 2-5 mm long, bear-
ing 3 subequal awns mostly 10-20 mm long.
Kansas to southern California and Texas and
through Mexico to Guatemala, on dry rocky often
brushy slopes or in open forest, usually at moder-
ately high elevations. Baja California Norte:
Sierra Juarez. 700-1450 m: SE of Rancho Mezquite
{Moran 13445): Rancho Neji (Wiggins c\; Gillespie
4144); Ojos Negros; near Santa Catalina [Santa
Catarinal (Orcuti 1.2).
9. Aristida barbate E. Fourn.. Mex. PI. 2:78. 1886.
A. havardii Vasey. tres aristas barbado, ha-
vard three awn. Similar to A. divaricata but
plants usually smaller, the panicles mostly only 6-
15 cm long, and the secondary panicle branches and
pedicels typically spreading.
Western Texas to Arizona and central Mexico,
on rocky or sandy hills and plateaus. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Near Santa Catarina, Sierra Juarez
(Broder 666) according to Alan Beetle (letter to
Gould).
Hitchcock (1935/7:388) wrote: ""This species is
closely allied to A. divaricata. but is distinguished
by the hemispheric habit of growth and the flexuous
or implicate branches and pedicels. In A. divaricata
the culms are often prostrate or nearly so but do
not form hemispheric tufts: the main branches are
naked at base and the pedicels usually appressed
along the upper part of the branches. In A. harbata
the branches are shorter and bear a basal branch,
so that the spikelets are evenly distributed through
the panicle."
10. Aristida wrightii Nash var. parishii (Hitchc.)
Gould, J. Arnold Arbor. 60:320. 1979. A. parishii
Grasses of B;ija California
103
Hitchc. Cespitose perennial with stiffly erect culms
mostly 35-80 cm tall. Leaves glaucous, distributed
to well above base. Sheaths usually with lateral
tufts of hair at apex on each side of collar. Blades
elongate, firm, usually involute, mostly 1-2 mm
broad, scabrous or pilose on adaxial surface. Pan-
icles contracted, narrow, elongate, mostly 12-27
cm long, occasionally with rather long stiff and
slightly spreading lower branches. Glumes rather
broad, acute or acuminate, subequal, ca. 12 mm
long. Letninas stout, scabrous in lines, mostly 10-
15 mm to base of awns, the upper part (awn column)
straight or somewhat twisted. Awns equal or the
central one much longer, mostly 15-30 (^0) cm
long.
On dry rocky slopes, Arizona and southern Cal-
ifornia to Baja California. Baja California
Norte: Near Santa Catarina ( Wigi;ins 5333); Pozo
Aleman ( Wiggins 7837).
Aristida wrighiii var. paiishii differs from var.
wrighlii in its subequal glumes and apparently in a
tendency for the panicles to be more densely flow-
ered.
11. Aristida arizonica Vasey. Bull. Torrey Bot.
Club 13:27. 1886. Arizona XHRi-tiAWN. Tufted pe-
rennial with culms in small clumps. 30-100 cm tall.
Sheaths glabrous or hairy on upper margins and on
each side of collar. Ligiile a fringe of fine short
hairs. Blades \-4 mm broad, flat or folded (lower
ones usually flat). Panicles 10-25 cm long, con-
tracted, few-flowered, the branches mostly erect-
appressed, all short or lowermost to 6 cm long.
Glumes nearly equal or first slightly shorter, brown-
ish or bronze-tinged, usually narrow at apex and
often short-awned; second glume 13-18 mm long.
Lemma beaded at base. 13-18 mm long to base of
awns, with slender twisted awn column 3-6 mm
long. Central awn usually 2-3.5 cm long and slight-
ly longer than lateral awns; all awns occasionally
reduced in length.
Colorado, Texas, and Arizona, to northern Mex-
ico, in dry soil, usually on higher mountain slopes
and often in yellow pine forest. Baja California
Norte: Sierra San Pedro Martir: near Vallecitos
(Breedlove 16333. Wiggins 16676): Verba Buena,
2450 m {Moran & Thome 14190).
12. Aristida glauca (Nees) Walp., Ann. Bot. (Lon-
don) 1:925. 1849. blue threeawn. Low tufted pe-
rennial with culms mostly 15-30 cm tall. Sheaths
usually with tufts of hair on each side of collar.
Ligule a minute fringed membrane. Blades basally
clustered or scattered on culms, typically glabrous
and glaucous, tightly involute and stiffly curved,
mostly 1.5 mm or less broad. Panicles usually 6-18
cm long, typically narrow and contracted, with
tightly appressed branches and spikelets, but oc-
casionally with a few slender spreading lower
branches. Glumes narrow, acute to acuminate,
strikingly unequal, the first Vi--/?, as long as second,
the second usually 7-12 mm long. Lemnuis to base
of awns usually 1-3 mm longer than second glume,
the slender body tapering into delicate somewhat
twisted neck or awn column 1-4 mm long. Awns
slightly unequal, the middle one usually 15-20 mm
long and longer than lateral ones.
On dry slopes and plains, usually at relatively low
elevations; Utah and Nevada through Texas, Ari-
zona, and southern California, to central Mexico.
Baja California Norte: Sierra Juarez (W of La
Rumorosa; SSE of El Rodeo; E of El Milagro); W
of Col. Cardenas; Valle el Picacho, Sierra San Pe-
dro Martir, 1050 m; N of San Felipe; San Agustin;
Pozo Aleman; Islas Angel de la Guarda and San
Lorenzo.
13. Aristida fendleriana Steud., Syn. PI. Glum.
1:420. 1855. fendler threeawn. Low tufted pe-
rennial with culms mostly 10-35 cm tall. Leaves
numerous, short, mostly in dense basal cluster.
Blades slender, firm, tightly involute, commonly 2-
6 cm and seldom over 10 cm long. Inflorescence
slender, contracted, few-flowered, mostly 3-13 cm
long, usually a panicle but often reduced to a ra-
ceme with 2-6 spikelets. Spikelets mostly ap-
pressed to main axis but occasionally some on slen-
der S-curved branches. Glumes unequal, the first
'/2-^/i as long as second, the second usually 11-15
mm long. Lemmas mostly 11-13 mm long to base
of awns, glabrous or scabrous in lines, with a short
straight or slightly twisted poorly defined awn col-
umn. Lemma awns widely spreading, the central
one mostly 2-3.5 cm long, the lateral ones slightly
shorter.
North Dakota and Montana to southern Califor-
nia. Arizona, Texas, and northern Mexico, on dry
open sandy or gravelly slopes and flats. Baja Cal-
ifornia Norte: Often with pinon and juniper or
Artemisia tridentata and Arctostaphylos pungens:
Sierra Juarez, 1200-1650 m (Valle los Pinos; be-
tween Hechicera and El Condor; S of Los Gavi-
lanes; N of Rancho Viejo); N of El Alamo, 1 175 m;
Sierra San Pedro Martir (N of Rancho San Antonio,
1 150 m; ex-mision San Pedro Martir. 1475 m).
14. Aristida longiseta Steud.. Syn. PI. Glum. 1:420.
1855. TRES ARISIAS ROJO, RED IHREEAWN. Tuftcd
104
Gould and Moran
perennial with slender culms 10-35 (-50) cm tall.
Leaves in dense tuft at base of plant or well dis-
tributed on culms. Sheaths with prominent tufts of
hairs on each side of collar. Ligide a short ciliate
membrane. BUuics firm, glaucous, involute. 2 mm
or less broad, frequently not over 8 cm long but
occasionally to 15 cm. Inflorescence narrow, flex-
uous or stiffly erect, contracted or rather open and
with few to several slender spreading or curved
branches. Spikelets on short or long pedicels.
Ghunes broad, unequal, the first '/2--3 as long as
second, the second typically 16-25 mm long. Lem-
mas mostly 13-15 mm long to base of awns, thick
and straight or slightly twisted above, without a
well-defined neck or awn column. Awns nearly
equal, mostly 3.5-10 cm long.
Throughout western USA and most of northern
Mexico, frequent along roadways and ditches, on
dry open slopes and flats, and in washes. Baja Cal-
ifornia Nortf: SE of Santa Catarina, Sierra Jua-
rez, 1360 m (Broder 707): in same vicinity (Broder
769, 819).
As reported by Wiggins (1980:887), Arisiida pur-
purea Nutt. occurs near HI Marmol [Agua Dulce,
F. P. CronemUler 3057]. This is close to A. hmgi-
seta and apparently intergrades with it but has the
second glume mostly 11-15 mm long, the lemma
10-12 mm long, usually scabrous in lines above,
and the awns mostly 3.5-4.5 mm long. It occurs
from Utah and Kansas to southern California, Ar-
kansas, and northern Mexico.
Subfamily V. PANICOIDEAE
Tribe 18. Paniceae
68. Digitaria Heist.
Annuals and perennials with erect or decumbent-
spreading culms. Lii^ides membranous. Inflores-
cence a panicle with 2 to several slender spicate
branches; these unbranched or. in a few species,
sparingly rebranched. Inflorescence branches with
flat or 3-angled. often winged, rachis. the spikelets
subsessile or short-pediceled in 2 rows. Spikelets
2-flowered. the lower floret staminate or neuter, the
upper perfect; disarticulation below glumes. First
glume minute or absent. Second ghime well-devel-
oped but usually shorter than lemma of lower floret.
Lemma of upper floret relatively narrow, acute or
acuminate, firm but not hard, the margins thin and
flat, not inrolled over palea.
1. Plants perennial; rachis of inflorescence branch not or
obscurely winged 1- D. californica
1 . Plants annual; rachis of inflorescence branch winged, the
wings often as broad as body.
2. Branch rachis usually bearing scattered fine hairs;
spikelets less than 2.? mm long .-.- 2. /). lumzonUilis
2. Branch rachis without scattered fine hairs; spikelets
2.3 mm or more long.
3. Second glume less than 1 .5 mm long; lateral nerves
of lemma of lower floret with conspicuous spic-
ules; leaf bases with papilla-based hairs
S. D. sangiiinalis
3. Second glume more than I..'' mm long; lateral
nerves of lemmas lacking conspicuous spicules;
leaf bases with or without papilla-based hairs.
4. Lemma of lower floret of sessile spikelet with
lateral nerves crowded to margms; first glume
generally more than 0.3 mm long; lateral pri-
mary branches usually not all digitate
3. D. ciliuris
4. Lemma of lower floret of sessile spikelet with
nerves equidistant; first glume less than 0.3
mm long; lateral branches all digitate
4. D. hicornis
1. Digitaria californica (Benth.) Henr.. Blumea
1:99. 1934. Funiciim californicum Benth.. Bot.
Voy. Sulphur 55. 1844. Trichachne californica
(Benth.) Chase. ZACAft punta blanca. plumero
BLANCO. CALIFORNIA COTTONTOP. Fig. 67. Ccspi-
tose perennial with culms mostly 50-100 cm tall
from firm knotty base covered with densely pubes-
cent scale leaves. Blades of culm leaves mostly 2-
12 cm long and 2-5 mm broad, glabrous or sparsely
hirsute. Panicles narrow. 8-12 (-15) cm long, with
short appressed densely flowered branches. Spike-
|^,,s 3-4 mm long excluding hairs. First glume of
lowermost spikelet of pair obtuse or acute, often
0.3 mm or more long. Second ghaue and margins
of lemma of lower floret densely hirsute with silvery
or purple-tinged hairs 2-4 mm long, the back of
lower lemma glabrous. Lemma of upper floret
ovate-lanceolate, abruptly narrowed to short awn
tip.
Colorado to Texas. Arizona, and northern Mex-
ico, in dry grassland and on open rocky slopes.
Baja California: In the NW mostly at 1000-1200
m in S Sierra Juarez and N Sierra San Pedro Martir;
Ensenada; in desert S to San Jose del Cabo. from
coast to 1650 m but commonly above 700 m; Islas
San Marcos and Carmen. The type collection is
from Bahia Magdalena.
2. Digitaria horizontalis Willd.. Enum. Hort. Berol.
92. 1809. Annual with decumbent, spreading,
branching, often stoloniferous culms. Sheaths his-
pid or pilose with long spreading hairs. Blades thin,
flat, mostly 5-15 mm broad, finely pilose on one or
both surfaces. Panicles with 5-15 unbranched pri-
mary branches, the lower ones in verticels of 3-6.
Grasses of Baja California
105
Brain h nuhis usually with a few scattered papilla-
based hairs as much as 5-6 mm long. Spikclcts 2-
2.2 mm long. First i;liime usually absent, the sec-
ond ca. half as long as spikelet, pilose on margins
and tip. Lemma of lower floret with .'^ equidistant
nerves, with a few soft hairs on margins.
Widespread in tropical regions of both hemi-
spheres, usually a weed of disturbed soils. Baja
California Sur: Dr. Alan Beetle reports (letter to
Gould) that he has a collection (Ruth M-2584) from
near Miraflores. We have not examined the speci-
men.
3. Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koel., Descr. Gram. 27.
1802. D. adscendens (H.B.K.) Henr., D. sangiii-
nalis (L.) Scop. var. ciliaris (Retz.) Pari, zacate
CANGREJO VELLUDO. Aunuai with weak decum-
bent and basally branching culms mostly 70 cm or
less tall, often rooting at lower nodes. Lii;idcs gla-
brous, mostly 1-2.5 mm long. Leaves glabrous or
sparsely hispid with papilla-based hairs. Blades
flat, 5-10 mm broad. Inflorescence with usually 4-
9 slender unbranched primary branches mostly 6-
14 cm long, the branches digitate at culm apex or
at apex and in 1-2 verticels below. Branch rachis
strongly winged, 1-1.4 mm broad, with spikelets in
unequally pediceled pairs, the members of pair es-
sentially similar but sometimes one or the other vil-
lous on nerves of lemma of lower floret. Spikelets
2.3-3 mm long. First glume minute, scale-like. Sec-
ond glume 1-1.7 mm long, usually puberulent on
margins. Lateral nerves of lemma of lower floret
scabrous, rarely long-villous. Palea of lower floret
minute or absent.
Presumably adventive in North America, the
type of D. ciliaris from Asia but the type of D.
adscendens. a synonym, from South America. Now
widespread in North America from Canada to Mex-
ico and in South America, a weed of fields, gardens,
ditches, roadsides, and other areas of disturbed
soil, usually at low to moderately high elevations.
Baja California Norte: Roadside N of Sauzal
on Tecate road (Moran 25104). Baja California
Sur: Mulege: W of Loreto: La Paz; Triunfo: S of
El Valle Perdido: El Taste: San Jose del Cabo.
4. Digitaria bicornis (Lam.) R. & S.. Syst. Veg.
2:470. 1817. /). diversifolia Swallen. Annual with
decumbent-spreading culms, often stoloniferous at
base and rooting at lower nodes. Generally similar
to D. ciliaris but differing in the key characters and
in the minute rounded or truncate first glume that
is 0.3 mm or less long.
Fig. 67. Digitaria californica: plant, spikelet. From Gould,
1951, 1975.
A weed of cultivated areas, roadsides, and waste
places, in the tropics and subtropics of the world,
apparently introduced in North America from Asia.
At low elevations in Baja California. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Tijuana; Presa Rodriguez. Baja
California Sur: La Paz; San Pedro; 40 km S of
La Paz; Ribera; Sierra San Francisquito; Mira-
flores; San Jose del Cabo.
Based on our present knowledge of the
"crabgrass"" group of Digitarias, the separation of
D. bicornis from /). ciliata is not altogether satis-
factory. The collection Gould 11850 from near
Triunfo (referred to I), ciliaris) has the character-
istic lemma nervation of I), ciliaris. but the lemmas
of some lower florets of both subsessile and pedi-
celed spikelets have the spreading marginal hairs
typical of /). bicornis.
5. Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Fl. Carn., ed. 2,
1:52. 1772. Fanicuni sanguinale L. Annual with
decumbent base, rooting at lower nodes, with pa-
106
GoulJ and Moi;in
pilla-based hairs on leaf sheaths and blades. Ligule
a membrane 0.7-2.6 mm long. Paitivic of 3-9 un-
branched primary branches mostly 3-19 cm long,
the branch rachis with wing wider than body.
Paired spikclcts alternate on branches, lanceolate.
2.5-3.2 mm long, with spicules on lateral nerves.
First glume a small acutely triangular scale. Second
glume half to nearly as long as spikelet. Lemnui of
lower floret with 5 or 7 nerves, the lateral crowded
to margins, with conspicuous spicules.
Widespread in North America, mostly in western
and northern USA but also in Mexico, an occasion-
al weed of disturbed soil. Baja California Sur:
Sierra de la Laguna, Ledii de la Luz 34Q (TAES).
Robert Webster identified the specimen, gave us
information about the species, and revised our key
to include it.
69. Brachiaria Griseb.
Annuals and perennials, mostly with spreading
decumbent or stoloniferous culms. Ligule a short
fringed membrane. liifl<>re.\cenee usually a few-
flowered panicle, with spikelets paired or single,
short-pediceled or sessile on short spreading un-
branched or sparingly branched primary branches.
Spikelets awnless. with first glume oriented to-
wards rachis. 2-flowered. the upper floret perfect,
the lower staminate or neuter. Glumes unequal, the
first short and broad, the second as long as lemma
of lower floret. Lemma of upper floret firm or hard,
usually rugose in transverse lines but occasionally
smooth, with margins inrolled over palea. In all our
species the lemma of the upper floret is finely to
coarsely transverse-rugose.
1. Plants perennial, with long stout creeping stolons
1. B. piirpiinisccn.s
1. Plants annual, the culms erect, not stoloniferous.
2. Spikelets 2.4-3 mm long, glabrous _ 2. B. fasciciilaui
2. Spikelets 3.3-4.5 mm long, the glumes and lower lem-
ma sparsely to strongly pubescent 3. B. arizonica
1. Brachiaria purpurascens (Raddi) Henr.. Blumea
3:434. 1940. Panieum purpurascens Raddi. PARA-
GRASS. Fig. 68. Coarse perennial with tall erect
flowering culms and usually trailing stoloniferous
leafy culms as much as 4-5 m long. Nodes (actually
sheath bases) densely bearded. Sheaths rounded,
usually pubescent on collar as well as at base. Lig-
ule a short fringed membrane. Blades flat, scabrous
or hispid with papilla-based hairs, mostly 10-30 cm
long and 0.5-1.5 cm broad. Panicles mostly 12-20
cm long, with usually 8-18 loosely spaced primary
branches 2-9 cm long; these usually simple but low-
ermost occasionally with short secondary branch:
base of panicle branches villous-pubescent. Spike-
lets short-pediceled. imbricate and more or less
paired on flattened branch rachis, narrow, glabrous,
2.8-4 mm long, the pedicels often with a few long
silvery hairs. First glume acute, usually 1 mm long
or less. Second glunw ca. equalling lemma of lower
floret. Lower floret staminate, with thin membra-
nous palea as long as lemma or longer. Lenmui and
palea of upper floret finely rugose.
Long cultivated in the American tropics as a for-
age grass, paragrass now is occasional to frequent
along waterways and wet meadows of North Amer-
ica as far north as Florida and Texas. Baja Cali-
fornia Sur: La Paz {Palmer in 1890): Rancho Sal-
tito. Cape region {Carter ct- C'hisaki .U65).
2. Brachiaria fasciculate (Sw.) L. Parodi, Darwin-
iana 15:96. 1969. Panieum fasciculutum Sw. pani-
zo FASCicuLADO. BROWN lop. Fig. 69. Annual with
erect or decumbent-creeping culms 30-100 cm or
more long. Culm nodes usually appressed-pubes-
cent, the internodes often hispid also. Ligule a
fringe of hairs ca. 1 mm long. Lower sheaths and
blades usually hispid, the upper tending to be gla-
brous or sparsely hispid. BUules short, mostly 5-15
mm broad. Panicles 6-15 cm long, with appressed
or erect-spreading, mostly simple and rather sparse-
ly flowered branches 1-8 cm long. Branchlets and
the short pedicels usually scabrous or short-pubes-
cent and with few to numerous long stiff silvery
hairs. Spikelets mostly 2-3.1 mm long, glabrous,
broadly rounded, usually yellowish-brown or
bronze-colored. First glume broad, usually obtuse.
'4-'/i as long as spikelet. Second glume and lower
lemma usually reticulate with fine cross veins to
well below middle. Lenuna of upper {perfect) floret
transversely rugose, slightly beaked or apiculate.
Florida to Arizona and southward to South
America, a weedy grass of moist ditches, field bor-
ders, and waste places. Baja California Sur:
Low to intermediate elevations, most frequent in
coastal areas: Canipole; Sierra de la Giganta (Po-
trero de San Javier; E base of Cerro de la Giganta);
Loreto; W of Ligiii: 112 km NW of La Paz: La Paz.
3. Brachiaria arizonica (Scribn. & Merr.) S. T.
Blake. Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland 8i(l):4. 1969.
Panieum arizonitum Scribn. & Merr. Arizona
BRACHIARIA. Tuftcd auuual with erect or genicu-
late-spreading culms mostly 15-60 cm tall and usu-
ally freely branched. Cidms glabrous or sparsely
hispid at nodes and below panicle. Leaves sparsely
hispid with papilla-based hairs to nearly glabrous,
the blades usually with a few widely spaced coarse
Grasses of Baj;i California
107
Fig. 68. Brcuhiariu piirpurascfns: plant, two views of spikelet,
floret. From Hitchcock. 193.';.
cilia on lower margins. Blades thin, mostly 5-18 cm
long and 3-10 mm broad. Punivles 7-1? (-20) cm
long, narrow, with short usually simple erect or
spreading branches, the main axis and branches pi-
lose or hispid with silvery hairs. Spikclcts mostly
3.3^ mm long, borne on pedicels mostly 0.5-1 mm
long except for those terminating branches. Glumes
and lemma of lower floret pubescent or pilose. First
glume '/4-'/2 as long as spikelet. Leinma of Upper
floret finely rugose or reticulate, slightly apiculate,
about 3 mm long.
Texas to southern California and western Mexi-
co, mostly on rocky slopes, in sandy washes, and
along canyon bottoms, in Baja California recorded
from near sea level to 1680 m. Baja California
Norte: Sierra Juarez about Paso San Matias: Ro-
sarito: Sierra San Borja. Baja California Sur;
Common south to Cabo San Lucas: Isla Espiritu
Santo.
70. Eriochloa H.B.K.
1. Eriochloa lemmonii Vasey & Scribn. var. gracilis
(E. Fourn.) Gould. Leafl. W. Bot. 6:51. 1950. E.
Fig. 69. Brill liiarUi fiisi ii iiliUii: plant, spikelet. fertile floret.
From Gould and Bo.x. 1%.'^.
graeilis (E. Fourn.) Hitchc. Fig. 70A. Annual with
tufted culms mostly 20-70 cm tall, usually decum-
bent and geniculate below. Ligule a ring of soft
hairs. Blades thin, bright green, glabrous or rarely
thinly pilose, mostly 5-10 (-12) mm broad. Inflo-
rescence mostly 6-18 cm long, with spikelets short-
pediceled on erect or at length stiffly spreading
branches mostly 1-5 cm long. Panicle branches and
pedicels pubescent with short and occasionally long
hairs, these often somewhat viscid. Disarticulation
at base of spikelet. Spikelets including awns 4.5-8
mm long. First glume reduced to cup or disc; sec-
ond glume acuminate or short awn-tipped, as long
as spikelet. Lemma ojlowerjioret similar to second
glume but slightly shorter, also appressed-pubes-
cent. Lemma aiul palea of upper floret firm, gla-
108
Gould and Moran
Fig. 70. Eriochloa lemmonii: plant, spikelet. grain; A. spikelet
of var. gracilis. From Gould. 1951.
brous, minutely rugose, the lemma about 3.5 mm
long, abruptly mucronate or short-awned.
Texas to Arizona and western Mexico, along
sandy washes and in depressions, often in disturbed
soils. Baja California Sur: Mostly below 750 m:
San Ignacio; Cuarenta; Santa Rita; S of Loreto;
Cerro la Giganta; Triunfo.
Wiggins (1980:945) reported Eriochloa aristata
Vasey from open areas of NE Baja California; but
we have seen no specimens.
71. Panicum L.
Annuals and perennials of diverse habit. Inflo-
rescence an open or contracted panicle, usually
with at least some primary branches rebranched.
Spikelets 2-flowered, awnless, plano-convex, the
lower floret staminate or neuter, the upper perfect.
Both glumes usually present, the first commonly
short, the second about equalling lemma of lower
floret. Lemma of lower floret similar to glumes in
texture. Lemma and palea of upper floret firm or
indurate, shiny and glabrous in our species, the lem-
ma tightly clasping palea with thick, usually inroUed
margins.
1. Plants perennial.
2. Spikelets glabrous, 2.5-? mm long.
3. Culm bases swollen and bulbous; lemma and palea
of upper floret finely rugose 1. P- biillntsuin
3. Culm bases hard, often rhizomatous. not swollen;
lemma and palea of upper floret smooth.
4. Spikelets 3-5 mm long; culms in dense clumps,
little branched above; glumes narrowly acute
or acuminate -. 2. P. virgiiuim
4. Spikelets 2.5-3 mm long: culms branched and
bushy in age; glumes rounded to broadly
acute 3. P. antidolalc
2. Spikelets villous. 6-7 mm long 4. P. urvillcciniim
1. Plants annual; culm bases not swollen or bulbous.
5. Spikelets 1-1.4 mm long: pedicels often 1-2 cm long
5. P. trichoides
5. Spikelets 2.4-3.8 mm long: pedicels short or long,
h. Lemma of upper (perfect) floret transversely ru-
gose: spikelets subsessile or short pediceled on
simple or nearly simple primary inflorescence
branches SEE 69. BRACHIARIA
6. Lemma of upper floret smooth: spikelets short or
long-pediceled in open, usually freely re-
branched panicles.
7. Glumes and lemma of lower floret pubescent or
hispid SEE 69. BRACHIARIA
7. Glumes and lemma of lower floret glabrous.
8. Pulvini in axils of lower panicle branches
glabrous (rarely pubescent); pedicels
short, those of lateral spikelets rarely as
long as spikelet 6. P. hiriicaide
8. Pulvini in axils of lower panicle branches
hairy; pedicels long, most or all pedicels
longer than spikelets and some usually I-
2 cm long 7. P. cupillure
1. Panicum bulbosum H.B.K.. Nov. Gen. Sp. 1:99.
1815. BULB PANIC. Fig. 71. Perennial with culms
50-140 cm tali, usually in small clumps. Base of
plant firm knotty, often rhizomatous, the culm bas-
es typically but not always swollen and bulbous.
Lifiiile a short-ciliate membrane 0.5-2 mm long.
Blades flat, elongate, glabrous or variously hairy on
one or both surfaces, usually 2-6 mm broad but as
much as 15 mm broad in some forms. Panicles
open, well-exserted, 12^0 (-50) cm long, the spike-
lets short-pediceled but loosely arranged on slender
branchlets. Spikelets glabrous, narrowly oblong,
mostly 2.8-3.9 mm long. First illume ca. half as
long as spikelet. broadly acute at apex. Second
glume and lemma of lower floret about equal, often
slightly beaked at apex. Loner floret staminate or
neuter, with well-developed palea. Lemma and pa-
lea of upper floret finely rugose, usually shiny.
Glasses of Baja California
109
On rocky canyon slopes and in ravines, Texas,
New Mexico, and Arizona, through mountainous
areas of Mexico to Central and northern South
America. Baja California Sur: Cape region: La
Laguna. Sierra de la Laguna {Jones in 1930); La
Chuparosa (Brandciicc 80).
2. Panicuin virgatum L.. Sp. PI. 59. 1753. switch-
grass. Perennial with scaly creeping rhizomes.
Culms firm, erect, 60-120 cm or more tall, glabrous
or pubescent at nodes. Sheaths rounded, glabrous.
LiiiiiU' a short fringed membrane. Bhutes firm, flat,
elongate, 3-15 mm broad, usually glabrous but oc-
casionally pilose. Panicles large, open, broad or
narrow, usually many-flowered, the spikelets short-
pediceled on long slender branches. Spikelets gla-
brous, awnless, mostly 3-5 mm long. Glumes acute
or acuminate, the first -6— V4 as long as second, the
second about equalling lower lemma. Loner floret
usually staminate, with acuminate lemma and large
palea. Lemma of upper floret narrowly ovate,
smooth and shiny, light-colored.
Widespread in North America, from SE Canada
through most of USA except on the Pacific coast,
northern Mexico, and Cuba. Baja California
Sur: Canon San Pablo [SE of El Arco] (Purpus
7683).
3. Panicum antidotale Retz., Obs. Bot. 4:17. 1786.
BLUL PANIC. Perennial with hard knotty base,
branched and bushy in age, 0.5-2 (-3) m tall.
Sheaths glabrous or collar puberulent. Liiiule a
fringed membrane 0.5-1 mm long. Blades flat, elon-
gate, mostly 4-12 mm broad. Panicles open to
somewhat contracted, freely branched, mostly 12-
25 cm long. Spikelets glabrous, broadly ovate, 2.5-
3 mm long, on short pedicels and tips of short
branchlets. First illume thin, broadly rounded or
obtuse, mostly half or a third as long as spikelet.
Second glume and first lemma ca. equal, broad and
thin at apex. Lemnui of upper floret smooth, shiny,
narrowly pointed, ca. equalling spikelet.
Native to India; introduced in SW USA, Mexico,
and elsewhere, as a forage grass. Baja California
North: sizable clumps at roadside, rocky slope
with Larrea. Fouquieria, Pachycereus: II km
NNW of Chapala, 760 m (Reeder ct Reeder 7178).
Reported by Reeder and Reeder (1981:556), who
kindly sent us the details.
4. Panicum urvilleanum Kunth, Rev. Gram. 2:403.
1831. Culms solitary or few together, 50-100 cm
tall, erect from creeping rhizome. Culm nodes
densely bearded. Sheaths overlapping, retrorse-vil-
lous. Blades elongate, 4-7 mm broad, tapering from
(M\p4i^
Fig. 71. Pankiiin biilbnsiiin: plant, spikelet. grain. From
Gould, 19.S1.
flat base to long involute setaceous tip. Panicles 25-
30 cm long, with slender ascending branches.
Spikelets 6-7 mm long, densely villous. First glume
broad, clasping on margins, from V3 to nearly as
long as spikelet.
Sandy deserts, California and Arizona; also Chile
and Argentina. Baja California Norte: Report-
ed by Wiggins (1980:946) as "occasional in sandy
soil. Creosote Bush Scrub, n B.C."', but we have
seen no specimens.
5. Panicum trichoides Sw., Prod. Veg. Ind. Occ.
24. 1788. Annual with weak decumbent or stolon-
iferous many-noded much-branched culms, the
erect floriferous branches mostly 15-60 cm tall in-
cluding panicle. Sheaths papillose-hispid with
spreading hairs. Ligule absent or a ring of short or
long hairs. Blades short, flat, thin, broad, mostly
3-7 cm long and 7-15 mm broad, usually thinly pi-
lose and ciliate on margins towards base. Panicles
open, large and small, freely branched, with minute
spikelets on long pedicels. Spikelets mostly 1.2-1.5
mm long, narrow, tapering to both ends. First
glume ca. V^ as long as spikelet. Second glume and
lemma of lower floret hispid, the second glume
no
Gould and Moran
usually broadly rounded at apex and shorter than
both lemma of lower floret and lemma of upper flo-
ret. Leiuina and palca of upper floret minutely ru-
gose.
Mexico and the Antilles to Peru and Brazil, usu-
ally on moist banks in partial shade, occasionally
a weed of cultivated areas. Baja California Sur:
Along road to La Junta. S of El Valle Perdido
(WiLiiiitis 1535^).
6. Panicum hirticaule Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1:308.
1830. F. eapilUire L. var. hirticaule (Presl) Gould.
PANIZO C AUCHIN, ROUGHSTALK VVITC HGRASS. Tuft-
ed annual with erect or geniculate-spreading culms
mostly 15-80 cm tall. Culms glabrous or lower
nodes and intemodes sparsely short-hispid. Sheaths
and blades hispid with papilla-based hairs to sparse-
ly pilose or essentially glabrous. Ligule a ring of
hairs 0.9-3.5 mm long. Blades mostly 7-15 cm long
and 3-12 mm broad but extremely variable. Pani-
cles open, 5-20 cm long, Va-Vi as broad as long.
Lateral spikelets appressed to branchlets on pedi-
cels mostly 1-2.5 mm long, those terminating
branches on pedicels to 5 mm long. Spikelets gla-
brous, narrowly ovate, mostly 2.3-3.5 mm long.
First glume averaging half as long as spikelet. Pa-
lea of lower floret usually well-developed. Lemma
of upper floret smooth and shiny, with or without
crescent-shaped scar at base.
Usually on dry open slopes and sandy flats and
in dry sandy washes, southern California to Texas
and south into drier parts of Mexico. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Sierra Juarez, 1300-1680 m (SE of
San Faustino; La Botella: Portezuelo de Jamau);
San Antonio, Sierra San Pedro Martir. 1125 m.
Baja California Sur: S of El Arco; Cerro la La-
guna. Sierra San Francisco, 1450 m: San Ignacio;
N of Cuarenta, 30 m; S of Loreto; Sierra de la Gi-
ganta, 500-1250 m; Pichilingue: San Pedro; Triunfo:
Isia San Jose.
Panicum capillare var. glabrum Vasey in Bran-
degee, nomen nudum (Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. Ser.
2, 2:211. 1889), based on Brandegee in 1889 from
La Purisima, belongs here according to Hitchcock
(I935«:907).
7. Panicum capillare L.. Sp. PI. 58. 1753. common
wiTCHGRASS. Tuftcd annual with usually much-
branched spreading culms mostly 20-80 cm tall but
much shorter on depauperate plants, pubescent at
least at lower nodes. Leaves usually papillose-his-
pid with spreading hairs, the blades occasionally
merely ciliate on margins below. Panicles large,
diffuse, usually Vz or more as broad as long and
often Vz or more the entire length of culm, with
spikelets usually widely spaced and on long pedi-
cels; panicle breaking off as a unit at maturity. Ped-
icels slender, at least some 1-3 cm or more long.
Spikelets glabrous, usually 2-3.5 mm long, the tips
of upper glume and lemma of lower floret rather
abruptly extended into acuminate apex. First glume
acute to acuminate, ' ;i--:i as long as spikelet. Pcdea
of loner floret typically absent but occasionally
present. Lemma of upper floret smooth and shiny,
1.3-2.3 mm long, without scars at base.
Southern Canada through most of USA to Mex-
ico, usually as a weed of roadsides, ditches, vacant
lots, and cultivated areas. Baja California
NoRTt: In the NW at low elevations near coast:
San Rafael; San Telmo; Rio Santo Domingo above
the mission; N of San Quintin.
72. Dichanthelium (Hitchc. & Chase) Gould
I. Dichanthelium oligosanthes (Schult.) Gould var.
scribnerianum (Nash) Gould, Brittonia 26:60. 1974.
Panicum scribnerianum Nash. P. Iielleri Nash, za-
CATE HOJA ANCHA, SCRIBNLR's DICHANTHELIUM.
Fig. 72. Perennial with culms loosely to densely
tufted from knotty base. Culms mostly 15-80 cm
long. First-formed leaves of growing period short,
relatively broad, forming rosette. Lower sheaths
puberulent or hispid, the upper glabrous or hairy on
sides of collar. Blades short and flat, rather thick,
3-12 cm long and usually 4-12 mm broad, the lower
usually Hnely pubescent and often with a few coarse
hairs, the upper glabrous or scabrous. Primary in-
florescence usually a small open panicle; secondary
panicles few-flowered, partially included in sheath.
Spikelets broadly oblong or obovate, pilose or
papillate-pilose, 2.5-4 mm long, awnless, 2-flow-
ered. the lower floret usually neuter, the upper per-
fect. First glume '-4-'/3 as long as spikelet, the
second glume and lemma of lower floret about equal
or second glume slightly shorter. Lemma and palea
of upper floret firm, shiny, finely rugose, often
somewhat beaked at apex.
Widespread in North America, mostly in eastern
and central USA but also in Mexico, in partial
shade or in open sites. Baja California Norie:
Local in crevice in bare granite, gorge 5 km SW of
La GruUa, Sierra San Pedro Martir, 1850 m (Moran
24477).
73. Stenotaphrum Trin.
1. Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze, Rev.
Gen. PI. 2:794. 1891. gramillon de san agustin.
Grasses of Baja California
111
Fig. 72. Diihanthctium otigosunlhcs var. scrihncnaniim:
plant, spring and summer phase left, autumnal phase right; two
views of spikelet; grain. From Gould, 1951.
ST. AUGUSTINE GRASS. Fig. 73. Mat- or turf-forming
perennial with coarse widely creeping and freely
branched stolons and erect flowering culms mostly
10-30 cm tall. Leaves succulent, glabrous except
sheaths sparsely ciliate on margins and the short
membranous ligule ciliate. Blades thick, fiat, 4-10
mm broad, blunt at apex. Inflorescence spikelike,
5-10 cm long. 4-6 mm broad, with spikelets borne
on closely placed rudimentary appressed branches
on one side of flattened corky inflorescence axis.
Branches bearing 1-3 sessile or subsessile spike-
lets, the lower 1-2 often not developing. Spikelets
glabrous. 4-5 mm long, 2-flowered, the lower floret
staminate or neuter, the upper perfect. Glumes
broad, the first short, rounded, the second as long
as lemma of lower floret, acute. Lemma of upper
floret leathery, awnless. with thin, flat margins.
Tropics and subtropics of the world, primarily a
seashore pioneer: in North America probably not
native, grown as a lawn grass in warm regions and
often persisting as a weed of city lots, roadsides,
and other disturbed areas. Baja California
Norte: Yard of vacant house. Playas de Tijuana
(Moran 18543): small colony with beach drift.
Fig. 73. Stenotaphruin scviinduluni: plant, fertile floret, two
views of spikelet. From Chase, 1951.
sandy shore at Ensenada (Moran 29315). Baja
California Sur: Planted in La Paz (Reeder &
Reeder 6610, as reported to us in letter).
74. Paspalidium Stapf
I. Paspalidium geminatum (Forssk.) Stapf in Prain.
Fl. Trop. Afr. 9:583. 1920. Panicnm geminalnni
Forssk. EGYPTIAN paspalidium. Fig. 74. Perennial
with culms in small clumps from firm base. Culms
and leaves glabrous. Ligule a short ciliate mem-
brane. Blades elongate, 3-6 mm broad, flat or fold-
ed. Inflorescence narrow and elongate, with spike-
lets subsessile on 7-17 short spicate branches.
Inflorescence branches erect, mostly 2-3 cm long,
single at nodes, widely spaced below and progres-
sively closer together and shorter above. Spikelets
in 2 rows on flattened rachis, with rounded back of
lemma of upper floret towards rachis. Disarticula-
tion below glumes. Spikelets 2.2-3 mm long, ovate
or elliptic, 2-flowered. the lower floret sterile or sta-
minate. the upper perfect. First glume short and
broad, rounded at apex. '/4-'/^ as long as spikelet.
112
Gould and Moran
Fig. 74. Paspalidium geminatum: plant, two views of spikelet,
floret. From Hitchcock. 193.^.
Palea of lower floret about as long as lemma. Lem-
ma and palea of upper floret firm, finely rugose,
acute at apex.
Wet or moist habitats, mostly along lakes,
streams, and ditches, often in shallow water, south-
ern Oklahoma to Texas and Florida and through
Mexico to Central and northern South America.
Baja California Sur: Primer Agua near Loreto
(Jones in 1930); San Javier (Beetle M-2448y. S of
Santiago (Beetle M-2580): El Taste [Brandegee in
1893); San Jose del Cabo (Brandegee 14. 36).
75. Paspalum L.
Annuals and perennials, many with rhizomes.
Ligide a membrane or a ring of hairs. Blades usu-
ally flat, often broad. Inflorescence with 2, occa-
sionally 1, to many unbranched spicate primary
branches, these scattered or, in a few species,
paired at culm apex. Spikelets subsessile or short-
pediceled in 2^ rows on branch rachis, awnless.
2-flowered, the lower floret staminate or neuter, the
upper perfect. First glume typically absent but ir-
regularly present in a few species. Lemma and pa-
lea of upper floret firm or indurate, usually smooth
and shiny, the lemma margins inrolled over palea.
1. Inflorescence branches 2. paired or less than I cm apart
at culm apex (1-2 additional branches occasionally
present below).
2. Second glume and lemma of lower floret pubescent.
the lemma convex \ . P. pcispuUidcs
2. Second glume and lemma of lower floret glabrous, the
lemma flat 2. P. vai>inaliim
1. Inflorescence branches 1 to numerous, when 2 then 1-2
or more cm apart.
3. Spikelets 2.6 mm or more long, pubescent or pilose.
4. Margins of spikelets not ciliate with long hairs —
3. P. pubiflorum
4. Margins of spikelets ciliate with long hairs.
."5. Inflorescence branches mostly 12-20
7. P. unilU'i
^. Inflorescence branches 3-6 ._ 8. P. dilauiiiim
3. Spikelets 2 mm long or less.
6. Spikelets glabrous 4, P. squamidalum
6. Spikelets pubescent.
7. Spikelets 1.7-1.9 mm long, not densely crowd-
ed 5. P- tcntiginosiiin
7. Spikelets 1.3-1.4 (-1.5) mm long, crowded _-
6. P. panii idalDin
1. Paspalum paspalodes (Michx.) Scribn., Mem.
Torrey Bot. Club 5:29. 1894. P. distichum auth.,
not L. CAMALOTE SALADiLLO, KNOTGRASS. Peren-
nial with creeping rhizomes and slender wiry sto-
lons, the erect floriferous culms to 60 cm tall.
Sheaths large, conspicuous. Ligide a minute scale-
like membrane, often with row of short hairs just
above. Blades linear-lanceolate, often infolded or
inrolled on drying, usually 2-7 mm broad. Inflores-
cence with 2 more or less paired branches at culm
apex, occasionally with 1 or 2 additional branches
irregularly developed below; branches usually 2-6
cm long, with broad triangular rachis and sessile or
short-pediceled spikelets in 2 rows. Spikelets nar-
row, 2.6^ mm long, acute at apex. Lower glume
typically absent but occasionally irregularly devel-
oped. Upper glume weakly 5-nerved, appressed-
pubescent. Lemma of lower floret often wrinkled.
In wet soil along streams and lakes, southern
USA to South America and in the Old World. Baja
California Norte: Common in and along streams
in the NW: near coast (between Medio Camino and
Alisitos; Canon San Carlos; Erendira; Villa Guer-
rero); Sierra Juarez to 1600 m (Neji; S of La He-
chicera; Laguna Hanson); Sierra San Pedro Martir
to 2100 m (Encinal; La Grulla; San Isidoro: ex-misi-
6n San Pedro Martir). Also; 18 km S of Mexicali;
Grasses of Baja California
113
ex-mision San Borja. Baja California Sur: Cerro
de la Giganta; El Chorro, Cape region. 200 m.
This widespread grass has long gone under the
Linnaean name of P. distichum — a name recently
the subject of much debate. We accept the view of
Fosberg (1977) that the Linnaean type is the plant
generally known as P. vaiiinatuin Sw.
2. Paspalum vaginatum Sw.. Prod. Veg. Ind. Occ.
21. 1788. P. distichum L. skashorb paspalum.
Similar to P. paspalodes. differing mainly in the
key characters and in anatomical and epidermal fea-
tures; first glume rarely developed.
North Carolina to Florida and Texas and south
to Argentina, typically in saline coastal sands. Baja
California Sur: San Jose del Cabo {Biandcgee
2 of 1900. cited by Hitchcock, 1913:231).
We agree with Fosberg (1977) that the correct
name for this grass is P. distichiiin L. However, we
anticipate acceptance of the proposal by Renvoize
and Clayton (1980) to reject this name as a nomen
confusum. Others, including Guedes (1981), object
to this proposal.
3. Paspalum pubiflorum Rupr. ex E. Fourn., Mex.
PI. 2:11. 1886. camalote velludo, hairyseed
paspalum. Fig. 75. Rather coarse perennial with
culms mostly 30-70 cm tall from decumbent spread-
ing bases. Sheaths of lower leaves pilose at base
with papilla-based hairs appearing as nodal hairs.
Ligule a short usually brownish membrane. Blades
elongate, mostly 6-15 mm broad, usually scabrous
and with a few pustula-based hairs above ligule.
Inflorescence of 2-5 (-7) branches mostly 3-10 cm
long. Branch rachis flat, 1-2 mm broad, bearing 4
rows of closely placed spikelets or two rows by
abortion of upper spikelet of each pair. Spikelets
l.l-l.l mm long, elliptic or ovate, pointed but not
sharply so. First glume absent; second glume as
long as spikelet, rounded on back, pubescent, with
well-defined midnerve. Lemnui of lower floret flat
or concave, scabrous or short-pubescent. Lemma
and palea of upper floret firm, smooth and shiny.
Louisiana and Texas to Cuba and throughout
Mexico, in ditches and other low moist areas, oc-
casionally in partial shade. Baja California Sur:
Chase (1929:55) cited Palmer 45 of 1887, from
■"Maleje" [Mulege].
4. Paspalum squamulatum E. Fourn., Mex. PI.
2:1 1. 1886. Perennial with slender weak culms 25-
90 cm long and in age tending to be decumbent and
often rooting at lower nodes. Nodes dark. Sheaths
ciliate with soft hairs on margins and usually pu-
bescent on collar. Ligule brownish, 3-3.5 mm long.
Fig. 75. Paspalum pubiflorum: inflorescence, pair of spilcelets.
From Gould and Box, 196.5.
Blades flat, 3-15 mm broad, slightly narrowed at
base, ciliate on margins and variously pubescent on
one or both surfaces to nearly glabrous. Panicle
branches 3-13, usually 5-6, mostly 1.5-6 cm long.
Branch rachis narrow, scabrous on margins, bear-
ing short-pediceled spikelets in pairs. Spikelets 1.6-
1.9 mm long, broadly elliptic-obovate, pale green,
glabrous. First glume absent. Second glume and
114
Gould itnd Moran
lower lemma 3-nerved. the glume shorter than lem-
ma and exposing lemma of upper floret at maturity.
Lemma of upper (perfect) floret pale, smooth and
shiny.
Brushy or forested slopes, mostly at 500-1700 m.
southern Mexico to Guatemala and Nicaragua.
Baja California Sur: San Jose del Cabo (Bran-
dcgcc 40. cited by Chase. 1929: 119).
5. Paspalum lentiginosum Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1:218.
1830. Tufted leafy perennial with sparingly branched
culms 75-140 cm tall. Sheaths sparsely pilose to
papillose-pubescent. Lii>uU' 2-4 mm long. Blades
flat, elongate, mostly 8-14 mm broad, rounded at
base, with a few long hairs above ligule. Panicles
well-exserted. with usually 4-13 branches, the low-
er ones 4.5-1 1 cm long, the upper shorter. Branch
rachis very slender, with a few long white hairs at
base, bare of spikelets for lower 2-8 mm. Spikelets
1.7-1.9 mm long, broadly elliptic, loosely imbricat-
ed in pairs on slender pedicels. First glume absent,
the second glume and lemma of lower floret equal,
the glume finely papillose-pubescent, the lemma
glabrous or nearly so, both speckled with purplish
brown. Lemma and palea of upper floret yellowish,
smooth and shiny.
Western Mexico and Guatemala, mostly on low
open moist ground. Baja California Sur: To this
species we tentatively refer a collection from Mu-
lege (Howe in I9M). However, this specimen is
atypical in having spikelets only 1.3-1.5 mm long
and possibly belongs instead with P. panicniainm.
6. Paspalum paniculatum L., Syst. Nat., ed. 10.
2:855. 1759. Coarse cespitose leafy perennial with
large broad blades and elongated panicles with nu-
merous slender branches and very small spikelets.
Culms sometimes decumbent and rooting at basal
nodes, usually 30-100 cm tall. Nodes (really sheath
bases) often bearded with coarse hairs. Sheaths
coarsely papillose-hispid throughout or only on
margins and collar. Ligule 2-3 mm long. Blades
elongate, usually 10-25 mm broad. Panicle axis
commonly 5-20 cm long, with usually 10-60 slender
spreading racemes, the lower mostly 5-12 cm long,
the upper shorter. Branch rachis slender but stiff,
often with a few long hairs at base and on margins.
Spikelets in pairs on slender pedicels. 1.3-1.5 mm
long and ca. I mm broad. First glume absent, the
second glume and lemma of lower floret equal,
blotched or speckled with brown or purple, usually
puberulent on back or margins but occasionally gla-
brous on most spikelets of inflorescence.
Tropical regions of the world, in moist open
ground and on brushy slopes, often a weed of cul-
tivated soil. Baja California Sur: San Jose del
Cabo (Jones 27618).
Of this widespread and variable species Chase
(1929:124) wrote "'Dwarf' plants with but 4 or 5 short
racemes are found in the mountains or in dry situ-
ations. The foliage is rarely nearly glabrous."
7. Paspalum urvillei Steud.. Syn. PI. Gl. 1:24. 1854.
VASEV-GRASS. Coarsc perennial with stiffly erect
culms mostly 1-2 m tall, in large leafy clumps. Low-
er sheaths usually hirsute or villous with long hairs;
upper sheaths glabrous. Ligule membranous, well-
developed. Blades long and coarse, mostly 4-15
mm broad, usually with tuft of hairs just above lig-
ule. Inflorescence branches usually 8-30. erect. 4-
10 (-14) cm long, with closely imbncated spikelets
in 4 rows. Spikelets 2.2-2.7 mm long. First glume
absent: second glume and lemma of lower floret
pubescent with long hairs on margins; lemma also
pubescent on back.
Introduced from South America; now frequent in
SE USA and occasional in California and western
Mexico, mostly in rather moist soil of ditches and
roadsides. Baja California Nor if: Reported by
Wiggins (1980:947) from northern Baja California,
without specific locality. We have seen no speci-
mens.
8. Paspalum dilatatum Poir. in Lam., Encycl. 5:35.
1804. DALLis-GRASS. Cespitosc perennial with
culms mostly 50-120 cm tall from hard knotty base.
Lowermost sheaths usually hirsute, the upper gla-
brous. Ligule a brownish membrane 1.5-3 mm
long. Blades firm, flat, mostly 3-12 mm broad, gla-
brous or sparsely ciliate near base. Inflorescence
branches mostly 2-7, widely spaced on slender
axis. Spikelets closely imbricated in 4 rows on
broad flat rachis 3-8 cm long. Spikelets broadly
ovate, with short acute apex. First glunw absent.
Second glume and lemma of lower floret distinctly
5-nerved, 3-4 mm long, pubescent on margins with
long silky hairs. Lemnui of upper floret broadly
ovate or suborbicular.
Introduced from Uruguay or Argentina: now fre-
quent in parts of southern USA and occasional in
northern Mexico. Baja California Norte: Road-
side at San Antonio. N of Rosarito, 20 m, Moran
29742. Reported by Wiggins ( 1980:947) as occurring
in ditches and waste ground of agricultural areas.
76. Lasiacis (Griseb.) Hitchc.
Shrubby or viney woody-stemmed perennials
with much-branched culms, flat blades, and open
Griisses of Baja California
115
ov less tVcqiiently contracted panicles. Spikclcts
ovoid or ellipsoid, placed ohiiqueU on their pedi-
cels. 2-fiov\ered. the louer floret staminatc or neu-
ter, the upper perfect. First i^liiiiw short, broad,
often somev\hat inflated. Srcond i^liinw and Iciiidiu
of lower floyvt about equal. Lciuiua and palcu of
upper floret indurate, white, the lemma margins in-
rolled over edges of palea. both lemma and palea
w ith tuft of hairs at the slightly indented apex.
This treatment is based on that of Gerrit Davidse
(1978).
I. Blades linear to narrowly lanceolate, mostly less than 2
cm broad; spikelels obovate. mostly 3.7-4..1 mm long
___ I. /,. divariciilii
I. Blades broadly lanceolate to ovate, mostly more than 2
cm broad; spikelets globose, mostly 2.8-3.8 mm long
2. L. nisrifiilia
1. Lasiacis divaricata (L.) Hitchc. var. divaricata.
L. divarkata (L.) Hitchc, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb.
15:16. 1910. Panieinii divarieatiini L. Fig. 76.
CiiIdis erect, much-branched. (0..^-) 1-5 (-7) m
long, often viney and climbing over shrubs.
Slieaths glabrous on back, less frequently pubes-
cent, ciliate on upper margins and sometimes on
collar, otherwise glabrous. Lii^iile a minute mem-
branous collar. Blades (3-) 5-12 (-16) cm long,
(0.3-) 0.6-1.4 (-2) cm broad, lanceolate or linear
lanceolate, the surfaces glabrous except for some
scabridity or puberulence along upper part of mid-
rib. Panicles 2-12 (-20) cm long, the longer branch-
es rather distant, usually refiexed, with few widely
spaced spikelets. Spikelets (3.5-) 3.7-4.3 (^.5) mm
long, obovate.
Southern Florida to the Antilles, Mexico, and
South America, on brushy slopes at low altitudes.
Baja Caufornia Sur: Sierra de la Laguna (Bran-
dciiee in 1890. cited by Hitchcock. 1913:252 and
1920:21, but not by Davidse, 1978).
2. Lasiacis ruscirolia (H.B.K.) Hitchc. var. rusci-
folia. L. ritseifilia (H.B.K.) Hitchc. Proc Biol.
Soc Wash. 24:145. 1911. L. liehnianniana (E.
Fourn.) Hitchc. L. eonipaeta (Sw.) Hitchc. Plants
robust, the culms 1-8 m long, erect at base, climb-
ing and leaning on vegetation. Sheaths papillose-
hispid with hairs to 3.5 mm long, glabrous or hispid,
ciliate on margins above and often pubescent on
collar. Lii-ule minute. Blades ovate, ovate-lanceo-
late, or occasionally narrowly lanceolate, (4-) 6-14
(-16) cm long and (I-) 1.8-4.4 (-5.6) cm broad,
asymmetrical and cordate at base, glabrous or var-
iously hairy. Panicles usually rather compact and
dense, (2-) 4-16 (-22) cm long, usually with closely
flowered branches, the lower 3 panicle branches
Fig. 76. Lasiacis divarivala: plant, spikelet. floret. From
Hitchcock. 1935.
widely separated and widely spreading. Spikelets
globose, (2.6-) 2.8-3.8 (-4) mm long.
Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, and to northern South
America, along shaded ravines, on brushy slopes,
and in open forests. Baja California Sur: at 150-
1600 m: Sierra de la Giganta (Arroyo Tabor; Arroyo
Hondo): Cape region (San Antonio: San Bartolo;
Sierra el Taste).
77. Opiismenus Beauv.
Perennials and annuals with usually weak decum-
bent branching culms, thin flat usually short blades,
and inflorescences of few to several short spicate
branches. Spikelets subsessile, paired or solitary in
two rows on one side of a narrow scabrous or hairy
rachis. Spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret sta-
minate or neuter, the upper perfect. Lemma of low-
er floret longer than glumes and lemma of upper
floret, notched or entire, mucronate or short-
116
Gould and Moran
Fig. 77. OpUsmcnus: spikelet (left) and inflorescence of O. bur-
mannii; spikelet (right) of (.*. hirlcUiis. From Pohl. 1980.
awned; lemma of upper floret firm, shiny, tiie mar-
gins inroUed over paiea.
I . Awns smooth or minutely rugose
1. Awns antrorsely scabrous
. \. U. hirtcllus
2. O. hurmannii
1. Opiismenus hirtellus (L.) Beauv.. Ess. Agrost.
54, 168. 1812. O. sctariiis (Lam.) R. & S. Fig. 77.
Annual (or perennial?) with trailing, branching
culms. Erect flowering shoots mostly 15-30 cm tall.
Culm nodes and upper part of internodes often pu-
bescent or hirsute. Sheath margins and collar pilose
or hispid; slender hispid auricles usually present.
Ligiile a fringed membrane usually 0.5-1 mm long.
Blades glabrous, scabrous, or hispid, mostly 1.5-4
cm long and 4-10 mm broad. Panicle long-exserted,
the main axis 2-6 (-8) cm long, with 3-6 (-8) spicate
branches. Panicle branches 2-3 (-5) cm long, sca-
brous, puberulent or villous at base, usuaUy with
3-8 spikelets. Glumes broad, appressed-hispid.
short- to rather long-awned from usually notched
apex, the first 3-nerved, the second 5-nerved. Lem-
ma of lower floret 2-3 mm long, broad, glabrous or
pilose, awnless or short-awned; lemma of upper flo-
ret firm, smooth, narrow, overlapping but not in-
rolled over margins of palea.
North Carolina. Florida, Arkansas, and Texas,
south to Mexico, Honduras, the Antilles, and north-
ern South America. Baja California Sur: Cape
region: Sierra el Taste (Carter & Chisaki 3488).
We follow Davey and Clayton (1978) in reducing
O. setarius to synonymy under i). hirtellus.
2. Opiismenus hurmannii (Retz.) Beauv., Agrost.
54. 1812. O. cristatus Presl. Fig. 77. Annual with
decumbent or trailing culms and erect flowering
branches 10-40 cm tall. Sheaths glabrous or papil-
lose-hispid, ciliate on margins and villous on collar.
Liiiule a short ciliate membrane. Blades mostly 2-
6 cm long and 1-1.5 cm broad, usually undulate on
margins. Panicle well-exserted, 2-5 (-10) cm long,
the main axis usually hispid above lowermost
branch. Panicle branches 3-8 or more, the rachis
hispid with long stiff white hairs. Spikelets similar
to those of O. setarius.
In both Old World and New World tropics; fre-
quent from central Mexico, Cuba, and Hispaniola,
to Brazil. B.\ja California Sur: Miraflores (B/a/i-
dciice 22 of 1890); Sierra de la Laguna (Brundegee
5 of 1890)— both records cited by Hitchcock
(1913:255) as O. cristatus.
78. Echinochloa Beauv.
Annuals and perennials with weak succulent
culms and thin flat blades. Ligide a ring of hairs or
absent. Injinrescence a panicle with few to many
simple or rebranched densely flowered branches.
Spikelets subsessile. disarticulating below glumes,
2-flowered. the lower floret staminate or neuter, the
upper perfect. First glume present, short, acute or
short-awned. Second glume and lemma of lower
floret about equal, awned or awnless; lemma of up-
per (perfect) floret indurate, smooth and shiny, with
margins inrolled over palea. Palea of upper floret
similar to lemma in texture but narrowing to pointed
tip free from lemma margins.
1 . Primary inflorescence branches simple, usually 2 cm or
less long; spikelets 2.5-3 mm long, awnless. arranged
in 4 regular rows on branch rachis: hairs of inflores-
cence axis, branches, and spikelets not papilla-based
1. E. ciilona
1. Primary inflorescence branches often rebranched, the
lower branches commonly more than 2 cm long; spike-
lets small or large, awnless or awned. in regular rows
or not; papilla-based hairs present on inflorescence
branches or spikelets.
2. Lemma of upper (perfect) floret narrowly ovate or
oblong; setae as long as or longer than spikelets not
developed on inflorescence branches; panicle axis
long, densely flowered, with numerous branches
2. t. crus-pavonis
2. Lemma of upper floret broadly ovate or oblong; setae
Grasses of Baja California
117
as long as or longer than spikelets present at least
on lower inflorescence branches; panicle axis long
or short, stiffly erect, with few to many branches
__ 3. £. (TH.v-,i;n///
1. Kchinochloacolona(L.) Link. Hort. Berol. 2:209.
1833. ARROZ DE MONTE. JUNGLE-RICE. Fig. 78.
Tufted annual with slender weak culms 10-70 cm
long. Leaves glabrous, without ligules. the blades
thin. 3-6 (-9) mm broad, often with purple bars,
v"s, or blotches. Infiorcsccinc short, few-flowered,
with usually 3-7 unbranched primary branches;
branches and nodes of axis glabrous or with a few
hairs that are never papilla-based. Spikelets usually
inconspicuously pubescent with fine short hairs.
Palea of lower floret well developed.
Widespread in tropical and subtropical regions of
both hemispheres, mostly as a weed of disturbed
soils, as at roadsides and in gardens and waste
places. Baja California Norte: Occasional in
the NW (Tijuana; Presa Rodriguez; Valle las Pal-
mas; Santo Domingo); Mexicali. Baja California
Sur: Common at relatively low elevations, known
from many collections.
As explained by Hitchcock (1913:256. footnote),
the epithet can be interpreted as a rare contracted
form of the noun "colonorum", which would be
invariable. However, W. D. Clayton (letter to
Gould. November 1976) found that dictionaries of
Linnaeus" day give "colonus" as a noun or adjec-
tive, suggesting that he may have used it here as an
adjective and that, not knowing his intent, we may
as well do likewise and so avoid the apparent dis-
cordance of "Eehiiioclilod voloniim" .
2. Echinochloa crus-pavonis (H.B.K.) Schult.,
Mantissa 2:269. 1824. £. sabiilieola (Nees) Hitchc.
Annual with many-noded robust culms mostly 60-
150 cm tall. Lii>ule absent. Blades long, mostly 1-
2.5 cm broad, glabrous. Panicles 10-30 cm long,
with lower branches to 14 cm long, the secondary
branches to 3 cm; long setae absent to prominent
on nodes of main panicle axis. Spikelets 2.8-3.1
mm long to base of awn. Lower floret neuter, the
lemma awntess or with awn 1-11 mm long. Lemma
of upper floret grayish, narrow, the coriaceous apex
acute or obtuse, with well-differentiated membra-
nous tip.
Southern United States and southward through
the Antilles. Mexico, and Central and South Amer-
ica, to Bolivia and Argentina. Baja Caufornl^
Sur: Apparently not collected recently but known
from three 19th century collections: San Ignacio
(Brandegee in 1889); La Chuparosa (Brandegee in
1897): San Jose del Cabo (Furpus 286).
Fig. 78. Ecliiiunhhia loliiini: a, b. c, spikelet; d. sterile floret:
e. f. fertile floret. From U.S.D.A. Bull. No. 7.
3. Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.. Ess. Agrost.
53, 161. 1812. Coarse annual with tufted erect or
decumbent-spreading culms mostly 30-100 cm tall
but occasionally much taller. Calms glabrous, with
numerous usually swollen nodes. Ligule usually
absent. Blades elongate, mostly 0.5-3 cm broad,
scabrous or sparsely hirsute. Panicles mostly 10-
25 cm long, with usually 5-25 appressed or spread-
ing branches, the longer branches rebranched.
Main axis and branches of panicle with stout often
papilla-based setae that typically equal or exceed
the spikelets in length. Spikelets awned orawnless,
mostly 2.8-4 mm long. Glumes and lemma of lower
118
Gould and Moran
Fig. 79. Rhxiulu'hlrum rcpens: plant, floret, spikelet. From
Hitchcock. 1935.
floret, variously scabrous, hirsute or hispid to near-
ly glabrous. Lower floret neuter, the lemma awn-
less, short-awned, or with awn to 5 cm long, the
awn length commonly but not always variable in
same panicle. Palca of lower floret well-developed.
Lemma of perfect floret broad, thick, with acute or
obtuse tip separated by a line of minute bristles
from a sharply differentiated withering membra-
nous tip.
Widespread in temperate and subtropical regions
of the world; in North America, where considered
adventive. from Canada to Mexico, mostly as a
weed of roadsides, ditches, field borders, and other
areas of disturbed soil. Baja California Norte:
Fairly common in the NW (e-8- Tijuana; Ensenada;
Maneadero; NE of Ojos Negros; Colonia Lazaro
Cardenas).
79. Rhynchelytrum Nees
1. Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C. E. Hubb.,
Bull. Misc. inf. 1934:110. 1934. R. rosenm (Nees)
Stapf & Hubb. TrichoUiena rosea Nees. zac atf
NATAL, NATAL GRASS. Fig. 79. Perennial with
spreading-erect culms mostly 30-70 (-100) cm tall.
Calm nodes puberulent. Leaves usually somewhat
papillose-hispid, occasionally only scabrous. L;>-
ale a fringe of stiff hairs 0.5-1 mm long. Blades
elongate, flat or folded, mostly 2-> mm broad. In-
florescence an open or loosely contracted panicle
mostly f>-20 cm long, with slender curving branches
and pedicels and villous rosy spikelets, fading
white. Disariicniation at base of spikelets. Spike-
lets 2-flowered, the lower floret sterile, the upper
peifect. First illume minute, the second glume and
lemma of lower floret equal and similar, about 4 mm
long, with slender terminal awn mostly 1.5-2 mm
long, densely pubescent with silky hairs 5-10 mm
long. Lemma of upper floret glabrous, shiny, slen-
der and pointed, 2-2.5 mm long.
An African grass now well established and some-
what weedy in warmer parts of the Americas, main-
ly on roadsides, field borders, and other moderately
disturbed and well drained soils. Baja California
Norte: Still uncommon in the NW, noted only
along main highways (Presa Rodriguez; W of Te-
cate; Medio Camino; N of Sauzal). Baja Califor-
nia Sur: Cape region (La Paz; San Antonio; San
Bartolo; Santiago; Miraflores; Caduaho; San Jose
del Cabo),
80, Setariopsis Scribn,
1. Setariopsis auriculata (E. Fourn.) Scribn. in
Millsp., Publ. Field Columbian Mus., Bot. Ser,
1:289, 1896. Fig. 80. Erect or ascending somewhat
branching annual 20-60 cm tall. Sheaths com-
pressed, pubescent. Blades flat, 4-15 cm long. 3-
12 mm wide, pubescent. Panicle subspicate, 3-15
cm long, the primary and secondary branches each
ending in a flexuous bristle to 10 mm long. Spikelets
short-pediceled, 3-4 mm long. First glume 5-7-
nerved. ca. '/* as long as spikelet. Second i;lunie
1 1-15-nerved. broadly ovate, irregularly auriculate.
saccate. Sterile lemma longer and narrower than
second glume, acute, indurated on margins. Fertile
lemma ovate, acute, transversely rugose.
Grassy plains at low elevations, Sonora and Chi-
huahua to northern South America. Baja Califor-
nia Sur: With Pachycereus and Fouquieria, 3 km
S of Miraflores, 275 m {Reeder & Reeder 6601).
Glasses of Baja California
119
Reported for Baja California by Reeder and Reeder
(1981:556). who kindly sent us the details.
81. Setaria Beau v.
Annuals and perennials with erect or spreading-
erect culms from decumbent base. Li^iilc a short
fringed membrane. Blades thin, flat or infrequently
involute, narrow or broad, in subgenus Piycho-
phyllnni very broad, plicate, and petiolate. Inflo-
rescence a narrow usually densely flowered bristly
panicle, the spikelets subsessile on main axis and
on short erect or spreading branches. Some or all
spikelets subtended by 1 to several persistent bris-
tles (reduced branches or pedicels), the spikelets
disarticulating above bristles. Spikelets 2-flowered,
the lower floret staminate or neuter, the upper per-
fect. Glumes unequal, the first less than '2 length
of spikelet, the second more than '2 length of spike-
let. Lemnui cunt palea of upper floret indurate,
usually finely to coarsely rugose, rounded at apex,
the lemma margins thick and inrolled over palea
margins.
This treatment is based mainly on the monograph
of North American species by Rominger ( 1962).
I. Bristles 4-12 helow each spikelet; plants perennial from
hard knotty rhizomatous base 1. 5. j>crucuUila
1. Bristles 1-3 below each spikelet; plants annual or peren-
nial.
2. Bristles retrorsely scabrous or scabrous-hispid; plants
annual 2. 5. adhaerans
2. Bristles smooth or antrorsely scabrous.
3. Plants perennial from firm, often hard. base.
4. Margins of sheath ciliate-pubescent. at least
above; ligular hairs to 4 mm long.
f'. Palea of lower floret nearly as long as palea
of upper floret; spikelets mostly 1.9-2.1
mm long at maturity, strongly inflated and
appearing globose; blades, at least some.
7-15 mm broad 4. S. macrosuukyu
5. Palea of lower floret usually ' 2-'4 as long as
palea of upper floret; spikelets mostly 2.1-
2.7 mm long, not strongly inflated; blades
2-5 (-7) mm broad 6. 5. tcmopita
4. Margins of sheath glabrous; ligular hairs 0.2-1
mm long 5. 5. pulnicri
3. Plants annual.
fi. Panicle dense, cylindrical and spicate. the pri-
mary panicle a.xis usually not visible for most
of its length; lemma of upper floret minutely
rugose .
7. Panicle axis scabrous-hispid with short stiff
hairs of uniform length: panicle branches
densely verticiled
3. S. vcrlit itlcilii var. umhii^'ini
7. Panicle axis scabrous and with long and
short hairs: panicle branches not densely
verticiled 7. .V. virijis
6. Panicle contracted but relatively loose, the
main axis visible for most of its length.
8. Lemma of upper (perfect) floret finely retic-
ulate or minutely rugose 8. S. f>risehuchii
Fig. 80. Selariopsis aurii tilutu: plant, spikelet. inflorescence.
From Swallen. 1955.
8. Lemma of upper floret coarsely transverse-
rugose -. 9. 5. lichnninnii
I. Setaria geniculate (Lam.) Beauv., Ess. Agrost.
51, 178. 1812. Chaetochloa iniherhis (Poir.) Scribn.
C. iiracilis (H.B.K.) Scribn. & Merr. pajita cer-
DOSA, KNOTROOT BRis Ti hGRASS. Perennial with
tufted culms 30-100 cm or more tall from short
knotty rhizomes. Nodes glabrous. Leaves usually
glabrous or inconspicuously scabrous, sometimes
with a few long hairs above ligule. Blades flat,
mostly 2-8 mm broad. Panicles densely flowered,
cylindrical, the puberulent main axis obscured by
spikelets. Bristles antrorsely scabrous, yellow,
tawny, green, or purple, variable in length but most-
ly 5-10 mm long. Spikelets 2.5-3 mm long, ellipti-
cal, turgid. Lower floret with lemma about as long
120
Gould and Moran
Fig. 81. Si'turiu nuu rasuuhya: plant, spikelet with fertile floret
removed, pedicelled spikelet with bristle at base. From Gould,
as lemma of upper floret and palea about equal to
lemma in length. Lcinina of upper (perfect) floret
coarsely transverse-rugose.
As reported by Rominger (1962), this is the wid-
est spread species of Sciaria in North America,
ranging from northern USA through Mexico and the
Antilles and to South America. Its apparent infre-
quency in Baja California is therefore surprising.
Baja California Sur: Reported by Hitchcock
(1913:264) from San Jose del Cabo (Brandcgce 15
of 1890. Piirpus 325).
2. Setaria adhaerans (Forssk.) Chiov., Nuovo.
Giorn. Bot. Ital. 26:77. 1919. Annual with weak,
often geniculate or trailing culms 25-70 cm in height
or length. Nodes glabrous, dark colored. Sheaths
glabrous, with hyaline margins. Blades thin, flat,
usually rather short, 5-13 mm broad, glabrous to
strigose and often with papilla-based hairs. Inflo-
rescence dense, cylindrical, the main a.xis obscured
by spikelets. 2-6 (-8) cm long and usually 4-6 mm
broad excluding awns. Bristles typically 1 below
each spikelet. retrorsely scabrous or scabrous-his-
pid at least at tip. about equalling or greatly ex-
ceeding spikelet in length. Spikelets 1.5-1.8 (-2)
mm long, oblong-elliptic. Palea of lower floret less
than '/2 lemma length. Lemma and palea of upper
floret finely rugose.
Tropical regions of the world, a weedy grass of
disturbed habitats; in the Americas from southern
USA through Mexico and the Antilles to South
America. Ba.ia California Norte: Ensenada; N
of Maneadero; Ejido Papalote. Baja California
Sur: Villa Constitucion (El Crucero); 1 14 km NW
of La Paz; La Paz.
Setaria adhaerans is closely related to S. verti-
cilUita. and the two are not always readily separa-
ble.
3. Setaria verticillata (L.) Beauv. var. ambigua
(Guss.) Pari.. Fl. Palerm. 1:36. 1845. Tufted annual
with erect or decumbent branching culms to 80 cm
or more long. Nodes glabrous, brownish-black.
Ligide a fringe of hairs 1-2 mm long. Blades flat.
5-15 mm broad, scabrous, sparsely hispid on one
or both surfaces. Panicles dense, cylindric. mostly
4-15 cm long, tending to be lobed or interrupted
below middle. Bristles short, mostly 4-7 mm long,
antrorsely scabrous. Spikelets oblong-elliptic,
mostly 2-2.2 mm long. Palea of lower floret ca. Vi
as long as lemma. Lemma of upper (perfect) floret
finely transverse-rugose.
Adventive from Europe, a weed of disturbed soils
in Canada, USA. and northern Mexico. Baja Cal-
ifornia Nortf: La Mesa. SE of Tijuana {Moran
I858U): Ensenada ( W/j,',v'"v ct- Thomas 420).
Setaria verticillata var. ambigua differs from the
typical variety in having antrorsely rather than re-
trorsely scabrous bristles, and usually longer lig-
ules. From S. viridis, with which it is sometimes
confused, it can be distinguished by the longer hairs
on the panicle axis, the verticiled panicle branches,
and the hispid blades.
4. Setaria macrostachya H.B.K.. Nov. Gen. Sp.
1:110. 1815. PAJITA TLMPRANERA. ZACATE TEMPRA-
NERO. Fig. 81. Cespitose perennial with strictly
erect or geniculate-spreading culms mostly 60-120
cm tall. Ligule a dense ring of hairs 2-4 mm long.
Blades flat, mostly 7-15 mm broad, scabrous on
adaxial surface. Panicles densely flowered, cylin-
drical. 10-30 cm long. 1-2 cm thick, with scabrous,
sparsely hirsute axis. Bristles usually 10-20 mm
long, solitary below each spikelet. Spikelets glo-
bose at maturity, mostly 1.9-2.1 mm long. Palea of
lower floret well-developed, nearly as long as lem-
ma. Lemma of upper (perfect) floret coarsely ru-
gose.
Grasses of Baja California
121
Open rocky hills and plains and brush-covered
slopes. Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Texas,
to central Mexico. Baja California Sur: Sierra
de la Giganta, 200-750 m (Valle de los Encinos;
Parras: Arroyo Tabor): Cape region (San Bartolo).
Relationships of this and the following two
species. 5. palmeri and 5. Iciicopihi. need further
investigation before a completely satisfactory taxo-
nomic disposition of the group can be made.
5. Setaria palmeri Henr.. Blumea 3:415. 1940.
Based on Cluictocliloci rigida Scribn. & Merr.. not
Stapf. Cespitose perennial with strictly erect or
spreading-erect culms mostly 30-100 cm tall. Sim-
ilar to S. nuurostachya but with ligules 1 mm or
less long and sometimes appearing absent, sheaths
glabrous on margins, bristles mostly 5-9 mm long,
and spikelets often to 2.5 mm long.
Dry rocky slopes and ravines, endemic to central
and southern Baja California. Baja California
Sur: San Ignacio: Bahia Pulpito: Sierra de la Gi-
ganta: between Santo Domingo and La Paz: Los
Aripes: La Paz {Palmer 125. the type collection):
Cape region (Todos Santos: San Pedrito: Los
Frailes: San Jose del Cabo: Cabo San Lucas).
6. Setaria leucopiia (Scribn. & Merr.) K. Schum..
Jusfs Bot. Jahresb. 28:417. 1902. plains bristlf-
GRASS. Cespitose perennial similar to 5. luacro-
stachya but leaf blades 2-5 (-7) mm broad, and
spikelets mostly 2.1-3 mm long.
Rocky slopes and stream courses with well
drained soils having an occasional abundance of
moisture. Colorado. Arizona. New Mexico, and
Texas, to central Mexico. Baja California
Nortf: Sierra Juarez (Portezuelo de Jamau. 1300
m): Canon San Simon. 100 m: Sierra San Borja
(Cerro la Chona. 1200 m). Baja California Sur:
Cape region (San Bartolo): Islas San Marcos, San
lldefonso, and Santa Catalina.
7. Setaria viridis(L.) Beauv.. Ess. Agrost. 51. 171,
178. 1812. grfen bristlfgrass. Tufted annual
with weak erect or geniculate culms 20-80 cm tall.
Nodes glabrous or the lowermost bearded. Sheaths
pilose on margins and occasionally on back. Lii^iile
a fringed membrane 1-2 mm long. Blades flat or
folded, mostly 3-10 mm broad, glabrous or sca-
brous. Panicles dense, usually green. 2-15 cm long.
Bristles antrorsely scabrous, usually green. 5-20
mm long. Spikelets 1.8-2.6 mm long. Palea of low-
er floret variable, from vestigial to -■'^ as long as
lemma of lower floret. Lemma of upper floret finely
rugose, not wrinkled.
Widespread in temperate regions and occasional
in subtropics, apparently introduced in North
America, where it is a weed of fields and waste
places. Baja California Nortf: Roadside SE of
Valle las Palmas. 350 m (Moran 25134): Rancho
San Jose, Sierra San Pedro Marlir, 650 m (Moraii
15313).
8. Setaria grisebachii E. Fourn.. Mex. PI. 2:45.
1886. GRisiBAC H brisii LGRASS. Annual with erect
or geniculate-spreading culms 40-60 (-100) cm tall.
Nodes hirsute. Sheaths pilose on upper margins
and often on back. Lii>iile hairs ca. I cm long.
Blades thin, flat, at least some elongate, mostly 5-
13 cm broad, usually short-hispid on one or both
surfaces. Panicles variable, typically 3-18 cm long
and rather thinly flowered, the main axis readily
visible on most panicles. Panicle axis scabrous-his-
pid and hirsute. Bristles minutely scabrous, 0.5-2
cm long, usually single below spikelet. Spikelets
ovate. 1.6-2.2 mm long. Pcdea of lower floret usu-
ally ca. '/i as long as lemma: lemma and palea of
upper floret minutely rugose.
Rocky slopes, washes, and gravelly plains, Ari-
zona, Oklahoma, and Texas, through Mexico and
the Antilles, to Central America. Baja California
Sur: Summit of Cerro Azufre. 1650 m: Volcan las
Tres Virgenes. 1150 m: Sierra de la Giganta. 350-
1250 m (Cerro del Barreno: San Javier: Ultima
Agua: Arroyo Tabor: Soledad): E of Villa Consti-
tucion: Todos Santos: Santa Rosa.
9. Setaria liebmannii E. Eourn.. Mex. PI. 2:44.
1886. Annual with culms mostly 20-75 cm tall, gen-
erally similar to 5. grisebachii. but lemma of upper
floret deeply transverse-rugose (ridges and furrows
of mature grain often evident through second glume
and lemma of lower floret), panicles larger and loos-
er, herbage more glabrous, blades broader, and pa-
lea of lower floret completely reduced.
Open grassy plains, rocky slopes, and sheltered
ravines and arroyos, southern Arizona through
western and southern Mexico to Costa Rica. Baja
California Sur: W of San Jose de Magdalena.
320 m: Sierra de la Giganta. 100-750 m (Arroyo
Gua: Valle de los Encinos: Portezuelo de la Cuesta
de los Dolores); La Paz: Cape region, to 600 m
(Triunfo: San Antonio: W of San Bartolo: Mira-
flores).
According to Beetle (1977«:394), Setaria palmi-
folia (Koen.) Stapf is cultivated in Baja California
Sur. It is a tall perennial from India, grown as an
ornamental, with leaves to 50 cm lung and 6 cm
wide.
122
Gould and Moian
Fig. 82. Cctnlmis: A, C. imcrltis: plant, flower cluster (burl,
spikelet. B. C. mydsiiraiJes: bur. C, C. cchinaliis: bur. From
Gould and Box, 1965.
82. Cenchrus L.
Annuals with weak decumbent branching culms,
and a few perennials of diverse habit. Liiiulc a
fringed membrane mostly 0.5-3 mm long. Inflores-
cence contracted, spikelike, with spikelets enclosed
in bristly subsessile deciduous burs, with 1-8 spike-
lets in each bur. Burs formed by bristles and/or flat-
tened spines (modified branchlets) fused together at
least at base, the bristles and spines usually re-
trorsely barbed. Spikelets 2-fiowered. the lower flo-
ret staminate or neuter, the upper perfect. Glumes
thin, membranous, unequal. Leinnui and palea of
lower floret membranous, ca. equal; lemma of up-
per floret thin, membranous, tapering to slender,
usually acuminate tip. the margins not inrolled.
Caryopsis dorsally flattened.
1 . Burs with bristles only, lacking stiff flattened spines with
flattened bases; plants perennial.
2. Bristles retrorsely scabrous \. C. myosuroidcs
2. Bristles conspicuously ciliate-pubescent 6. C. ciliaris
I . Burs with bristles and stiff spines with flattened bases;
plants annual or weakly perennial.
3. Burs consisting of several whorls of united, flattened
spines, the spines emerging at irregular intervals
throughout body of bur.
4. Spines of bur 8-40. 2-5 mm long; bur with 2-4
spikelets 2. C. iiucrins
4. Spines 40-65. 9-14 mm long; bur with 4-8 spike-
lets 3. ('. palmcri
3. Burs consisting of one whorl of united flattened spines
subtended by one to several whorls of smaller, finer
bristles.
5. Burs loosely spaced on rachis; outer bristles most-
ly about ' : length of inner spines of bur; pedun-
cle more than 2 mm wide 4. ('. cclunatiis
5. Burs closely spaced on rachis; outer bristles
equalling or slightly exceeding inner spines of
bur; peduncle about 2 mm wide 5. C. Iirownli
1. Cenchrus niyosuroides H.B.K.. Nov. Gen. Sp.
1:115. 1815. BIG SANi:)BUR. Fig. 82B. Coarse peren-
nial with stout culms in large clumps. Culms mostly
0.7-2 m tall, little-branched above base, more or
less woody in age. Blades elongate. 4-13 mm
broad, scabrous and occasionally sparsely pilose.
Inflorescence mostly 8-20 cm long and 6-12 mm
thick. Spikelets usually only 1 per bur. Bristles ir-
regular in length, fused below into hard conical
base. Spikelets mostly 4-5 mm long.
Brushy ravines, ditches, and stream courses. SE
USA through Mexico and the Antilles to southern
South America. Baja Cai ifornia Sur: Comondu
(Brandegee in 1889. cited by Hitchcock, 1913:268).
2. Cenchrus incertus M. A. Curtis, Boston J. Nat.
Hist. 1:135. 1837. C. paiuiflorus Benth., Bot. Voy.
Sulphur 56. 1844. abrojo rosfta, cadii lo de
PLAVA. sandbur. grass-bur. Fig. 82A. Annual or
short-lived perennial with erect or more commonly
decumbent and spreading culms mostly 8-80 cm
long. Sheaths laterally compressed, glabrous or
sparsely pilose. Blades thin, flat, usually glabrous,
mostly 2-6 mm broad. Inflorescence 1.5-8 (-9) cm
long, the rachis with internodes 2-5 mm long. Burs
variable, ovoid to globose, 2-5 mm long, pubes-
cent or less often glabrous, usually with 8-40 re-
trorsely barbed spines. Spikelets 2-4, usually 3. per
bur, mostly 3.5-5.8 mm long.
Southern USA through Mexico and the Antilles
to Central and northern South America, a common
weed of disturbed soils, in Baja California at low
elevations. Baja Cai ifornia Sur: Comondu; Lo-
reto; Bahia Magdalena; Santa Rita; Triunfo.
The type of C. paiuiflorus was collected by Bar-
clay at Bahia Magdalena.
3. Cenchrus palmeri Vasey in Brandegee. Proc.
Calif. Acad. Sci., Ser. 2, 2:211. 1889. huisapol,
PALMER sandbur. Short-livcd annual with much-
branched, decumbent-spreading culms mostly 9-35
cm long. Sheaths slightly compressed, puberulent.
Blades thin, mostly 3.8-6.8 mm broad. Inflores-
cence with 1-4. usually 3. large purple or occasion-
ally yellow burs; base of bur rounded, densely pu-
Grasses of Baja California
123
bescent. S/iiki'lci.s 5.2-7.3 mm long. FirM i^lmnc
absent or greatly reduced, the second 4..^-6.4 mm
long. 5-nerved. Lcdidui of lower floret 4,5-f>..^ mm
long, the palea ca. as long. Upper (pcrfcci) Jlorct
5.2-7. 1 mm long.
Endemic to Baja California and Sonora, in sandy
soil at low elevations. Baja California Norte:
San Felipe: Puerto Santa Catarina: Bahia de los
Angeles: Isia San Lorenzo. Baja Calihornia Sur:
Common, collected many places throughout the
state: Islas San Marcos. Coronados. Carmen. Dan-
zante. Monserrate. San Jose. San Francisco, and
Fspiritu Santo.
This readily recognizable sandbur is one of the
most distinct of the genus and is one of very few
grasses endemic to the Sonoran Desert. In com-
menting on its adaptation to desert conditions, De
Lisle (1963) noted that plants grown in the green-
house, in contrast to other species, matured in 3 or
4 weeks, often with mature inflorescences when
only a few inches high.
4. Centhrus ethinatus L., Sp. PI. 1050. 1753. ca-
DILLO AUSTRAL, HUISAPOL. ABROJO, SOUTHERN
SANDBUR. Fig. 82C. Annual with culms usually ge-
niculate or trailing, the erect tips mostly 15-40 cm
tall, the trailing culms to 85 cm long. Sheaths lat-
erally compressed, pilose on margins. Blades thin,
3-12 mm broad, glabrous to variously pubescent.
Inflorescence mostly 3-8 (-10) cm long and 0.8-1.2
cm thick. Burs 5-10 mm long, usually purple-
tinged, the spines and bristles retrorsely barbed.
Spikeleis 5-7 mm long, 2-3 per bur. Lemma of up-
per floret slightly longer than lemma of lower floret
and second glume.
Southern USA through Mexico and much of
South America, a weed of disturbed soils. Baja
California Norte: N of Sauzal on Tecate road,
50 m (Moran 25102). Baja California Sur: Santa
Rosalia: La Purisima: NW of Mulege: La Paz: San
Jose del Cabo.
5. Cenchrus brownii R. & S.. Syst. Veg. 2:258.
1817. CADiLLo AGLOMERADO. Annual with weak
usually branching and decumbent or trailing culms
mostly 25-90 cm long. Sheaths often somewhat lat-
erally compressed, ciliate on margins. Blades flat,
thin, 4-11 mm broad. Inflorescence brownish,
closely flowered, 3-12 cm long and ca. 1.5 cm
thick. RiK his slightly angled, puberulent. the inter-
nodes 0.8-1.7 mm long. Bur globose, 5-8 mm long
and 2-4.5 mm thick including outer bristles, with
retrorsely barbed spines and bristles. Inner spines
fused to form cup, erect or interlocking at maturity.
Fig. 83. Anihcplutra henniiphrmliui. From Swallen, 19.'i5.
2-4 mm long. Outer spines numerous, bristle-like,
arising in whorl at base of bur, sometimes surpass-
ing inner spines. Spikelets 2-3 per bur, 4-6 mm
long. First ghane 0.5-2.5 mm long, 1-nerved, the
second 2.2^.9 mm long, 3-5-nerved. Lenuna of
U>\\er floret 3.5-5.5 mm long, enclosing long narrow
palea. Upper floret 3.6-5.4 mm long.
Southern tip of Florida through the Antilles to
southern Mexico, central America, and northern
South America, usually a weed of sandy or dis-
turbed loose soils at low elevations. Baja Cali-
fornia Sur: Loreto: between Loreto and San Ja-
vier: Coromuel. near La Paz: La Paz.
6. Cenchrus ciliaris L., Mant. 302. 1771. Pennise-
tum ciliare (L.) Link, zacate buffel. buffel-
grass. Perennial with erect or geniculate-spreading
branched culms hard and knotty at base. Sheaths
laterally compressed and keeled, pilose or not.
Blades thin, scabrous or sparsely pilose, 2.5-8 mm
broad. Inflorescence dense, cylindrical. 4-10 (-13)
cm long, 1-2 cm thick. Bristles 4-10 mm long, pur-
plish, long-ciliate on inner margins, terete, connate
only at base or slightly above. Burs with 2-4 spike-
124
Gould and Moian
Fig. 84. Imperata hrc\ifotia. From Hitchcock, 1935.
lets, attached by a minute pilose peduncle. Spike-
lets 2.2-5.6 mm long. Lemma of upper floret 2.2-
5.4 mm long.
Native to warmer parts of Africa, India, and
Madagascar: introduced as a forage grass in south-
ern USA and Mexico. Baja California Sur: La
Solidad, S Sierra de la Giganta; 65 km NW of La
Paz; La Paz.
83. Anthephora Schreb.
1. Anthephora hermaphrodita (L.) Kuntze, Rev.
Gen. PI. 2:759. 1891. Fig. 83. Tufted annual with
culms usually geniculate-spreading at base, 10-60
(-100) cm tall. Sheaths and blades usually hispid.
Ligiile a rounded or truncate erose membrane 1-2
mm long. Blades thin, flat, short, mostly 3-8 mm
broad. Inflorescence slender, spikelike, mostly 4-
9 cm long and 3^ mm broad, with spikelets in sub-
sessile readily deciduous burlike clusters of 4, on
zigzag rachis mostly 3-10 cm long. Spikelet clus-
ters or "burs'" fused together at base and oriented
with the large broad indurate first glumes facing out-
ward. Spikelets: two represented by glumes only,
the other two 2-flowered, with lower floret reduced
and neuter and upper perfect. In spikelets with flo-
rets, lemma of lower floret a membranous scale and
lemma and palea of upper floret also relatively thin.
Caryopsis broadly elliptical, 1.5-2 mm long.
A weedy tropical grass occurring from Mexico to
Brazil, mostly in loose sandy soil in disturbed sites.
Baja California Sur: Punta Conejo; La Paz; San
Pedro; Todos Santos; Triunfo; San Bartolo; Los
Frailes; San Jose del Cabo; Cabo San Lucas.
Tribe 19. Andropogoneae
84. Imperata Cyrillo
1. Imperata brevifolia Vasey, Bull. Torrey Bot.
Club 13:26. 1886. /. liookeri Rupr. ex Hack, satin-
tail. Fig. 84. Stout perennial with erect culms
mostly 1-1.5 m tall from scaly rhizomes. Leaves
mostly clustered towards base of culms, the sheaths
smooth and in age fibrous. Sheaths rounded, often
auriculate at apex. Blades flat, mostly 15-40 cm
long and 6-12 mm broad, hirsute on adaxial surface
near base. Panicles dense, contracted, mostly 15-
30 cm long, usually 2-3 cm thick, the spikelets more
or less obscured by long silky hairs. Spikelets all
alike, awnless, with single perfect floret and re-
duced floret below, mostly 3.5^.5 mm long, un-
equally pediceled in pairs on slender continuous
branch rachis. Glumes ca. equal, membranous.
Grasses of Baja Calit'ornia
125
Leinma of lower floret and lemma and palea of up-
per floret thin and hyaline.
Utah and Nevada to southern California, Texas,
and western Mexico, on open slopes and in canyon
bottoms at low to moderately high elevations. Baja
Cai IKORNIA North: Canyons on H side of Sierra
Juarez (Cation Tajo) and Sierra San Pedro Martir
(Cafion la Providencia, 620 m). Baja Cai ifornia
Sur: Arroyo Tabor, Sierra de la Giganta, 380 m.
85. Saccharum L.
1. Saccharum officinarum L.. Sp. PI. 54. 1753.
cana dk Azut ar, sugar CANt;. Fig. 85. Stout rhi-
zomatous perennial with thick succulent many-
jointed culms as much as 4-5 m tall. Sheaths over-
lapping, rounded, glabrous, soon deciduous. BUiJes
long and flat, to 5 cm broad. Infioicscciuc a large
densely flowered plume-iike panicle 20-60 (-100)
cm long, silvery-hairy, with numerous long slender
racemose branches. Branch rachis readily disartic-
ulating at nodes at maturity. Spikclcts 2-flowered.
the upper floret perfect, the lower neuter. 3-4 mm
long, with basal tuft of silky hairs 2-3 times as long
as spikelets. Glumes ca. equal, membranous. Lem-
ma of lower floret and lemma and palea of upper
floret, thin and hyaline. Chromosome number.
in
20.
Originally from tropical SE Asia, now grown in
the tropics and subtropics of the world. Baja Cal-
ifornia Sur: Grown on small scale or commer-
cially, from Mulege to Cape region.
This species and its hybrid derivatives supply
about two-thirds of the world's commercial sugar.
86. Sorghum Moench
Annuals and perennials, with usually tall thick
succulent culms and broad flat blades. Infiores-
vence an open or contracted panicle, the spikelets
clustered on short racemose branchlets. Spikelets
in pairs of one sessile and perfect and one pediceled
and staminate or neuter, at branch tips the sessile
spikelet associated with 2 pediceled spikelets.
Glumes broad, coriaceous, ca. equal in length, lan-
ceolate. Lemma of lower floret and lemma and pa-
lea of upper floret thin and hyaline, awned or awn-
less.
1. Plants annual, without rhizomes 1. S. hiiolur
1. Plants perennial, with thick fleshy or firm rhizomes
2 . S. luilfpcnsc
1. Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, Meth. PI. 207.
1794. 5. vul^are Pers. milo mai'z, sorgo, sor-
Fig. 85. Saccharum officinarum: plant, panicle branches,
spikelet with pedicel and rachis joint. From Hitchcock. 1935.
GHUM. Large succulent annual with culms mostly
0.8-2.5 m tall and with usually long thin blades I-
5 cm or more broad. Inflorescence highly variable,
usually a compact panicle 10-20 cm long, with thick
short branches and pedicels, and with awnless
spikelets 4-6 mm long. Glumes pubescent, usually
with shiny glabrate spot on the rounded back.
An Old World grass with many varieties widely
used for grain or forage: grown commonly in south-
ern USA and sometimes in Mexico. Baja Cali-
fornia NoRir: Occasional as a roadside escape in
the NW but probably not persisting (Presa Rodri-
guez; grade E of Rumorosa, 675 m: S of Colonel).
2. Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.. Syn. PI. 1:101.
1805. ZACATF JOHNSON. JOHNSON CiRASS. Fig. 86.
Coarse succulent perennial with culms in small
clumps from thick creeping rhizomes. Culms most-
126
Gould and Moran
Fig. 86. Sorghum hulcpcnsc: plant, two views of terminal ra-
ceme. From Hitchcock. 1935.
Fig. 87. Andropoi>i>i> glomcraiiis: inflorescence. From Gould
and Box, 196-'i.
out temperate and warm regions, cultivated as a
forage grass but more common as a weed of road-
sides, ditches, and moist waste areas. Baja Cali-
fornia Norte: Occasional at roadsides in the NW,
to 1200 m (Tijuana airport; Presa Rodriguez; SE of
La Hechicera: Los Cantiles; La Mision; NE of Er-
endira); planted for forage and also a common
weed. Valle de Mexicali. Baja California Sur:
SE of La Paz.
ly 1-2 m tall but shorter in dry or otherwise unfa-
vorable sites. Ligulc a truncate ciliate membrane.
Blades large, elongate, usually glabrous, usually
0.8-1.5 (-2) cm broad. PanivU-s typically 15-35 cm
long, open and freely branched, the branchlets and
spikelets tending to be appressed along primary
branches. Perfect (sessile) spikelets 4.5-5 mm
long, awnless or with delicate geniculate readily
deciduous lemma awn. Glumes nerveless and
shiny, puberulent at least on margins. Leiuma body
thin and membranous, the awn when present 1-1.5
mm long, with twisted lower segment. Pediceled
spikelets usually as long as or longer than sessile
ones but narrower and thinner. Caryopsis 2-3 mm
long.
Native to the Old World; now common through-
87. Andropogon L.
1. Andropogon glomeratus (Walt.) B.S.P., Prel.
Cat. N.Y. 67. 1888. bushy bluestem. Fig. 87. Pe-
rennial with culms often in dense clumps, mostly
75-150 cm tall. Lower sheaths broad and overlap-
ping, strongly compressed laterally and keeled dor-
sally. Li^ule a stiff membrane 0.5-1 mm long.
Blades flat or folded, 2.5-6 (-8) mm broad, usually
narrower than sheaths. Flowering cidms profusely
branched and rebranched, the ultimate branches
broom-like with their congested reduced villous in-
florescences. Uppermost branchlets villous, at
least below nodes. Bracteate sheaths subtending
inflorescences slightly inflated, typically reddish-
brown. Inflorescence branches usually 2. each 1.5-
3 cm long, delicate, usually slightly shorter than
Grasses of Baja California
127
subtending sheath and partially enclosed by it.
Spiki'lcts in pairs of one sessile and perfect and one
pediceled and rudimentary, or the pediceled some-
times absent. Sessile spikelefs usually 3-4. .*> mm
long, with single well-developed floret. Glumes
firm, subequal. as large as spikelet. Lemma with
delicate undulant but not geniculate awn 1-2 cm
long.
Connecticut, Oklahoma, and California, through
Mexico, the Antilles, and Central America: in Baja
California along streams. Baja California Norte:
E side of Sierra Juarez (Cation Tajo; Canon Gua-
dalupe): E side of Sierra San Pedro Martir (Canon
del Diablo: Canon la Providencia), less common on
W side (Arroyo la Grulla, 900 m): ex-mision Santa
Maria, 550 m. Baja California Sur: Hitchcock
(1913:205) reported Brandegee collections from
Sierra San Francisquito and from W side of Cape
region mountains.
88. Bothriochloa Kuntze
I. Bothriochloa barbinodis (Lag.) Herter var. bar-
binodis. B. harhinoJis (Lag.) Herter, Revista Sud-
amer. Bot. 6:135. 1940. Andropogon barbinodis
Lag. POPOTILLO ALGODONOSO, CANE BLUESTEM.
Fig. 88. Cespitose perennial, the culms often in
large clumps. Culms mostly 60-120 cm tall. Culm
nodes bearded with white hairs mostly 1-3 mm
long. Leaves essentially glabrous except for a few
hairs above ligule. Ligules membranous, 1-2 mm
long. Blades firm, linear, 2-7 mm broad. Panicles
mostly 7-13 cm long, often partially included in up-
per sheath, with erect-spreading branches mostly
3-9 cm long, the lower ones often rebranched. Ped-
icels and upper rachis joints with broad membra-
nous central area. Spikelets in pairs of one sessile
and one pediceled. the sessile one perfect and
awned, the pediceled one staminate or neuter, re-
duced in size, and awnless. Sessile (perfect) spike-
let more or less triangular, 4.5-7.3 mm long (ex-
cluding awn). First glume large, firm, sparsely hairy
below middle. Lemma awn 20-30 mm or more long,
geniculate and twisted.
Dry rocky slopes and plains and dry arroyo beds,
Utah and Colorado to southern California, Texas,
and Mexico: also Uruguay and Argentina. Baja
California Norte: Along NW coast (Medio Ca-
mino: Arroyo Jatay: Arroyo Hediondo: Arroyo
Socorro): Sierra Juarez, 1000-1300 m (Pino Solo:
Canada el Rincon: El Rodeo: Portezuelo de Jamau):
E side of Sierra San Pedro Martir, ca. 700-800 m
(Canon del Diablo; Canon Teledo). Baja Califor-
Fig. 88. BolhriochlcHi hiirhinoJis var. hiirhiiimtis: panicle,
spikelet pair. From Gould and Box, |y(i5.
nia Sur: Cerro Azufre, 1650 m: Cerro la Laguna,
Sierra San Francisco, 1450 m: Sierra de la Giganta
(Arroyo Tabor, 380 m: Arroyo el Coyote, 460 m):
Cape region (El Taste).
In B. barbinodis var. perforata (Trin. ex E.
Fourn.) Gould the first glume in most or all sessile
spikelets has a glandular pit at or above the middle,
whereas in var. barbinodis such a pit is lacking in
most or all spikelets. Although one collection (Cer-
ro Azufre, Moraii IH735) has a few glumes glan-
dular pitted, the Baja California collections all seem
referable to var. barbinodis.
128
Gould and Moran
Fig. 89. Schizuchyrium cirraluin. From Hitchcock. 193?.
89. Schizachyrium Nees
Annuals and perennials, with or without rhi-
zomes. Leaves with rounded or compressed and
keeled sheaths. Litanies membranous. Flowering
ciilins much-branched above, with each leafy
branch or branchlet terminating in a single spicate
raceme with stout or slender rounded rachis. Spike-
lets in pairs of one sessile and perfect and one ped-
iceled and staminate or neuter. Disartieulcition at
base of sessile (perfect) spikelet, the rachis section
and pedicel falling attached to spikelet. Sessile
spikelet 2-flowered. the upper floret perfect, the
lower reduced (sometimes absent), with large firm
glumes and thin membranous lemmas. Pediceled
spikelet reduced in size.
1. Plants annual — \. S. inalacostachyiim
1 . Plants perennial.
2. First glume of sessile spikelet pubescent on back
2. 5. sannuini'um var. bn'vipedUeUalum
2. First glume of sessile spikelet glabrous on back
3. S. cirralum
1. Schizachyrium malacostachyum (J. Presl) Nash,
N. Amer. Fl. 17:102. 1912. Andropogon malaco-
staehyus J. Presl. Delicate erect annual with culms
single or in small clumps, mostly 12-50 cm tall, de-
veloping short branches and inflorescences at upper
nodes. Lower sheaths shorter than internodes. Lig-
ule a short ciliate membrane. Blades thin, lanceo-
late-attenuate, the lower mostly 3-8 cm long and
1.5-3 mm broad, with a few long coarse hairs above
ligule on adaxial surface. Inflorescenee a slender
spikelike raceme 1.5-4 cm long, enclosed at least
below by enlarged and inflated spatheate subtend-
ing sheath. Rachis joints, pedicels, and lower glume
of sessile spikelet pilose with long hairs, at least on
lower '/2. Sessile spikelet 4-5 mm long, with genic-
ulate awn 5-8 mm long. Pediceled spikelet greatly
reduced, short-awned. on broad stiff erect pedicel.
Southern Baja California and Guerrero to Costa
Rica, on loose soil of dry slopes, roadsides, and
other moderately disturbed sites. Baja California
Sur: Boca de la Sierra, S of Santiago, Cape region
(Beetle M-2575).
1. Schizachyrium sanguineum (Retz.) Alston var.
brevipedicellatum (Beal) Hatch. Brittonia 30(4):496.
1978. Andropogon hirtiflorus (Nees) Kunth var.
hreripedicellatus Beal. A. feensis E. Fourn. po-
poTiLio HiRSUTo. Cespitose perennial with culms
40-120 cm tall, in small clumps. Ligule membra-
nous. 1-2 mm long. Blades long, flat, 2-4 mm
broad. Racemes stiff. 4-10 cm long. 2-A mm thick,
often included in sheath; rachis and pedicels hir-
sute. Sessile spikelet 5-9 mm long, the first glume
sparsely to densely hispid-villous on back. Lemma
of perfect floret membranous, cleft -54-% to base,
bearing geniculate awn 15-25 mm long. Pediceled
spikelets staminate or neuter, 3-5 mm long, narrow,
with awn 3-5 mm long.
Southern USA through Mexico and the Antilles
to South America, on rocky well-drained slopes at
intermediate to high elevations. Baja California
Sur: Cape region: La Chuparosa: Sierra de San
Francisquito (Brandegee in 1890); El Taste (Bran-
degee 31).
3. Schizachyrium cirratum (Hack.) Woot. & Standi.,
New Mex. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 81:30. 1912. Tex-
as BLUESTEM. Fig. 89. Tufted perennial lacking rhi-
zomes, with erect culms in small clumps, mostly
30-75 cm tall. Nodes and sheaths glabrous. Ligiile
membranous, 1-2.5 mm long. Blades elongate, flat,
2-4 mm broad. Racemes 4-6 cm long. 2-3 mm
broad, usually exserted from sheath. Rachis inter-
nodes glabrous or ciliate on margins, with tuft of
hairs near base. Sessile spikelets 8-10 mm long,
with glabrous to scabrous glumes. Lemma of per-
fect floret of sessile spikelet cleft %-% to base, with
geniculate awn 13-24 mm long. Pedicels with tuft
Grasses of Baja California
129
Fig. 90. Tracltypogd/i seciiiuliis: plant, perfect spikelet. From
Gould and Box. 1965.
of hairs at apex and ciliate half way down one side
(occasionally down both sides). Pcdicclcd spikelet s
staminate. 6-8 mm long, awnless.
Western Texas to southern California and
through Mexico to Guatemala, on rocky slopes,
often in partial shade. Baja California Sur: Sau-
cito, near Cabo San Lucas {Bnmdegee 65).
90. Trachypogon Nees
1. Trachypogon secundus (Presl) Scribn., U.S.D.A.
Div. Agrost. Circ. 32:1. 1901. zacate barba lar-
GA. Fig. 90. Cespitose perennial with stiffly erect
culms mostly 50-100 cm tall. Culm nodes densely
bearded but glabrate in age. Sheaths rounded or
lowermost slightly keeled. Lii;ides of middle leaves
a brownish membrane 1-10 mm long; ligule of up-
per leaves a short fringed membrane. Blades elon-
gate, linear, 1-6 (-8) mm broad, often involute
when narrow. Infioresccnee a spikelike raceme
usually 10-20 cm long. Spikelets in pairs on contin-
uous rachis. one staminate, subsessile, awnless, the
other perfect, with slightly longer pedicel and long
Fig. 91. Elvonurus harhu idmis: plant, spikelet pair. From
Gould and Box, 196.5.
awn. DisarlieaUitiou at base of perfect spikelet.
Staminate spikelet 6-8 mm long, the first glume
strigose-pubescent, rounded on back. Perfect
spikelet with stout undulant awn 4-6 cm long,
densely plumose below with hairs mostly 2-5 mm
long.
Dry open rocky slopes, Arizona, New Mexico,
and southern Texas, south through Mexico: also
Argentina. Baja California Sur: Cape region:
130
Gould and Moran
Fig. 92. Heteropogon coiilorlus: plant, fertile spikelet. From
Hitchcock, I93.'5.
Sierra San Francisquito [Brandci^cc in 1890. cited
by Hitchcock, 1913:199, as T. montufari (H.B.K.)
Nees).
91. Elyonurus Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
1. Elyonurus barbiculmis Hack, in A. & C. DC
Monogr. Phan. 6:339. 1889. woolspikk balsam-
scale. Fig. 91. Tufted perennial with slender erect
culms mostly 40-80 cm tall, pubescent below
nodes, the nodes glabrous. Blades long, narrow and
involute, seldom more than 1.5 mm broad. Infli>-
rescence a light green or silvery slender spikelike
raceme mostly 5-10 cm long. SpikcUts awnless. in
pairs of one subsessile and perfect and one pedi-
celed and staminate, the two similar in size or ped-
iceled slightly shorter, mostly 4-7 (-8) mm long.
First glume of both subsessile and pediceled spike-
lets pilose on back with hairs usually 2-4 mm long,
the second glume sparsely hairy.
Western Texas to Arizona and northern Mexico,
on dry slopes and rocky plains, mostly in desert
grassland and brush at moderately high elevations.
Baja California Sur: Cape region: San Antonio
{Jones in 1926).
92. Heteropogon Pers.
Annuals and perennials, without rhizomes or sto-
lons. Ligule a short fringed membrane. Blades
often keeled and folded on midnerve. Inflorescence
a unilateral spicate raceme, with spikelets in pairs
of one sessile and perfect and one pediceled and
staminate; at lower nodes of rachis both spikelets
staminate. Spikelets basically 2-flowered, with low-
er floret greatly reduced and sometimes absent.
Palea of upper floret absent. Staminate spikelets
awnless, with broad green glumes. Perfect spikelets
with firm coriaceous rounded glumes and membra-
nous lemma with long stout awn.
1. First glume of staminate spikelet without glands', plants
perennial I- H. contortiis
1 . First glume of staminate spikelet with medial row of de-
pressed glands; plants annual 2. H. mcla/mccirpus
1. Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv. ex R. & S.,
Syst. Veg. 2:836. 1817. rltorcido moreno, tan-
glehead. Fig. 92. Cespitose perennial with culms
20-80 cm tall, freely branching at upper nodes in
age. Leaves glabrous except for a few long hairs in
vicinity of ligule. Lower sheaths compressed-
keeled. Blades long, linear, mostly 2-8 mm broad.
Racemes mostly 4-7 cm long (excluding awns).
Staminate spikelets 7-10 mm long. Perfect spike-
lets 5-8 mm long, with dark brown hispid glumes.
Lemma awn commonly 5-12 mm long, hispid,
weakly twice-geniculate.
Tropical and subtropical regions of both hemi-
spheres, in North America from Arizona to Texas
and southward, on grassy plains and dry mountain
slopes, usually in sandy soil. Baja California
Norte: Cation San Matias, 700 m; Isla San Loren-
zo Sur. Baja California Sur: Common and wide-
spread, to 1200 m: E coast; Sierras San Francisco,
Guadalupe, and de la Giganta; Llano de Magdalena;
Cape region; Islas San Marcos, Carmen. Danzante,
Monserrate, Santa Catalina, San Diego, San Fran-
cisco. Espiritu Santo, and Cerralvo.
2. Heteropogon melanocarpus (Ell.) Benth.. J.
Linn. Soc. Bot. 19:71. 1881. retorcido negro,
SWEET TANGLEHEAD. Coarse glabrous annual with
leafy culms often 1-2 m or more tall, little if at all
branched at base but branching at upper nodes.
Lower sheaths laterally compressed and keeled, the
Grasses of Baja California
131
Fig. 93. Huckelochloa granulans: plant, raceme, two views of
spikelets with rachis joint. From Hitchcocl;, 1935.
upper sheaths papillose-glandular on midnerve and
sometimes on secondary nerves. Pcdicelcd spike-
lets 1-2.5 cm long, staminate or neuter. Glands on
midnerve of glume of pediceled spikelets large and
distinct.
Throughout the tropics of both hemispheres; in
North America from Arizona to South Carolina and
southward, usually in low sandy, often weedy or
brushy areas but occasionally on sandy mountain
slopes. Baja California Sur: Uncommon, at in-
termediate elevations in Cape region: Near San An-
tonio, 500 m (Beetle M-2641. Gould I2I6I): Sierra
San Francisquito (Braiidegee 33 of 1890, cited by
Hitchcock, 1913:212).
93. Hackelochloa Kuntze
1. Hackelochloa granulans (L.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen.
PI. 2:776. 1891. Rytili.x grannlaris (L.) Skeels. Fig.
93. Tufted annual with short broad flat blades and
wiry branching culms, commonly with inflores-
cences developing at all nodes. Culms mostly 10-
70 cm tall (in our area), the nodes usually hispid.
Sheaths and blades usually hispid with papillate
hairs. Ligule a short fringed membrane. Inflores-
cence a spicate raceme axis usually 1-5 cm long to
Fig. 94. Oi/.v Uuryma-JDhi. From Hitchcock. 1935.
base of peduncle, enclosed at base by uppermost
leaf sheath, this variously developed, usually in-
flated, with or without blade. Rachis of raceme
mostly 1-2 cm long, bearing 2-7 or more pairs of
very dissimilar spikelets, one sessile and perfect,
the other short-pediceled, staminate or sterile. Ses-
sile spikelct thick and rounded, the outer glume
coarsely rugose or rectangularly pitted, 1-1.5 mm
long. Glumes of pediceled spikelet relatively thin,
several-nerved, mostly 2-3 mm long.
Throughout the tropics of the world, on woody
or brushy hills or open grassy slopes. Baja Cali-
fornia Sur: Cape region: Sierra San Francisquito
(Brandegee in 1890. cited by Hitchcock, 1913:198);
Sierra el Taste, 1500-1600 m {Carter & Chisaki
3513).
94. Coix L.
1. Coix lacryma-jobi L., Sp. PI. 972. 1753. lagri-
MAS Di JOB, job"s-ti ARS. Fig. 94. Coarse leafy
monoecious annual, with thick succulent culms and
broad flat blades. Leaves glabrous, mostly 1.5-5
cm broad, and as much as 50 cm long. Staminate
132
Gould and Moran
spikelets subsessile in two's and threes on slender
continuous rachis 1.5-4 cm long. 2-flowered, with
thin membranous glumes and hyaline lemmas and
paleas. Pistillate spikelets below staminate, en-
closed in hard bony shiny white to gray or bluish
bead-like involucres 6-12 mm long, 3 in each in-
volucre, one pistillate and 2 neuter, the pistillate
1 -flowered.
Native to Asia and now widely distributed in
tropical regions of the New World. Baja Califor-
nia Sur: Reported by Wiggins (1980:950) as "oc-
casionally cultivated as an ornamental and occa-
sionally escaping temporarily and locally; observed
in a few gardens in Cape region". We have seen no
specimens.
95. Tripsacum L.
1. Tripsacum lanceolatum Rupr. ex E. Fourn..
Mex. PI. 2:68. 1886. Large coarse monoecious pe-
rennial, with culms mostly 1-2 m tall, in small or
large clumps from hard rhizomatous base. Leaf
sheaths hispid at base of plant but nearly glabrous
at upper nodes. Blades glabrous to moderately pi-
lose, 1-2.8 cm broad. Inflorescence a stout spicate
raceme or 2 to few spicate branches in compound
panicle, the pistillate spikelets below, the staminate
above on same axis, the staminate part deciduous
as a whole. Pistillate spikelets solitary, sessile,
sunken in rachis on opposite sides at successive
nodes, 1-fiowered, awnless, with hard thick glumes
partially fused to rachis, forming bony bead-like
readily deciduous fruiting structures. Staminate
spikelets 2-flowered, awnless, in pairs at nodes, at
least one of pair with pedicel 1 mm long, the other
usually sessile; glumes thin, several nerved.
Southern Arizona, Mexico, and Guatemala, in
canyon bottoms and on forested slopes. Baja Cal-
ifornia Sur: Cape region: Sierra de la Laguna
(Brandciice 4. cited by de Wet et al., 1976; Bian-
dcgee in 1892; Jones in 1930). Sierra San Francis-
quito {Brandei^ee in 1899. cited by Hitchcock,
1913:196, and by de Wet et al.. 1976); El Taste
(Brandegee in 1902. cited by Hitchcock, 1913:196).
96. Zea L.
1. Zea mays L., Sp. Pi. 971. 1753. maiz, maize.
CORN. Monoecious annual with thick succulent
culms mostly 1.5-3 m tall. Ligule short, membra-
nous. Blades elongate, flat, broad. Staminate inflo-
rescence a large terminal panicle with spikelets
closely placed, sessile or short pediceled in pairs,
on many flexuous racemose branches. Staminate
spikelets 2-flowered, with large thin strongly nerved
glumes. Pistillate inflorescence a lateral thickened
spike with sessile spikelets crowded in few to nu-
merous rows on thickened corky or woody axis
("cob"), the whole enclosed in several large papery
bracts. Pistillate spikelets with reduced glumes and
1. infrequently 2, perfect florets, the lower floret
usually neuter. Styles of pistillate spikelets ("silk")
long, flexuous, thread-like, long-exserted from
spike.
Maize is cultivated through most of the world as
a major food plant of mankind and also is valuable
as a source of forage for animals. It is thought to
have originated as a domestic plant in eastern Mex-
ico.
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INDEX
Accepted names are in roman type, synonyms and misapplied names in itaitc. "common" names in
SMALL CAPITALS. Page numbers of main entries and illustrations are in roman type, others in itulk-.
ABROJO, 123
ESPIGADO, 94
ROSETA, 122
Aegopogon, 2U. 90
hrt'viglumis. 9
cenchroides var. breviglumis. 91
var. cenchroides, 91
geininiftorus hrcvii;hiinis. 91
tenellus, 91
Aeluropodeae, 12, 94
AGROPIRO, 54
Agropyron, 21. 54
elongatum, 54. 55
repens. 53
suhsecumlum. 54
trachycaulum, 54, 55
Agrostis, 16. 17. 43
blasdalei. 46
diegoensis, 44. 45
exarata, 44, 45
microphylla, 44. 45
scabra, 44. 46
semiverticillata, 44
stolonifera var. palustris, 44. 45
tandilensis, 46
verlicilliini. 44
Aira, 18. 41
caryophyllea, 41
Alopecurus, 17. 46
californicus. 46
howellii, 46, 47
saccatus, 46
AMORSECO CILIADO. 59
PILOSO, 60
Andropogon, 14. 126
barbinodis. 127
cirratiis. 128
feensis. 128
glomeralus, 126
hirlifiorus var. brevipedicellalus. 128
nuilacosluchyus. 128
Andropogoneae, 12, 144
Anthephora, 14. 124
hermaphrodita, 123, 124
Anstida, 17. 99
adscensionis, W. 100, 101
var. adscensionis. 100
var. decolorata, 100
var. inlerniptii. 100
var. modesta, 100
var. nigri'scens. 100
arizonica, 99. 103
barbata, 99. 102
hromoides. 100
californica, 99
var. ghibntla. 100
var. major. KM)
disper.su var. nifinwccns. 100
divaricata, 99. 102
fendleriana, W, 103
fugiliva. 100
glabrata, 99. 100
glauca, 99. 103
grisehachianu var. decoloraiu. 100
hamulosa, 102
hiivardii. 102
inlerruptu. 100
longiseta, 99. 103, IIU
orcuttianu. 100, 101
palmeri, 102
piirishii, 102
peninsuhiris. 99
purpurea, 104
purpusiana, «, 99. 102
scabra. 101
schiedeana, 99. 100
ternipes, 99. 101, 102
wrightii, 99. 102
var. parishii, 102
var. wrightii, 103
Aristideae, 12, 99
ARROZ DE MONTE, 117
Arundineae, 11,21
Arundinoideae, II, 21
Arundo, 17. 21
donax, 21, 22
Avena, 18. 40
barbata, 40
fatua, 40, 41
var. saliva. 40
sativa, 40
AVENA, 40
SILVESTRE, 40
Aveneae, 1 1, 38
BALLICO INGLES, 35
BALSAMSCALE, WOOLSPIKE, 130
BARBON PUNTIAGUDO, 97
Grasses of Baja California
135
BARLEY, 52
FOXTAIL. 52
GLAUCOUS, 52
HARE, 52
LITTLE, 51
MEADOW, 51
BENTORASS, CREEPING, 45
ROUGH, 46
SPIKE, 45
WATER, 44
Blepharoneuron. /6. 81
tricholepis. 81
BLUEGRASS. ANNUAL, 36
BIGELOW, 36
BLUESTEM, BUSH^ . 126, 128
CANE, 127
TEXAS, 128
Bothriochloa, 14. 127
barbinodis, 127
var. barbinodis, 127
var. perforata, 127
Bouteloua, 20. 86
annua. 8. 86
arenas a. 89
aristidoides, 86
barbata. 86. 89
var. barbata. 86. 89. 90
var. rothrockii. 86. 89
curtipendula var. caespitosa. 87
var. curtipendula, 87, 88
eriopoda, 86. 90
filiformis, 87
glandiilosa. 88
gracilis. 86. 89
hirsuta. 86. 88
var. glandulosa. 88
var. hirsuta. 88
liirliciihnis. 88
oligostachya, 83
polystachya. 89
var. major. 89
radicosa. 90
reflexa. 86. 88
repens. 86. 87. 90
rothrockii. 89
simplex, 86. 90
trifida, 86. 89
Brachiaria, 16. 106, IU8
arizonica, 106
fasciculata, 106, 107
purpurascens, 106, 107
BRACHIARIA. ARIZONA. 106
Brachypodium. 21. 31
distachyon. .■'/. 32
mexicanum. 31
BRISTLEGRASS, GREEN, 121
GRISEBACH, 121
KNOTROOT, 119
PLAINS, 121
Briza, 19. 38
minor, 38
BROME, CHILEAN, 28
DOWNY, 30
FOXTAIL, 31
FRINGED, 29
NODDING, 29
RIPGUT, 30
SOFT, 31
Bromus, 18. 27
anomalus, 28. 29, JO
arenarius. 31
arizonicus. 28. 29
carinatus, 28
ciliatus, 28. 29
diandrus. 28. 30
grandis. 31
madritensis. 28. 31
marginatus. 29, 31
molliformis. 31
mollis, 28. 31
orcultianus, 31
porteri. 28. 30
pseudolaevipes. 28. 30
richardsonii. 29
rigidiis. 30
rubens, 28. 31
tectorum. 28. 30
var. glabratus. 31
var. tectorum. 31
trinii, 28
unioloides, 28. 29
willdenowii, 29
BROWNTOP, 106
BUFFELGRASS, 123
BULLGRASS, 73
BURGRASS, SPIKE, 93
CADILLO AGLOMERADO. 123
AUSTRAL. 123
DE PLAYA. 122
Calamagrostis. 17. 43
densa. 43
CAMOLOTE SALADILLO. 112
VELLUDO, 113
CANARYGRASS, CAROLINA, 48
HOOD, 48
LITTLESEED, 49
REED, 49
TIMOTHY, 49
CANA DE AZIJCAR, 125
CANE, SUGAR, 125
CARRIZO, 21
CASTILLITOS DE AGUA, 44
CEBADA, 52
Cenchrus, 15. 122
brownii, 122. 123
ciliaris, 122. 123
echinatus. 122, 123
incertus. 122
myosuroides. 122
palmeri. 122
pauciflorus. 122
CENTENO. 55
Chaciochloa gracilis. 119
imherbis. 119
rigida. 121
CHESS, CHILEAN, 28
Chlorideae. 12. 82
Chloris. 20. 83
brandegei. 8. 84. 85
chlondea. 84, 85
crinita, 84, 85
gayana. 84. 85
virgata. 84
C HIORIS. BURYSEED, 84
SHOWY, 85
C'hondro.'iium pohstuchiiiin. 89
Coix. 13. 131
lacryma-jobi, 131
CORN. 132
COTTONTOP, CALIFORNIA, 104
Crypsis. 16. 82
136
Gould and Moran
niliaca, 82
schoenoides, 82
vaginiflora, 82
CURLY MESQUITE, 93
CUTGRASS, RICE, 21
Cynodon. 19. 82
dactylon, 82
plectostachyum, 83
Dactylis. 19. 38
glomerata. 38
Dactyloctenium. 19. 63
aegyptium, 63
Danthonieae. 1 1. 22
DARNEL, 36
Deschampsia, 18. 41
caespitosa, 41. 42
danthonioides, 41, 42
elongata, 41. 42
gracilis. 41
DESPARRAMADO ROJO, 64
Dichanthelium, lb. 110
oligosanthes var. scribnerianum, 110. Ill
DICHANTHELIUM. SCRIBNERS. 110
Digitaria, 15. 104
adscenclens. 105
bicornis, IU4. 105
californica. 104. 105
ciliaris, IU4. 105
Jiversifoliu. 105
horizontalis. 104
sanguinalis. 1114. 105
var. ciliaris. 105
Diplachne hrandegei. 85
Dissanthelium. 18. 43
californicum. 43. 44
Distichlis, 19. 21. 94
palmeri. 95
spicata. 95
var. divaricata. 95
var. stolonifera. 95
var. stricta. 95
DROPSEED, MESA, 81
PINE, 81
SAND, 81
SEASHORE, 79
SPIKE, 80
WHORLED, 79
Echinochloa, 15. 16. 1 16
colona. 116. 117
crus-pavonis, 116. 117
crus-galli, 1 17
sahiilicoUi. 117
Eleusine, 19. 62
indica. 62. 63
Elymus. 20. 21. 53
condensatus, 53. 54
elymoides. 53
glaucus. 53
longifolius. 53
multisetus. 53
trachycaiilus. 54
triticoides. 53. 54
Elyonurus. 14. 130
barbiculmis. 129, 130
Enneapogon, 18. 97
desvauxii, 97, 98
Epicampes rigens. lA
Eragrosteae. 12. 56
Eragrostis. 18. 56
amabilis. 58
arida. 60
cilianensis, 57. 59
ciliaris, 57. 58
diffusa. 59, 60
hypnoides, 57. 59
intermedia. 57. 58
var. oreophila. 57
limhala, 61
higens. 57
megaslachya. 59
mexicana, 57. 61
ncoincxicana, 61
orcuttiana, 57. 61
oreophila. 57
oxylepis. 61
pectinacea. 57. 59. 60
pilosa. 60
phimosa. 58
reptans, 57. 59
secundiflora ssp. oxylepis. 61
spicata. 57
tenella. 57. 58
lephrosanthes, 57. 60
virescens, 61
viscosa, 58
Eragrostoideae. 12, 56
Eriochloa, 15. 107
aristata, 108
gracilis. 107
lemmonii var. gracilis, 107, 108
Erioneuron. 18. 20. 62
piilchellum. 62
FALSO ESPARIILLO DEL PINAR, 26
TRIDENTE BORREOUERO, 62
FESCUE, SHEEP, 34
Festuca, 19. 34
hromoides. 34
eastHoodae . 34
grayi. 34
megalura. 34
inicrostachys pai/ciflora. 34
ocloflora. 33
ovina. 34. 35
pacifica. 34
refie.xa, 34
FLUFFGRASS. 62
OALLETA. BIO. 92
Gastridium. 17. 50
ventricosum, 50
GOLDENTOP, 37
GOOSEGRASS, 62
Gouinia brandegei. 85
GRAMA, BLACK. 90
HAIRY, 88
MAT, 90
NEEDLE, 86
RED, 89
SIDEOATS, 87
SIXWEEKS, 89
SLENDER, 87
GRAMILLON DE SAN AGUSTiN, 110
GRASS, BERMUDA, 82
CROWFOOT, 63
DALLIS, 1 14
DEER, 74
DURBAN CROWFOOT, 63
JOHNSON, 125
NATAL, 1 18
Grasses of Baja California
137
RABBITFOOr. 47
RESCUE, 29
RHODES, 85
ST. AUGUSTINE, 111
SALT. 95
SHORE, 94
SICKLE, 55
SIXWEEKS, 33
VASEY, I 14
GRASS-BUR, 122
Hackelochloa, M. 131
granulans. 131
HAIRGRASS. 41
ANNUAL, 41
SLENDER, 42
TUFTED, 42
HeteocMoa scfuienoides, 82
Heteropogon, 14, 130
contortus, 130
melanocarpus. 130
Hilana. 20. 92
belangeri var. longifolia. 92. 93
cenchroides, V2, 93
var. ciliala. 93
ciliata, 92. 93
mutica, 92
rigida, 92, 93
Holcus, 17. 43
lanatus, 43
Hordeum. 20. 50
iiilsccnjcn.s. 51
arizonicum. 51
brachyanlherum. 50. 51
depressum. 51
glaucum, ?/. 52
gusioneanum. 52
hystrix. 5/. 52
jubatum. 5/, 52
leporinum. 5/. 52
muriniim, 52
no<Ji>sum var. depressum. 51
pusillum, 50. 51
stehhinsii. 52
vulgare, H. 51. 52
HUISAPOL. 122, 123
Imperata. l-f. 124
brevifolia, 124
hookeri. 124
JOBS-TEARS, 131
Jouvea, IJ. 20. 96
pilosa, 96
JUNEGRASS, 38
JUNGLE-RICE, 117
KNOTGRASS, I 12
Koeleria, 19. 38
cristulu. 38
mucruntheru. 38
pyramidata, 38, 39
LAGRIMAS DE JOB, 131
Lamarckia, 16. 37
aurea, 37, 38
Lasiacis, 15. 1 14
ctimpacta. 115
divaricata, 1 15
var. divaricata. 1 15
liehmaiuiianii, 115
ruscifolia, 1 15
var. ruscifolia, 1 15
Leersia, 16. 21
oryzoides, 21
Leptochloa, 20. 64
dubia, 64
fascicularis, 64. 65
hiiformis, 64. 65
panicoides, 64, 66
uninervia, 64. 65
viscida, 64, 65
Lolium, 20, 35
miittiflorum, 35
perenne. 35
temulentum, 35, 36
LOVEGRASS, CREEPING, 59
GOPHERTAIL, 58
INDIA, 60
PLAINS. 57
SPICATE, 57
TEAL, 59
VISCID, 58
Lycurus, 16, 66
phalaroUles. bl
phleoides. 66, 67
MAIZ, 132
MAIZE, 132
Melica, 18. 23
frutescens, 23. 26
imperfecta, 23
Meliceae, 1 1, 23
Microchloa, 20. 83
indica. 83
kunthii. 83. 84
MILO MAIZ. 125
Monanthochloe. /J. 94
littoralis. 94
Monerma, 20. 55
cylindrica, 55, 56
Monermeae, 12, 55
Muhlenbergia, 16. 17. 67
alamosae, 68. 11
annua. 70
appressa, 67. 71 . 72
arsenei, 68. lb. 78.
arizonica, 77
asperifolia, 67. 74.
bdoba. 73
brandegei, 8. 67. 72. 73
culamugrostidea. 72. 77
californica. 78
ciliata. 67. 69. 70
confusa. 70
dehilis. 71
di.stichophylla. 74
dumosa, 67. 73
var. minor. 73
eludens. 70
emersleyi, 67, 73
filiformis, 67, 69
var. fortis, 69
fragilis, 67. 68
glauca. 78
gracillima. 69
i^rtindis. 74
Uixifl,)ra. lb. 11
mar.shii. 74
microsperma. 67. 68, 71
minutissima, 67, 68. 69
138
Gould and Moran
mundula, 74
parviglumis. 72
pauciflora, 68. 78
polycaiilis, 76
porteri, 68, 77
purpurea, 71
rumulosa. 69
repens, 68, 15
richardsonis, 67. 69. 75
ngens. 67. 6S. 74
rigida. 6S. 76
sinuosa, 70
squarrosa. 75
tenuifolia, 72. 77
texana, 67. 69. 70. 71, 77
utilis, 75
vflieyafia, 73
wolfii, 67, 68, 7/
wrightii, 68. 76
MUHLY, BUSH, 77
CREEPING, 75
LITTLESEED, 71
MAT. 75
NEW MEXICAN, 78
PULL-UP, 69
PURPLE, 76
SPIKE, 76
NAVAJITA AGUJA, 86
ANUAL, 89
BANDERILLA, 87
PELILLO, 87
VELLUDA, 88
NEEDLEGRASS, DESERT, 24
PRINOLE, 25
Neeragrostis, 59
reptans. 59
NITGRASS. 50
OAT, COMMON, 40
SLENDER, 40
WILD, 40
Oplismenus, 15, 115
burmannii. 1 16
cristatus. 116
hirtellus, 116
setarius, 116
Orcuttia, 18. 20. 97
californica, 98
fragilis, 8. 98
Orcuttieae, 12, 97
Oryzeae, 1 1, 21
Oryzoideae, 11,21
Oryzopsis, 17. 26
hymenoides, 26, 27
PAJITA CERDOSA, 119
TEMPRANERA, 120
PANIC, BLUE, 109
BULB, 108
Paniceae, 12, 104
Panicoideae, 12. 104
Panicum. 15, 108
antidotale. 108. 109
arizonicum. 106
bulbosum, 108
californicum. 104
capillare, 108. 110
var. gtabrum. 1 10
var, hirlicaule, 1 10
divaricatum. 115
fasciculatum. 106
geminutum. Ill
hcUeri. 110
hirticaule, 108. 110
purpuntscens. 106
sanguinule. 105
scrihncriunum. 110
tnchoides. 108. 109
urvilleanum. 108. 109
virgatum. 108, 109
PANIZO CAUCHIN. 110
FASCICULADO, 106
Pappophoreae. 12, 97
Pappophorum, 18, 97
nun riinuUilKin. 97
vaginatum. 97
wrighlii. 97
PAPPUSGRASS. FEATHER. 97
PARAORASS. 106
Parapholis. 20. 55
incurva, 55. 56
Paspalidium. 1 1 1
geminatum. Ill, 112
PASPILIDIUM, EGYPTIAN, 111
Paspalum, 15. 112
dilatatum. 112. 114
Jistuluitn. 112. 113
lentiginosum. 112, 1 14
paniculalum. 112, 1 14
paspalodes. 1 12. //.<
pubiflorum. 112, 113
squamulatum. 112, 113
U'niu.s.simum, 83
urviilei, 112. 114
vaginalum. 112. 1 13
PASPALUM, HAIRVSEED, 113
SEASHORE, 1 13
PASTILLO DEL PINAR, 81
PASTO AZUL ANUAL, 36
AZUL PRECOZ, 36
ESTRELLA, 83
PATA DE POLLO, 63
DE GALLO, 82
Penniselum ciliare. 123
Pereilema, 16. 66
crinitum. 66
Peyritschia. 18. 42
pnnglei, 42, 43
Phalaris, 16. 48
angustata, 48. 49
arundinacea, 48. 49
caroliniana, 48, 49
Icmmonii, 48. 49
minor, 48. 49
paradoxa, 48
PhoHurus incurvus. 55
Phragmites, 18. 22
australis, 22
communi.s. 22
phragmites. 22
Piptochaetium, 17, 26
fimbriatum, 26, 27
Pleuraphis inulica, 92
rigida, 92
PLUMERO BLANCO, 104
Pea, 19. 36
annua. 36
bigelovii, 36
fendleriana, 36. 37
var. fendleriana, 37
var. longiligula, 37
Grasses of Baja California
139
orcuttiana. 36
stabrella, J6. 37
Poeae, 11, 27
Polypogon. /A. 47
australis, ■)?. 4S
interruptus. 47
monspeliensis, 47, 48
svinivcrltiilUilu. 44
I'Ol > RJOON, DITCH, 47
Pooideae. 1 1, 23
POPOTILLO ALGODONOSO, 127
HIRSUTO, 128
RKED, OIANT, 21
RKrORCIDO MORENO, 130
NEGRO, 130
Rhynchelytriim, /5. 118
repens, 1 18
roseum. 1 18
RICEGRASS. INDIAN, 26
PINYON, 27
RYE. 55
RYEGRASS, GIANT, 54
PERENNIAL, 35
Rvlilix i;raiuihiris. 131
SACATE MATEADO, 88
SACATON. ALKALI, 79
Saccharum. 14. 125
officinarum, 8. 125
SANDBUR, 122
BIG, 122
PALMER, 122
SOUTHERN, 123
SATINTAIL, 124
Schismus, 18. 22, 23
barbatus,22
Schizachyrium. 14. 128
cirratum, 128
malacostachyum. 128
sanguineum var. brevipedicellatum, 128
SCRATCHGRASS, 74
Secale, 21. 55
cereale, 55
Setaria, /5, 119
adhaerans, 119. 120
geniculata. 1 19
grisebachii, 119. 121
leucopila. 119. 121
liebmannii. 119. 121
macrostachya, 119. 120, 121
palmer!, 8. 119. 121
palmifolia, 121
verticillata var. ambigua, 119. 120
viridis, 119. 121
Setariopsis, 15. 118
auriculata 118, 119
Sitaiiion /ly.vfn.v. 53
jtihalum. 53
loiifiijolium. 53
Sorghum, 14. 125
bicolor, 8. 125
halepense, 125. 126
vulture. 125
SORGHUM, 125
SORGO, 125
Spartina, 20. 92
foliosa, 91, 92
tciantha. 92
Sphenopholis, 19. 39
obtusata, 39
SPIDERGRASS, 101
Sporobolus, 16. 78
airoides, 78. 79
var. airoides. 79
var. wrightii. 79
uUissimus var. minor, 79
annuus. 70
(ir^ulus. 79
asperifiiUtis. 74
atrovirens, 79. 80
confiisiis. 70
contractus, 79. 80
cryptandrus, 79. 80. 81
t'xpiiiL'iii.s. 79
flexuosus, 79. 81
microspermiis, 70
pulvinatiis. 79
pyramidatus, 78. 79
rucemosus. 68
ramidosus. 69
HriVii, 75
virginicus, 75, 79
i.<>//ii, 68
wrighlii. 79
SPRANGLETOP, AMAZON, 66
GREEN, 64
MEXICAN, 65
RED, 64
STICKY, 65
SQUIRRELTAIL, LONGLEAF, 53
Stenaclildii culifornica. 43
Stenotaphrum, 15. 110
secundatum, 1 10, 1 1 1
STINKGRASS, 59
Stipa, 17. 23
bracteata. 8. 24
catifornica. 24
cernua, 24. 25
coronata, 24
var. depatiperala. 24
diegoensis, 24. 25
eminens. 25
lepida, 24. 25
var. andersonii, 24, 25
var. lepida, 24. 25
parishii, 24
pringlei, 24, 25
pulchra, 24. 25, 26
var. cernua. 25
speciosa, 24
Stipeae, 1 1, 23
SWITCHGRASS, 109
TANGLEHEAD. 130
SWEET, 130
THREEAWN, ARIZONA, 103
BLUE, 103
FENDLER, 103
HAVARD, 102
POVERTY, 102
RED, 103
SIXWEEKS, 100
TOBOSO, 92
COMIJN, 92
MENUDO. 93
Trachypogon, 14. 129
montufari. 130
secundus. 129
Tragus, 19. 93
berteronianus. 93. 94
TRES ARISTAS ABIERTO, 102
140
Gould and Moran
ARQLJEADO, 101
BARBADO, 102
DE AGUA, 100
ROJO, 103
Trichuihne califoriiica. 104
Trichloris crinilu. 85
Trichotaena rosea. 118
Tridens, 18. 61
muticus. 61, 62
var. muticus, 61
puUhellus. 62
TRIDENS, SLIM, 61
TRIDENTE ESBELTO, 61
TRIGO, 54
TRIGUILLO DESERTICO, 53
Tripsacum, 13. 132
lanceolatum, 132
Trisetum, 18. 39
burbumm var. major, 28
californicum. 39
interruptum, 39
var. californicum, 8. 39, 40
Triticeae. 12, .50
Triticum, 21. 54
aestivum, 8. 54
Uniola, 19, 96
palmeri. 95
pittieri, 96
Unioleae, 12, 96
VERDILLO CACAHUATOIDE. 84
PLUMERITO, 84
Vilfa f>racitHma. 69
Vulpia, 19. 32
bromoides, 3j. 34
mcfiuhira. 34
microstachys, 32. 33
var. ciliala, 34
var. pauciflora, 34
myuros, 32. 34
var. hirsuta, 34
var. myuros. 34
octoflora, 32. 33
var. glauca, 33
var. hirtella, 33
var. octoflora, 33
WEDOESCALE, PRAIRIE, 39
WHEAT, 54
WHEATGRASS, BEARDED, 54
WILD-RICE, 95
WILD-RYE. CREEPING, 53
WnCHGRASS, COMMON, 110
ROUGH-STALK, 1 10
WOLFTAIL, 66
ZACATE BARBA LARGA, 129
BORREGLIERO, 62
BUFFEL. 123
CANGREJO VELLUDO, 105
DE AGUA TRES BARBAS, 100
DE CUNA, 39
GIGANTE, 64
GUACIMA, 62
HOJA ANC HA, 1 10
JOHNSON, 125
LADERA, 97
LOBERO, 66
MOTA, 84
NATAL, 1 18
PUNTA BLANCA, 104
SALADO, 95
TEMPRANERO, 120
TOBOSO, 92
ZACATON ALCALINO, 79
DESGRANADOR, 81
P> RAMIDAL, 79
Zea, 13. 132
mays, 8. 132
Zoysieae, 12, 93
786 006 ^
Date Due
ACME
BOOKeiNDING CO.. INC.
NOV 28 1984
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