Panicum pulchellum Raddi

Panicum pulchellum Raddi, Agrost. Bras. 42. 1823
Eriochloa ? pulchella Kunth, Rev. Gram. 30. 1829.
Panicum leptostachyum J. Presl, in Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1:J11. 1»^U.
Hymenachne leptoslachya Fourn. Mex. PL Gram. 36. 188o. Plants apparently perennial, decumbent or creeping at base; culms slender, rather freely
branching, ascending, pubescent in lines or glabrate, the nodes bearded; leaf-sheaths short,
softly pubescent or glabrate; ligule ciliate, about 0.3 mm. long; blades thin, spreading, 1.5-4
cm. long, 4—15 mm. wide, rather abruptly acuminate, asymmetrically subcordate; panicles
oblong, 2-12 cm. long, rarely more than 2 cm. wide, the racemes 5-15 mm. long, all about the
same length, ascending or finally spreading, distant or approximate toward the summit ;.spikelets
1.8-2 mm. long, about 0.8 mm. wide, turgid but not thicker than wide, hispid, the hairs longer
toward the margin; first glume one third to half the length of the spikelet, acute, 3-nerved;
second glume and sterile lemma subequal, acute, the latter bearing at either side of the midnerve
a crateriform gland, the sterile palea about three fourths as long as its lemma; fruit 1.3 mm.
long, 0.6 mm. wide, rather blunt.
Type locality: Near Rio Janeiro, Brazil. Distribution: Martinique; southern Mexico to Brazil.