Some Monstrosities in Spikelets of Eragrostis and Setaria
BY W. J. BEAL

In central Michigan we usually have a severe frost by September 5th-15th, but in 1898, it was delayed until about October 7th.
This unusual delay of frost with warm weather and moisture
enough was favorable for late growth of some plants.
On October 6th, I found a few plants of Eragrostis major Host.,
a common weed among grasses, which had apparently, like most
others of its kind, made plans for closing its season of growth
early in September, maturing spikelets 6 mm. long with 12-18
florets well filled with grain, but before drying up and dying-the
weather was so fine-a new growth of the rachilla was made pro-
longing the axis to 17 mm. with 32 florets (Fig. 4), more than
double the original length (Fig. 3). This new growth was not
able to mature grain.
The first growth was broad and faded; the new was slender
and olive green, making a sharp contrast in appearance.

FIG. 1, 2. Chamaeraphis viridis. 3, 4. Eragrostis major.

An increased number of florets has been recorded by others in
Hordeum, Lolium, Avena and Catabrosa, but I have seen no ac-
count of this in Eragrostis major. From countries with warmer
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seasons, I have heard of spikelets of Eragrostis major containing
as many as 50 florets on an axis 20 mm. long.
The spikelets of Chamaeraphis (Setaria) viridis (L.) Porter,
bear 1-5 persistent, awnlike, barren branches or bristles.
In October, 1898, in rich ground, I found several thrifty
plants of this species, in which a considerable number of the upper
bristles bore at the apex, each a spikelet, and in one case, a spikelet was borne on the side of a bristle about two-thirds the distance from the base to the top (Fig. 2). The specimens with spikelets on the bristles confirm the statement, if it needs any
further confirmation, that these bristles are actually branches and
not mere hairs.
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