Piptochaetium brevicalyx (E. Fourn.) Ricker ex Hitchc.

Piptochaetium brevicalyx (Fourn.) Ricker; Hitchc. Contr U. S. Nat. Herb. 17: 286. 1913.
Oryzopsis Fournieriana Hemsl. Bio!. Centr. Am. Bot. 3: 538. 1885. (Based on Slipa brevicalyx
Foum. [proof sheets], hence a nomen nudum.) Stipa brevicalyx Foum. Mex. PI. Gram. 150. 1886.
Culms densely cespitose in tussocks, slender, glabrous, usually 2-noded, 10-30 cm. tall, the nodes black (when dry), the innovations numerous; sheaths glabrous; ligule 0.5-1 mm. long; blades involute-filiform, glabrous or nearly so, sulcate, 5-15 cm. long, the culm-blades short; panicles narrow, rather loose, few-flowered, 2-4 cm. long, the branches ascending, about 1 cm. long, bearing 1-3 spikelets, the lateral pedicels about 3 mm. long; glumes broad, oblong, rounded and apiculate at tip, usually dark-purple, glabrous, about 3 mm. long; lemma glabrous, somewhat compressed, dark-brown or purple, shining, oblong, asymmetric at the truncate summit; awn somewhat flexuous, glabrous or nearly so, 5-10 mm. long.
Type LOCALiTi-: San Luis de Potosi (Parry &• Palmer 950). Distribution: Rocky hills, central and southern Mexico.