HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



27a. Spikelets sessile or nearly so, strongly keeled and flattened, 



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27b. Spikelets on slender pedicels; lemmas keeled or rounded on the 

 back 29 



28a. Spikelets few. distant along the few elongated panicle branches, 

 a sessile spikelet and a cottony tuft of hairs in the axil of each 

 panicle branch. Fig. 64. 



EragTOstis sessilispica Buckl. 



Perennial; tufted; plants usually 20 — 40 

 cm. tall. This is a tumbleweed grass, the 

 panicle breaking off and rolling with the 

 wind when mature. The leaves are clus- 

 tered in a short basal tuft. The panicle 

 may reach as much as 40 cm. in length. 

 The main axis is somewhat spiral; the 

 branches are straight, stiff, and bear ses- 

 sile spikelets. Dry sandy plains. Forage 

 value apparently low. May — June. 



Figure 64 



28b. Spikelets numerous, in a dense panicle; no sessile spikelets and 

 cottony tufts in the axils. Fig. 65. 



Eragrostis oxylepis Terr. 



Perennial; wiry; tufted; plants 20 

 — 70 cm. tall; leaves 1 — 5 mm. wide, 

 smooth except at the base of the 

 blade. The spikelets are borne in 

 one or more dense tufts along the 

 axis or branches of the panicle. The 

 spikelets often overlap like shingles. 

 They usually have a reddish or 

 bronzy color when ripe. Sandy or 

 rocky open ground. Forage value 

 apparently low. July — October. Al- 

 so called E. secundiflora. 



Eragrostis beyrichii J. G. Smith is 

 similar, but the spikelets are pale 

 instead of bronzy. Oklahoma to 

 Mexico. 



Figure 65 



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