HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



57a. Culms with bulbs at the bases 58 



57b. Culms without bulbs at the bases 60 



58a. Lemmas acute or obtuse, glabrous 59 



58b. Lemmas tapering to an acuminate tip, pubescent. Fig. 91. 



Melica subulata (Griseb.) Scribn. 



Perennial; tufted; plants 60 — 125 cm. tall; 

 panicles narrow, 10 — 15 cm. long. The culms 

 of this species and several following have 

 small, onion-like bulbs, about 1 cm. long, 

 at their bases, because of which they are 

 sometimes called onion grasses. Leaf blades 

 usually 2 — 5 mm. wide. Moist forests. May 

 -July. 



Figure 91 



59a. First glume less than half as long as the spikelet; bulb attached 

 to the crown of the plant by a thin stalk as much as 1 cm. long. 

 Fig. 92. 



ONIONGRASS 



Melica spectabilis Scribn. 



Perennial; plants 30 — 100 cm. tall; pani- 

 cle slender, 10 — 15 cm. long. This is a 

 handsome species with somewhat inflat- 

 ed spikelets, the lemmas purple-tipped. 

 Leaf sheaths hairy; blades flat or rolled, 

 2 — 4 mm. wide. Gravelly mountain 

 meadows and slopes. July — August. For- 

 age value good. 



Figure 92 



50 



