HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



98a. Panicle branches short, erect, bearing spikelets nearly to their 

 bases; plants of the Rocky Mts. Fig. 134. 



SPIKE FESCUE Hesperochloa kingii (S. Wats.) Rydb. 



Perennial; tufted or sometimes bearing 

 rhizomes; plants 40 — 100 cm. tall; panicles 

 7 — 20 cm. long. Spike fescue has the stomi- 

 note and pistillate spikelets on separate plants 

 (dioecious). While the spikelets ore similar, 

 the pistillate ones have well developed ovar- 

 ies and abortive anthers, less than a milli- 

 meter long, while the staminate ones have 

 large anthers, about 4 mm. long, and no 

 ovaries. Grazed by cattle and sheep. Dry 

 mountains, at medium altitudes. May — Au- 

 gust. Also called Festuca kingii. 



Figure 1 34 



98b. Panicle branches slender, drooping; bearing spikelets only neca 

 the outer ends; Dakotas to Texas and eastward. Fig. 135. 



NODDING FESCUE Festuca obtusa Biehler 



Pereimial; tufted; plants 50 — 100 cm. 

 tall; panicles usually 15 — 20 cm. long. 

 Nodding fescue is a species found in 

 forests of the eastern half of the United 

 States. The plants grow in small clumps, 

 with somewhat spreading culms and 

 drooping panicles. The spikelets shat- 

 ter almost before reaching full size, mak- 

 ing it difficult to find complete ones. 

 May — September. 



A similar but rarer species is F. paia- 

 doxa Desv., which bears 8 — 20 spike- 

 lets, 4 — 6 mm. wide, on each lower pani- 

 cle branch. 



Figure 135 



99a. Lemmas awnless 



100 



99b. Lemmas bearing owns 2 mm. or more long 



102 



71 



