HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



15b. Awn straight or bent, (rarely absent) readily separating from the 

 lemma when mature; floret rather short and plump 16 



16a. Lemmas covered with short, appressed hairs or glabrous 



17 



16b. Lemmas covered with long, silky white hairs; panicle open, with 

 spreading branches. Fig. 201. 



INDIAN RICEGRASS Oryzopsis hymenoides (R. & S.) Ricker 



Perennial; culms 30 — 60 cm. tall, in dense, 

 tough tufts. The panicles are very open, with 

 scattered spikelets on the tips of slender, zig- 

 zag pedicels. The lemmas are brownish-black, 

 but are covered with a dense cloud of white 

 hairs. The awns readily break away from the 

 lemmas, and may be missing from many of 

 the spikelets. This is one of the most valu- 

 able forage grasses in the desert areas of the 

 West. It is especially prized for winter feed. 

 The large seeds are nutritious feed for live- 

 stock and formerly were used as food by the 

 Zuni Indians. April — August. 



Figure 201 



17a. Spikelets (without the awns) 6 — 9 mm. long; leaf blades flat, all 

 at the base of the plant. Fig. 202. 



Oryitopsis asperifolia Michx. 



Perennial; tufted, with numerous long flat 

 basal leaves; culms 20 — 70 cm. long, usually 

 spreading, lacking leaf blades (sheaths pres- 

 ent). The hard cylindrical lemmas are yel- 

 lowish in color. Scattered in sandy or rocky 

 woods. May — June. 



Oryzopsis racemosa (Smith) Ricker is simi- 

 lar in general habit, but has long upper culm 

 leaves and short basal leaves. The lemmas 

 are black. Quebec to Delaware, westward to 

 Kentucky and South Dakota. Jime— Augxist. 



Figure 202 



108 



