HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



43b. Panicles open, with spreading branches; tiny awnless spikelets on 

 long slender pedicels. Fig. 226. 



SCRATCHGRASS MuhJenbergia asperifoha (N. & M.) ParodL 



Perennial; bushy. 10 — 50 cm. tall, with 

 rhizomes; panicles open, dome-like, 5 — 15 

 cm. long; plants pale green in color; leaf 

 blades 2 — 5 cm. long, 1 — 2 mm. wide; H- 

 gules minute. The grains are often swol- 

 len up into spherical shape by the action 

 of a fungus. Moist, often alkahne soil. 

 June — September. 



Muhlenbergia arenacea Buckl. is similar 

 but has prominent ligules, 1 — 2 mm. long. 

 Texas to Colorado and Mexico. 



Figure 226 



44a. Leaf blades 3 mm. wide or wider, more than 5 cm. long, flat; lem- 

 mas awned or awnless 45 



44b. Leaf blades 1 — 2 mm. wide, less than 5 cm. long, usually rolled; 

 lemmas awnless. Fig. 227. 



MAT MUHLY Muhlenbergia richaTdsonis (Trin.) Rydb. 



Perennial; much-branched, spreading by 

 hard, thin rhizomes and forming mats, the 

 erect portions of the culms 5 — 60 cm. long; 

 panicle slender, 2 — 10 cm. long. Mat muhly 

 is a grass of open, often wet or alkaline soil. 

 While rather tough, it furnishes fairly good 

 Hvestock feed. The densely matted plants 

 furnish considerable erosion protection to the 

 soil. July — September. Also known as M. 

 squGTTOsa (Trin.) Rydb. 



Figure 227 



45a. Glumes not longer than the lemma, less than 3.5 mm. long .... 46 



121 



