HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



46b. Culms not much branched; panicles all at the tips of long pro- 

 truding branches or the main culms; stems dull, roughened with 

 minute hairs, especially below the joints. Fig. 230. 



Muhienbergfa sylvatica Torr. 



Perennial; culms 40 — 100 cm. tall; rhi- 

 zomes present; plants often bushy; leaf 

 blades flat, soft, 2 — 8 mm. wide; panicles 

 narrow, arching, with thin, erect branches; 

 some of the spikelets on pedicels as long 

 as the glumes; glumes tapering to awn 

 points, 2 — 3 mm. long; lemma sHghtly long- 

 er, hairy on the callus and lower portion, 

 with an awn 5 — 10 mm. long. The culms 

 feel file-like when scratched with the finger 

 nail, especially below the nodes. Forms 

 with short awns or none are known. 

 Woods, meadows, thickets, and roadsides. 

 August — September. 



Muhienbergia mexicana (L.) Trin. is simi- 

 lar but has denser, usually lobed panicles, 

 most of the spikelets being nearly sessile 

 on the branches; lemmas awnless; leaf 

 blades 2 — 4 mm. wide. Rocky shores, moist woods, swamps. Through- 

 out most of the United States except Texas and the southeastern states. 



47a. Second glume not toothed 48 



47b. Second glume 3-toothed near the tip. Fig. 231. 



Muhienbergia znontana (Nutt.) Hitch. 



Perennial; culms in large, dense tufts, 30 

 — 60 cm. tall; panicles slender, with as- 

 cending branches. The 3-toothed second 

 glume is the best identifying mark of this 

 species. The old sheaths at the base of 

 the plants become flat and stiff, Hke thin 

 wooden splints. This species yields fairly 

 palatable forage, especially when the 

 herbage is young. Ponderosa pine, spruce, 

 and fir forests. 2300—3300 m. elevation. 

 July — October. 



Figure 230 



Figure 231 



123 



