HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



TRIBE VII. CHLORIDEAE 



la. Spikelets not inclosed in beads; flowers perfect 2 



lb. Pistillate spikelets inclosed in yellowish, bony, bead-like structures; 



plants unisexual; staminate spikelets borne in 1 — 3 spikes; plants 



producing extensive creeping stolons. Fig. 247. 



BUFFALO GRASS Buchloe dactyloides Engelm. 



Perennial; spreading widely by stolons; 

 pistillate spikelets inclosed in bead-like bodies 

 with a short green crown on top; staminate 

 spikelets in short, flag-like spikes. The two 

 sexes are borne on separate plants. The 

 diminutive plants are rarely more than 20 

 cm. tall. Leaves short, curly, grayish-green. 

 Despite its small size, this species is one 

 of the most important forage grasses of the 

 Great Plains, furnishing excellent forage year 

 long. It resembles closely Hilaria belangeri 

 (see Fig. 245). For ways of distinguishing 

 the two when not fruiting, see the discussion 

 under that species. Buffalo grass frequently 

 grows with blue grama grass (see Bouteloua 

 gracilis. Fig. 271) and resembles it, except that 



the grama grass lacks stolons. Blooming time mostly in the spring, 



but also later in the season. 



2a. Inflorescences consisting of a few spikelets hidden in the sheaths 

 of stiff, sharp-pointed leaves; annual, making circular or dome- 

 shaped patches from one root. Fig. 248. 



FALSE BUFFALO GRASS Munroa squarrosa (Nutt.) Torr. 



Figure 247 



Leaves of Munroa are stiff, harsh, and some- 

 what curled backwards. The spikelets are 

 borne in two's or three's on short, one-sided 

 spikes. The small vegetative leaves and 

 glumes are similar and hard to distinguish. 

 The plants grow on overgrazed or disturbed 

 soil in blow-outs, around prairie dog towns, 

 corrals, etc. Forage value very low. June — 

 August. 



Figure 248 



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