HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



2b. Inflorescence not hidden by the leaves; plants annual or perennial, 

 of various habits 3 



3a. Spikelets with 2 or more fertile florets 4 



3b. Spikelets with 1 fertile floret, often variously shaped rudimentary 

 ones above the perfect one 8 



4a. Spikes numerous, in a panicle 5 



4b. Spikes few (usually less than 6), all arising from one central point 

 7 



5a. Spikelets 5 — 10 mm. long; lemmas awned or awnless 6 



5b. Spikelets 1 — 2 mm. long; lemmas awnless. Fig. 249. 



RED SPRANGLETOP LepfochJoa iiliioTznis (Lam.) Beauv. 



Annual; plants tufted, 20 — 70 cm. tall. 

 The reddish or purple panicles may be 

 half the height of the plants, with numer- 

 ous thread-like spikes bearing the very 

 tiny spikelets. Red sprangletop is a rather 

 rampant weed, frequent on bottomlands, 

 in fields, and in gardens. August — Sep- 

 tember. 



Figure 249 



132 



