A densely tufted glaucous, glabrous perennial 1 to 4 dm. high, with numerous 

 involute, basal leaves, erect simple culms and long, usually purplish setae. 

 Sheaths shorter than the internodes, striate ; ligule a ciliate fringe; leaf- 

 blades strongly involute, wiry, 2 to 11 cm.' long, the basal ones numerous, 

 often recurved, culm leaves one or two, similar to the basal ones. Panicles 

 few-flowered, exserted, the branches solitary or 2 or 3 at the lower nodes, 

 ascending, at least in herbarium specimens, each bearing 1 to 3 or 4 flowers. 

 Spikelets rather large, purplish; empty glumes unequal, the first shorter 

 than the flowering glume, slightly scabrous on the keel, acute or with a 

 very short mucronate tip, 11 mm. long; second glume much exceeding the 

 flowering glume, about 20 mm. long, otherwise like the first; flowering 

 glume about 14 mm. long, including the densely pubescent callus, which is 

 about 1 mm. long, smooth below, scabrous above. Setae nearly equal, 

 scabrous, about 7 cm. long. 



Type locality. New Mexico, No. 978 A. Fendler, 1847. 



General distribution. — In dry soil, South Dakota to Montana, south to Texas, 

 New Mexico, and Arizona (Mexico). May to September. 



Specimens examined.— South Dakota: Stearns, 33 E. J. Wallace, August 2, 

 1896. Montana: Upper Big Horn River, 184 J. W. Blankinship, July, 

 1890. Wyoming: Devil's Tower, 544 David Griffiths, August 13, 1897. 

 Colorado: Grand Junction, 5476 M. E. Jones, June 21, 1894; Denver, 11 

 J. M. Holzinger, 1896, also 31 Alice Eastwood, July, 1891 ; Walsenburg 790 

 C. L. Shear, July 10, 1896; Fort Collins, E. D. Ball, June 26, 1898, also 518 

 C. S. Crandall, July 1, 1892; Ar boles, 14 C. F. Baker, June 29, 1899; Jules- 

 burg, 24 E. N. Plank, June, 1896; McElmo Canyon, \lh Alice Eastwood, 

 June, 1892. Utah: Springdale, 5249 M. E. Jones, May 16, 1894; Silver Reef, 

 5163 M. E. Jones, May 4, 1894; Antelope Island, 1297 S. Watson, June, 

 1869. Nebraska : North Platte, 2025 P. A. Rydberg, June 22, 1895, also 279 

 C. L. Shear, same date ; near Thedf ord, 1 300 P. A. Rydberg, September 8, 

 1893; Lavaca, 817 J. M. Bates, July 14, 1898; Longpine, 1121 J. M. Bates, 

 July 23, 1898. Kansas: Rockport, E. Bartholomew, June 12, 1889; Osborne 

 City, 158 C. L. Shear, July 9, 1894; Ellsworth County, 589a A. S. Hitchcock, 

 July 12, 1895; Riley Cr-unty, 263 Hitchcock, July 15, 1895; Ulysses, 63 C. H. 

 Thompson, June 27, 1893. Texas: San Diego, J. G. Smith, June 11, 1897; 

 Kerrville, J. G. Smith, June 22, 1897; Palestine, 49 E. N. Plank, April, 1895. 

 Arizona: Tucson, J. W. Toumey, 1892; "North Arizona," J. G. Lemmon, 

 1884; Port Apache, 575 E. Palmer, June, 1890; Ash Fork, 16, 17 J. W. 

 Toumey, Jime, 1892. New Mexico: No locality, 978 A. Fendler, 1847 

 (cotype); Rosa, 152 C. F. Baker, June, 1899; Mangos, J. K. Metcalfe, May, 

 1897; White Sands, 404 E. O. Wooton, August 28, 1897; Santa Fe, 3535 

 A. A. & E. G. Heller. May 15, 1897; Socorro, 74 E. N. Plank, August, 1895. 

 Mexico : Chihuahua, 473 C. G. Pringle, October 8, 1885. 



This widely distributed species has been variously referred to Aristida purpurea, 

 A. fendleriana, A. fascicidata, etc., but is readily distinguished by its 

 simple, erect, slender culms, few, large spikelets, acute or but slightly 

 mucronate empty glumes and long, purplish setae. 



Steudel describes Aristida longiseta as being but 3 or 4 inches high, but in all 

 other pai ticulars his rather full description applies to the form here consid- 

 ered. It is evident that Steudel based his description on a very small form. 

 Fendler's No. 978 in the U. S. National Herbarium is 3 dm. high, while the 

 same number in the herbarium of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural 

 Sciences is but 1.5 dm. high. 



