VEGETATIVE ORGANS OF GRASSES 



353 



rhizomes. Internodes short, scales at node short, fringed. 

 Nodes on a new rhizome conspicuous. The old rhizome dies. 

 Roots few, fibrous. Leaf folded in bud, dull green. Sheaths 

 not compressed. Blades flat, compressed at base, one to two and 

 one-half cm. wide. Ligiile naiTOw, memibranous, acute. 



Fig. 128. — Andropogon scoparius. Little Blue Stem. A, ligule ; B, old 

 rhizome: C. new rliizome and bud; D, sheath. 



Bouteloua curtipendula. Tall Grrama Oats. Figure 129. 



Tufted perennial. New buds did not arise from base of old 

 culm but rather from terminal bud of rhizome, followed by a 

 group of short rhizomes sending up shoots from terminal bud. 

 Rhizome thick, tough. Roots from nodes, long, slender, many 

 short root hairs. Leaves rolled from both sides toward middle. 

 Sheaths loose, not compressed, sometimes sparsely pubescent, 

 leaning away from bud. Collar not differentiated. Blades, 

 scabrous, three to four mm. wide. 

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