GRAMIXEE. (grass FAMILY.) 657 



sometimes simply awued, larger than the palet. Stamens 2 or 3. Seed 

 closely enclosed. — Ours annuals. Leaves flat. (Name composed of Aeirros, 

 slender, and x^<^«> grass, from the long attenuated spikes.) 



1. L. mucron^ta, Kunth. Sheaths hairy; spikes numerous (20-40, 

 2-4' in length), in a long panicle-like raceme ; spikelets small ; glumes more 

 or less mucronate, nearly equalling or exceeding the 3-4 awnless flowers. — 

 Fields, Va. to 111., Mo., and southward. Aug. 



49. BUCHLOE, Engelm. Buffalo Grass. (PI. 15.) 



Spikelets dioecious (rarely monoecious), very unlike; the staminate 2-S 

 lowered, sessile in 2 rows in short 1 -sided spikes, the empty glumes blunt, 

 1 -nerved, very unequal, the flowering larger, 3-uerved, a little exceeding the 

 2-nerved palet ; fertile spikelets 1-flowered, in a contracted, capitate, 1-sided 

 spike, the large outer glumes indurated, 3-fid at the apex, united at base and 

 resembling an involucre, the inner (lower) much smaller and membranaceous, 

 or in the lowest spikelet resembling the outer ; flowering glume narrow, hya- 

 line, bifid or nearly entire, enclosing the 2-nerved palet. Styles distinct. 

 Grain ovate, free. — A perennial, creeping or stoloniferous, with narrow flat 

 leaves; staminate spikes (2-3) in a pedunculate spike, the pistillate pair ses- 

 sile in the broad sheaths of the upper leaves. (Name a contraction of Buba- 

 lochloe, from 0ovfiaXos, buffalo, and x^^V, grass.) 



1. B. dactyloides, Engelm. Low (3-8' high) and broadly tufted; 

 sterile spikes 3 - 6" long, the fertile heads 3'' long. — Plains of the Sask. to 

 Minn., Kan., and Tex. One of the most valuable grasses of the plains. 



50. TRIODIA, R.Br. (PI. lo.) 



Spikelets 3 - 12-flowered, somewhat terete, the rhachis with bearded joints; 

 terminal flower abortive. Empty glumes unequal ; flowering glumes mem- 

 branaceous or somewhat chartaceous, much larger than the 2-toothed palet, 

 convex, 2 - 3-toothed or cleft at the apex, conspicuously hairy -bearded or vil- 

 lous on the 3 strong nerves, of which the lateral are marginal or nearly so 

 and usually excurrent, as is the mid-nerve especially, into a short cusp or awn. 

 Stamens 3. Stigmas dark purple, plumose. Grain oblong, nearly giblwus. — 

 Leaves taper-pointed; sheaths bearded at the throat. Panicle simple or com- 

 pound ; the spikelets often racemose, purplish. (Name from rpi-, three, and 

 oSovs, a tooth, alluding to the flowering glume.) 



§ 1. TRIODIA proper. Glumes shorter than the crowded flowers, the flowering 

 one 3-cuspidate bi/ the projection of the nerves, and usually with intermediate 

 membranaceous teeth; palet naked. 



1. T. Cliprea, Jacq. (Tall Red-top.) Perennial; culm upright (3-5° 

 high), very smooth, as are the flat leaves; panicle large and compound, the 

 rigid capillary branches spreading, naked below; spikelets very numerous, 

 5-7-flowered, shining, purple (4" long); the flowering glumes hairy toward 

 the base, their points almost equal, scarcely exceeding the intermediate teeth, 

 thus appearing 5-toothed. (Tricuspis seslerioides, Torr.) — Dry or sandy 

 fields, southern N. Y. to Mo., and southward. Aug. — A showy grass, with 

 the spreading panicle sometimes 1° wide. 



