GRASS FAMILY. 145 
9. Muhlenbergia microspérma (DC.) Trin. Small-seeded Muhlenbergia. 
(Fig. 328.) 
Trichochloa microsperma DC. Cat. Hort. Monsp. 151. 
1813. 
Muhilenbergia microsperma Trin. Unifl. 193. 1824. 
Muhlenbergia debilis Trin. Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. 
(VI.) 6: 295. 1841. 
Culms 6/-1'° tall, erect, finally decumbent or 
somewhat prostrate at base, slender, diffusely 
branched. Sheaths usually shorter than the inter- 
nodes, loose; ligule '’’ long, truncate, toothed; 
leaves 14/-214’ long, 1’’ wide or less, scabrous; 
panicle 2/4’ in length, slender, open, the branches 
1’ long or less, ascending or erect; outer scales of 
the spikelet unequal, obtuse or rounded at apex, 
about one-third the length of the third scale, 
which is 14(’/-1%4’” long exclusive of the awn 
and strongly scabrous ; awn 6//-12’’ in length. 
In dry soil, Kansas to California, south to Mexico. 
1o. Muhlenbergia capillaris (lam.) Trin. Long-awned Hair-grass. 
f ‘ (Fig. 329.) 
Stipa capillaris Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 158. 1791. 
Muhlenbergia capillaris Trin. Unifl. 191. 1824. 
Glabrous, culms 114°-4° tall, erect, simple, 
smooth or nearly so. Sheaths smooth, the lower 
short and overlapping, the upper ones much 
longer; ligule about 2’’ in length; leaves 6’-1° long, 
1//-2// wide, scabrous; panicle 7/-1° in length or 
more, diffuse, the capillary branches 4/—-8’ long, 
at length widely spreading; spikelets on long hair- 
like pedicels which are clavate-thickened at the 
apex; outer scales unequal, acute or short-awned, 
slightly scabrous; third scale, exclusive of the 
awn, 2’ long, about twice as long as the first 
one, scabrous, the awn 3//-9’’ in length. 
In dry sandy or rocky soil, Massachusetts to New 
Jersey and Missouri, south to Florida and Texas. 
Panicle usually light purple. Sept.—Oct. 
11. Muhlenbergia gracillima Torr. Filiform Muhlenbergia. (Fig. 330.) 
jf 
Ng tag lee gracillima Torr. Pac. R. R. Rept. 4: 155. 
1875. 
Glabrous, culms 4/-14/ tall, from a slender creeping | 
rootstock, erect, slender, simple, rigid. Sheaths 
smooth ; ligule 1/’-2’” long, entire and acuminate, or 
variously cleft, with acuminate teeth; leaves 1’-2’ long, 
involute-setaceous, smooth or somewhat scabrous, \ | 
rigid, the basal numerous, usually strongly recurved, 
the 1-3 culm leaves erect or ascending; panicle 2/—9/ \ 
in length, open, the branches finally widely spreading, 
1/-3/ long, filiform; spikelets about as long as the fili- 
form pedicels which are clavate-thickened at the apex; 
outer scales unequal, usually awn-pointed or short- 
awned, slightly scabrous; third scale 14 /’/-112’’ long, 
longer than the outer ones, sometimes twice as long, 
scabrous; awn 1’/-2’’ long. 
—— a 
On prairies, Kansas to Colorado, south to Texas and 
New Mexico. Sept.—Oct. 
