DESCRIPTIVE MANUAL 



45 



Southern Spear Grass (Eragrostis pilosa (L.) Beauv.). 



Description. — An annual, 5-18 in. high, with erect or ascending 

 stems diffusely branching near the base ; sheaths pilose at the throat, 

 otherwise smooth, leaf -blade 1-7 lines long, V^-l 1 /^ lines wide, con- 

 duplicate when dry; panicle oblong-lanceolate to pyramidal, 3-8 

 or 12 in. long, the widely spreading primary branches solitary, or 

 2-3 together, the axils not pilose ; spikelets narrow-lanceolate, 2Ay 2 

 lines long, 3-15-flowered, appressed to the branches, nearly equal- 

 ing or exceeding their capillary pedicels ; empty glumes ovate, acute, 

 scabrous on the keel, the longer one about % li ne m length ; flower- 

 ing glume broadly ovate, obtuse, distinctly 3-nerved, scabrous on the 

 keel, about 3 /± line long ; palea scabrous on the keels ; grain oblong. 



Fig. 25. Spear Grass (Eragrostis pilosa). Roadsides, streets, fields, etc. 

 (Photographed by Quade. ) 



