276 



Bulletin No. 205 



[March, 



Culms 3 to 8 feet tall, with appresscd hairs at the nodes and on 

 the upper portion near the inflorescence ; leaves long, one-half inch 

 to one inch wide ; panicle loose, with soft, silky hairs. 



This grass was probably once found in the southern part of the 

 state, but it is doubtful if it occurs in the state at the present time. 



JACKSON CO. Without locality, French, Sept., 1878. 



Eriantlius contorfus Baldwin.. — This species is described by Lap- 

 ham among the plants of Illinois; but no citations are given. As it is 

 not mentioned by any other author, and no specimens have been seen, 

 it is extremely doubtful if it has ever been collected in Illinois. 



Figs. 17-19. — 17, T. dactyloidcs, part of iuflorcsconce : (a) pistillate spikelet, 

 (b) and (c) staminate spikelets; 18, E. divaricatus, inflorescence; 19, E. divari- 

 catus, pair of spikelets: (a) pediceled spikelet, (b) sessile spikelet 



3. ANDROPOGON L. 

 Beard Grass 



These grasses are tall, often coarse, tufted perennials, found in 

 both temperate and tropical climates. The inflorescence is of lateral 

 and terminal spikes, Avith paired spikelets. One spikelet is sessile and 

 perfect, usually bearing a twisted aAvn ; the other is pediceled, imper- 

 fect, either bearing stamens or reduced to a single glume, which is 

 often minute or entirely lacking. The rachis joints and pedicels often 

 bear long, silky hairs. The leaves are long and narrow, the ligules 

 short and membranous, with fringed edges. The culms in some of the 

 species show a conspicuous bluish bloom, particularly in the region of 

 the nodes, hence the common name bluestem. 



