1918] 1?HE Grasses of Illinois 277 



a. Inflorescence ijrotiiulintf from a very prominent spathc, which is shorter than, 



or equaling the inflorescence; awns straight, usually three times the length 



of the sessile spikelets; pediceled spikelets reduced to a minute scale or 



wanting; raehis joints very slender. A. virginicvs 



aa. Inflorescence not protruding from a prominent spathe; awns more or less bent, 



usually less than twice the length of the sessile spikelet; pediceled spikelets 



always present and distinct; raehis joints thickened, clavate. 



b. Inflorescence of paired or digitate spikes; pediceled spikelet nearly as 



long as the sessile, the pedicel thickened and somewhat clavate. 



A. furcatus 



bb. Inflorescence of solitary spikes; pediceled spikelet very much shorter than 



the sessile, the pedicel thin and straplike. A. scoparius 



Andropogon furcatus Muhl. 

 Forked Beard Grass. Big Bliiestem (Figs. 20 and 21) 



Lapham '57, 548, 599 (Plate 4, Fig. 6); Patterson '76, 52; Plagg '78, 285; 

 Brendel '87, 64; Higley and Eaddin '91, 140; Huett '98, 129; Gleasou '07, 181; 

 Gleason '10, 147; Gleason, '12, 48; Gates '12, 354. 



Culms smooth, 3.5 to 6 feet tall ; sheaths smooth, blades rough 

 on the margins; spikes stout, usually purplish; pediceled spikelet 

 usually staminate, 6 to 7 mm. long; sessile spikelet 8 to 9 mm. long, 

 the awn 10 to 14 mm. long, spirally twisted and usually bent. 



A common grass in Illinois, characteristic of the prairie, but 



found in many other situations. It furnishes good pasture when 



young, but the stems soon become hard. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality, Vasey. champaign CO. Without 

 locality, along railroad track, Gibbs, Oct., 1878; Without locality, Percival, Oct., 

 1876; Champaign, Kosher, Sept., 1913; Savoy, Gibbs, Sept., 1898; Seymour, Tsou, 

 Oct., 1913; Rantoul, Gates, Oct., 1907. christian co. Taylorville, Andrews in 

 1898. COOK CO. Chicago, Sherff, Sept., 1912; Mayfair, Chicago, Gates, Sept., 1905; 

 South Chicago, Schneck, Aug., 1893. ford co. ISTear Eoberts, Wilcox, July, 1902. 

 FULTON CO. Without locality, Pepoon; Canton, Wolf. JO daviess co. Without 

 locality, Pepoon 443. lake co. Beach area near Waukegan, Gates in 1908 ; Wau- 

 kegan, Gleason and Shobe 323. mchenry co. Algonquin, Nason, July, 1878. Ma- 

 coupin CO. Carlinville, Bobertson, Aug., 1882. menard co. Athens, Hall, 1861. 

 ogle CO. Oregon, Waite, Aug., 1885. peoria co. Peoria, McDonald, Aug., 

 1894; Peoria, Brendel; Glasford, Wilcox, July, 1902. st. clair co. Mascoutah, 

 Welsch. stark co. Wady Petra, V. H. Chase, Sept., 1897. wabash co. With- 

 out locality, Schnecl, Nov., 1900; without locality, Shearer; Shannon's swamp, 

 Schneck, Oct., 1882; Hanging Rock, Schneck, Sept., 1878; Lucas farm, Schneck, 

 Aug., 1900. WILL CO. Joliet, Skeels, Aug., 1904. 



Andropogon scoparius Michx. 

 Broom Beard Grass. Little Bluestem (Figs. 22 and 23) 



Engelmann '44, 104; Lapham '57, 549, 599; Patterson '76, 52; Plagg '78, 

 285; Brendel '87, 64; Higley and Eaddin '91, 140; Huett '97, 129; Gleason '07, 

 181; Gleason '10, 147; Gates '12, 354. 



Culms smooth or slightly pubescent, 1 to 4 feet tall ; leaves slightly 

 rough ; spikes slender ; pediceled spikelet a single, small, awn-pointed 

 glume ; sessile spikelets 6 to 7 mm. long, the awn spirally twisted and 

 bent. ' 



A common prairie grass, easily distinguished from A. furcatus by 

 its habit of growing in closer bunches. It is also much shorter and 



