lOlS] The Grasses of Illinois 339 



the lateral awns much reduced, the middle aAvn 3 to 6 mm. long, finally 



coiled at the base. 



These plants are found in diy, sandy or gi-avelly soil. They usually 



grow in quite large tufts. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality, Hall in 1861; southern Illinois, Vasey. 

 JO DAVIESS CO. Without locality, Pepoon. hancock co. Augusta, Mead in 1842. 

 MACOUPIN CO. Carlinville, Boiertsoii, July, 1882. menard co. Athens, Hall in 

 1861. PERRY CO. Dn Quoin, Vasey. ST. clair co. Mascoutah, Welsch. 



Aristida gracilis Ell. 

 Slender Aristida. Slender Beard Grass (Fig. 129) 



Lapham '57, 545, 571; Patterson '76, 50; Flagg '78, 281; Brendel '87, 88. 



Culms slender, branched at the base, 6 to 20 inches tall ; sheaths 

 smooth, blades 1 to 4 inches long, 1 to 2 mm. wide, usually drying 

 involute ; inflorescence a slender raceme or spike-like panicle, 2 to 6 

 inches long; glumes unequal, the second equaling the lemma, which 

 is about 6 mm. long; lateral awns erect, 2 to 6 mm. long, median awn 

 spreading, usually about 10 mm. long. 



This species is seldom found in very large tufts ; often the plants 



occur singly. They are found in dry, usually sandy soil. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality, southern Illinois, Vasey. fltlton co. 

 Without locality, Brendel. jo daviess co. Without locality, Pepoon. Hender- 

 son CO. Oquawka, Patterson, macoupin co. Carlinville, Bobertson, Aug., 1880. 

 MENARD CO. Athens, Hall in 1867. ST. clair co. Mascoutah, Welsch. union 

 CO. Without locality, French, Sept., 1878; ^Yithout locality. Wolf; Anna, Seymour, 

 Aug., 1880. WABASH CO. Without locality. Shearer. 



Aristida oligantha IMichx. 

 Few-flowered Aristida (Fig. 133) 



Michaux '03, 41; Lapham '57, 545, 571; Patterson '76, 50; Flagg '78, 281; 

 Brendel '87, 88. 



Culms much branched, 1 to 2 feet tall; sheaths loose, smooth; 

 blades 1 to 6 inches long, 1 to 2 mm. wide, smooth, usually involute; 

 inflorescence a raceme or spike-like panicle ; glumes unequal and 

 awned ; lemmas 20 to 30 mm. long ; awns neai-ly equal, 4 to 7 cm. long. 



This species was first found on the prairies of Illinois by Michaux. 



It grows in dry soil, and was probably the commonest species of 



Aristida on the original prairies of the state. 



ILLINOIS SFECiMEXS: Without locality, Mead, champaign co. Near Cham- 

 paign, Clinton, Oct., 1898. Clinton co. Carlyle, Mead; Shattuck, Waite, Aug., 

 1897. COOK CO. Lyons, Hill, Aug., 1898. hancock co. Augusta, Mead. Hen- 

 derson CO. Near Oquawka, Patterson, Sept., 1881. jackson co. Without local- 

 ity, French, Aug., 1905. macoupin co. Brighton, McDonald, Sept., 1894; Me- 

 dora, McDonald; Carlinville, Bobertson, Aug., 1882. marion co. Odin, Vasey 

 in 1862. MENARD CO. Athens, Hall, peoria co. Princeville, V. H. Chase 1248. 

 rock island CO. Barstow, McDonald, Sept., 1904. ST. clair co. Mascoutah, 

 IVelsch. union co. Cobden, Seymour, Aug., 1880; Anna, Seymour, Aug., 1880. 

 WABASH CO. Without locality, Shearer. Washington co. Irvington, French, 

 Sept., 1872. 



