The Book of Grasses 



nearly erect instead of spreading from the stem. This grass is 

 often so slender as to be little noticed, but in early autumn we 

 may frequently find it blooming in sandy fields and by 

 dry roadsides where the Wild Oat-grass still retains dry 

 and faded panicles of springtime. The glistening stems 

 of Purple Finger-grass are often beautifully 

 tinged in rose and purple, colours which, though 

 not looked for among the grasses, are theirs 

 during many months of the year. 



Large Crab-grass. Digiiaria sanguindlis 

 (L.) Scop. 



Annual. Naturalized from Europe. 

 Stem 1-3 ft. in length, much branched, erect or spread- 

 ing and rooting at lower joints. Sheaths rather 

 loose, smooth or hairy. Ligule short. Leaves 

 2'- 10' long, 2"-6" wide, often hairy, rough on 

 edges. 

 Spikes 4-15, often deep reddish purple, 2'-^' long, 

 narrow, i -sided, spreading from summit of stem. 

 Spikelets i-flowered, lanceolate, acute, i"-i§" 

 long, in pairs or 3's on one side of the flat 

 rachis. Scales 4; lowest scale minute; 2nd scale 

 about half as long as spikelet. Stamens 3, 

 anthers small. Stigmas lavender. 

 Cultivated grounds and waste places. July to 



September. 

 Throughout North America, except in the extreme 

 north. 



SLENDER PASPALUM AND FIELD 

 PASPALUM 



Paspalums are characteristic grasses of the 

 Southern States, and in warm countries take 

 the place of the abundant Fescues and Bent- 

 grasses of Northern fields. There are many 

 species, some tall and stout, and others low 

 and spreading, rooting at the joints and car- 

 peting the ground with a dense growth. 



Two species only are common in the North, 

 and these, the Slender Paspalum and the Field 

 Paspalum, are low-growing grasses which do 

 60 



Slender Paspalum 

 Paspalum selaccum 



