The Book of Grasses 



Scales 3; outer scales acute, slightly unequal, rough on keels; flower- 

 ing scale longer and broader; palet slightly shorter than flowering 

 scale. Rachilla prolonged. Stamens 3. Stigmas purple. 



Fields and sandy soil. June to September. 



Southern New York to Florida and Texas. 



TALL GRAMA 



^ 



The Gramas, or Mesquites, are characteristic 

 grasses of the Southwest, where they are a 

 valued herbage of the ranges, but with the ex- 

 ception of two species that appear to have been 

 introduced into Florida the Tall Grama is the 

 only eastern member of the genus. 



Tall Grama can hardly be classed among our 

 common grasses of the Eastern States, yet the 

 dense, leafy tufts are occasionally seen on dry 

 hillsides and plains. The plant blooms in mid- 

 summer and is easily recognized by the spreading 

 or downward-pointing spikes of the long and 

 narrow inflorescence, which for a short time is 

 hung with anthers nearly as brilliant in colour as 

 are the petals of the cardinal-flower. 



Tall Grama. Side-oats. Racemed Bou- 

 teloua. Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. 



Perennial, tufted. 

 Stem 1-3 ft. tall, erect. Sheaths loose, sparingly downy. 

 Ligule a ring of short hairs. Leaves 3'- 12' long, 



1 "-2" wide. 



Spike 8'-i5' long, somewhat i-sided, composed 

 of 20-60 spreading or downward-pointing spikes 

 3"-8" long. Spikelets i -flowered, 3j"-5" long, in 



2 rows on one side of the rachis. 4-12 spikelets in 

 each spike. Outer scales roughish, acute, slightly 

 unequal; flowering scales terminating in 3 short, 

 awn-pointed teeth. Rachilla prolonged and bear- 

 ing an awned rudiment of a second flower. 

 Stamens 3, anthers red. 



Dry soil. June to September. Ontario and Manitoba, 

 south to New Jersey, Kentucky, Texas, and 

 California. 



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