216 A TEXT-BOOK OF GRASSES 
The spikelets face alternately to the right and left, often apparently 
in a single row. In Europe this grass is called dog’s-tooth, refer- 
ring to the tooth-shaped old sheaths on the runners, and cock’s-foot, 
referring to the digitate inflores- 
cence. In the British West Indies 
it is called Bahama-grass. 
243. Chloris Swartz—A 
moderate-sized genus, many 
annual species of which are 
weeds in the tropics. On ac- 
count of the silky spikes they 
are usually handsome grasses. 
One species, C. Gayana Kunth, 
has been introduced in the 
southern states as a meadow- 
grass under the name of 
Rhodes-grass. (See ‘Some 
New Grasses for the South,” 
Yearbook, U. 8S. Dept. Agr. 
1912.) 
244. Bouteloua Lag.— 
Grama-grasses. A genus of 
about 30 species, all Ameri- 
can, especially abundant in 
southwestern United States 
and on the Mexican plateau. 
They are important grazing- 
Fic. 47. Bouteloua gracilis. Inflores- 
cence, X 1; spikelet, X10. grasses. 
Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. (B. oligostachya Torr.). (Fig. 
47.) Perennial; culms smooth, tufted, erect, 6 to 18 inches high; 
sheaths smooth, or the lower somewhat villous, bearing at the 
throat a tuft of long hairs on each side; ligule very short; blades 
mostly basal, flat or usually involute, flexuous or curly, 1 to 2 mm. 
wide, 2 to 4 inches long, scabrous on the margin; spikes usually 2, 
