No. 10. 



ORYZOPSIS MEMBRANACEA (Pursli.). {Siii>a mmihmnacni Fm-Ai.) 



Kn'ocoiiKi <-iiNiiid(da Nutt.) 



Plant perennial, closely tut't('(l, thickened at base. 



C«i»is slender, nearly erect, not hraiicliing. geniculate, solid, terete, smootli, 

 la to IS inches tall. 



Leaves; radical, numerous, the scarious sheaths clustered thick about the base 

 of the culms; blades involute, smooth, to 10 inches long; of the culms :J; lower 

 sheaths shorter than internodes, smooth and close, upper sheath longer and loose; 

 blades like those of radical leaves; ligule membranaceous, ovate, acute, or lace- 

 rate, 1 line long, prominently decurrent. 



Inflorescence a very loose, erect or llexuous panicle 4 to tJ inches long, included 

 at the base, usually with 3 or 3 nearly equal axes; branches mostly in pairs, dis- 

 tant, horizontal, divided in pairs bej'^ond the middle,- T)earing solitary spikelets ou 

 long tiexuous pedicels. 



Spikelets 1-flowered, 3 lines long; first and secfjnd glumes equal, inflated and 

 widened below, narrowed above to a long shar^) point, scarious except the 5 rather 

 obscure nerves, minutely pubescent throiighout, 3 lines long; floral glume ovoid 

 or oblong, hard, dark-brown, profusely clothed with long white hairs, 1^ lines 

 long, obscurely nerved, terminating in an awn 2 lines long, which falls at maturity; 

 l)alet conical, smooth, hard, brown, obscurely nerved, li lines long. 



Grain oval, light-yellow, f line long. 



Plate X; a, spikelet; b, empty glumes; <■, floral glume, with hairs and awn; 

 d, same after hairs and awn have fallen; e. palet. In the floral glume, c, the awn 

 should be represented more to one side. 



Texas to California, northward to British Columbia, usually in sandy or grav^ 

 elly soil. A valuable grass. The large seeds are nutritious, and cattle fatten 

 where the grass is abundant. 



