No. 31. 

 MUNROA SQUARROSA Torr. {Cnjpsis squarrona Nutt.) 



PItnil aiuuial, low. gljuieoii.s, more or less wooly throngli out or glabrous except 

 at tlie nodes. 



Roof .slender, filiform. 



Ci/Zr/(stufted, spreading, often prostrate, fasciculately branched, primary stems 

 3 to 4 inches long, secondary shorter, naked iuternodes striate, angular, and hispid 

 on the angles. 



Leaves ; radical and from sterile culms numerous, with flat blades 4 to 1 inch 

 long ; of stem several, crowded with the siiikelets at the nodes, or endsof branches ; 

 sheaths short, membranaceous, 7-nerved, ciliate ; blade flat, hispid, ciliate, acute, 

 i to 1 inch long ; ligule a row of short, fine hairs. 



Inflorescences hidden in the tufts of leaves at the nodes and ends of branches. 



Spikelcts 3- to 5-flowered, crowded in dense clusters at the apex of the branches ; 

 first glume narrowly lanceolate, hyaline, 1-nerved, li lines long; second glume 

 same but i line longer ; floral glumes herbaceous, becoming coriaceous, 3-uerved, 

 tufts of pubescence on lateral nerves and near base of keel, entire or 2-toothcd, 

 3 to 2i lines long, the central nerve excui-rent in a short awn ; palet narrow, hyaline, 

 pubescent on the two nerves complicate ; upper flower in spikelets iisually sterile. 



Orain translucent, cream-white, lance-oval, i to i line long. 



Plate XXXI ; 1, cluster of spikelets ; 3, spikelet ; 3, second empty glume ; 

 4, first empty glume ; 5, floral glume, side view, and G, same spread out, dorsal 

 view ; 7, palet ; S, pistil ; 0, niature grain. 



A low, tufted grass growing on elevated plains from Mexico to British America, 

 usually associated with Buchloe dactyloides, but not liked by cattle. 



