ANDROPOGONE/E 



193 



Andropogon squarrosus, L.f. 



{Veteveria zizanioides.) 



This is a densely tufted perennial grass with branching root- 

 stocks and spongy aromatic roots. 



The stems are leafy, with equitant, hard, leaf-sheaths at the 

 base, smooth and polished, solid, 2 to 3% feet high. 



The leaf-sheaths are smooth, coriaceous, glabrous, keeled and 

 compressed. The ligule is a very short membrane. 



Leaf-blades are narrowly linear, erect, strongly keeled and flat, 

 acuminate, glabrous both above and below, very much narrower 

 than the sheath at the base, I to 2 feet by Yz to Y\ inch. 



The panicle is conical, erect with branches, fascicled, varying 

 in length from 4 to 12 inches. The spikes consist of both sessile 

 and pedicelled spikelets, that are either grey, green, or purplish. 



The sessile spikelets are about % inch long, lanceolate and with a 

 shortly bearded callus. The first glume is ovate-oblong, thickly coria- 

 ceous, obscurely 2- to 4-nerved (occasionally 5- to 7-nerved), acute. 



FlG. 154.— Andropogon squarrosus. 



I. A portion of a branch ; 2. a sessile and a pedicelled spikelet ; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the 

 first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet ; 7. palea of 

 the fourth glume; S. lodicules, stamens and the ovary ; 9, 10, 11 and 12. glumes of the 

 pedicelled spikelet ; 13. palea of the fourth glume. 



dorsally flat, with incurved margins and with two rows of tubercle- 

 based minute prickles or mere excrescences at the sides. The second 

 glume is as long as the first, oblong, coriaceous, keeled, with hyaline 

 and ciliolate margins, I-nerved (sometimes 3-nerved, marginal 

 faint), and with minute prickles on the keel. The third glume is 

 broadly oblong, hyaline, nerveless or rarely with two obscure veins 

 ciliolate at the margins and acute or acuminate. The fourth glume 

 is shorter than the third, linear-oblong, mucronate or very shortly 

 awned at the apex, paleate ; palea about two-thirds the length of the 

 glume, lanceolate. Lodicules are two, quadrate and conspicuous 



