No. 3. 

 CENCHRUS PALMERl V;is<'y, I'nx-. i):i\. Aca.l. Scr. 2. ii. 211. 



I'lii7if anmial, I'atlicr low. s|(Tra(liii}i-, usually longli-imhcscciit throu.yhout. 



CkIiiis geniculate below, hiaiicliiiij^, 5 to 15 inelies high. 



Leaves of <iilm 1 lo 6; sheaths rather loose, scarcely e(|ualiug the iiiteniodes; 

 blades flat, (livaiicate. slender pointed, 3 to (! inches lonJ.^ 3 lines wide; ligule a row 

 ol' soft hairs .\ line long. 



Tnflorescence in involnciate clusters, solitary or 2 to ."i in a secuud, intermitted 

 spike; involucre iiidnrate, 3 to 5 lines in dianu'ter, cleft on upper side, tincly jmbes- 

 ccnt. bearing yellow or purple spines \ to h inch long, minutely barbed at the ixiints. 



Spikelefs about 6 in an involucre, 2-flowered (one flower sterile), ovate, acuminate, 

 2 to 3 lines long; first empty glume ovate, acuminate, scarious and lacerate at .\\)o\, 

 minutely scabrid, 5-nerved, 2 to 3 lines long; second glume ovate, obtuse, smooth, thin, 

 5-nerved, 2 lines long; floral glume of sterile Itower ovate, acute, nearly smooth, 

 r)-nerved, 2 to 3 lines long; italet oblong, 2-nerved; floral glume of perfect flower 

 ovate, acuminate, smooth, Tncrved, 2 lines long; palef ovate, acuminate, smooth, 

 2 -nerved, 2 lines long. 



Plate 111; a, involucre cut away showing spikelets; b, empty glumes; c, floral 

 ghinie of sterile flower; fi, palet of sterile flower; e, floral glume of perfect flower; 

 /', jtalet of perfect flower; g, grain. 



Lower California and, probably, in southern California. Dr. Palmer says of this 

 species that cattle greedily eat it when young, but when the spines on the involucre 

 begin to harden they give it a wide berth. The injury caused by the bins sticking in 

 sheep's wool more than counterbalances its value as a forage plant. 



