16 



lfj\ <: :■■'/;'/' 



4M* 



Fig. 10. ANDROPOGON VIRGINICUS L. Sp. PI. 1046. 1753. BROOM SEDGE 

 or BROOM STRAW.— A rigidly erect perennial 6-12 dm. (2°-4°) high, with the 

 culm.s flattened near the base, and narrow, elongated, and loosely branched 

 panicles 30-50 cm. (12'-20') long, of silky-bearded racemes 1-4 cm. (I'-li') long, 

 partially inclosed within smooth, spathe-like bracts. Sessile spikelet (h) 3-4.5 

 mm. {\\'i-1\") long; awn straight 8-20 mm. (4"-10") long. Leaves of the inno- 

 vations 6-10 cm. (2^'-4'j long. — Old fields and borders of woods, usually in dry 

 soil, Massachusetts to Florida and Texas. (Cuba.) August to October. 



Varies with the leaves of the innovations filiform, var. stenophyllus Hack, 

 in DC. Monog. Phan. 6 : 411. 1889. A stout form approaching A. glomeratus is 

 var. DiTiOR Hack. 1. c. represented by No. 3639d Curtiss N. Am. PI. See fig. 313. 

 Am. Gras.ses II. 



There is probably no native grass so well known in the South as this. When 

 young it affords excellent pasturage. Bundles of the stems tied together make • 

 excellent brooms, which are used in the Southern States. 



