103 



Fig. 97. ORYZOPSIS CUSPID ATA (Nutt.) Benth.in Vasey, U. S. Dept.Agr. 

 Spee.Rept. 63 : 23. 1883. (Eriocomacuspidatai^ntt.Gen. 1 : 40. 1818; Sti2iamcm- 

 branacea Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 2 : 728. 1814, not Linn. 1753; Oryzopsis membranacta 

 Vasey, U. S. Dept. Agr. Div. Bot. Bui. 122 : 10, p?. 10. 1891.) INDIAN MILLET.— 

 A native perennial, growing in bundles, 3-7 dm. (12'-28') high, with narrow, in- 

 volute leaves and dichotomously branched, diffuse panicles 12-15 cm. (5'-6') 

 long. Spikelets (a) 6-8 mm. (3"-4") long, on filiform and flexuose pedicels; 

 empty glumes pubescent, 3-5-nerved, broad, and ventricose below, attenuate- 

 pointed, much longer than the densely long-hairy and broadly oval flowering 

 glume; awn about 4 mm. (2") long, readily falling off. The hairs finally fall 

 from the flowering glume, which becomes very hard, smooth, and shiny.— 

 Grassy slopes, dry hillsides, sandy river banks, about springs in deserts, in culti- 

 vated fields, etc.. South Dakota to New Mexico, California, and British Colum- 

 bia. (Mexico.) May to September. 



A bunch grass which thrives in soil too dry and sandy for most other grasses, 

 and is much esteemed in the grazing regions where it abounds. Will grow in 

 dry "sage brush " land and is really a desert grass. 



