133 



I 



I 



Fig. 127. SPOROBOLUS AIROIDES Torr. Pac. R. R. Hept. 7^ : 21. 1856. 

 (Agrostls airoides Torv. Ann. Lye. N. Y. 1: 141. 1821.) FINE-TOP SALT- 

 GRASS.— A stout, coarse, and rigid perennial 3-9 dm. (l°-3°) high, with long, 

 narrow leaves and open, spreading panicles 10-25 cm. (I'-IO') long. Spikelets 

 (a) numerous 1..5-2 mm. (|"-1") long; empty glumes broadly lanceolate, acute, 

 the first one-half as long as the second, which about equals the flowering glume 

 (6) in length.— Moist or dry, usually saline or alkaline soil in deserts, prairies, 

 along streams, in meadows, etc. Nebraska and Kansas to Idaho, California, 

 Texas and Arizona. (Mexico and Lower California.) July to September. 



A coarse, tussock grass, usually growing in sandy, alkaline soils where more 

 tender grasses will not thrive. 



