175 



Fig. 169. DANTHONIA COMPRESSA Austin in Peck, Kept. Reg. N. Y. 

 State Univ. 23 : 54. 1869. TENNESSEE OAT-GRASS.— A slender, erect tufted 

 perennial 2-6 dm. (t°-2°) higli, with long, narrow root leaves, and few-flowered 

 open panicles 5-12 cm. (2'-5') long. Sheaths shorter than the internodes; 

 ligule pilose; leaves 2 mm. (1") wide or less, rough, lax, the basal ones from 

 one-third to one-half as long as the culm. Spikelets (a) 5 to 10 flowered, 8-12 

 mm. (4"-6") long; empty glumes (5, c) glabrous; flowering glumes {d, e) 

 pubescent with appressed silky hairs, the teeth 2-3 mm. {V'-lh") long, acumi- 

 nate; awn erect or somewhat geniculate, strongly twisted below. The palea 

 is shown by /.—Mountain regions of eastern Tennessee and North Carolina 

 northward to Canada. June to August. 



In the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee this grass forms the bulk 

 of the forage of the so-called "balds" or parks. It is highly nutritious and 

 withstands trampling and grazing well. 



