176 



Fig. 170. DANTHONIA SERICEA Xutt. Gen. 1 : 71. 1818. SILKY OAT- 

 GRASS.— A rather stout, erect perennial 3-9 dm. (l°-3°) high, with usually 

 pubescent sheaths, rather rigid leaves, and terminal, few-flowered panicles 

 5-10 cm. (2'-4') long. Sheaths shorter than the internodes, usually villous; 

 leaf-blades 2-3 mm. (l"-li") wide, flexuous, the basal ones one-fourth to one- 

 half as long as the culm. Spikelets (a) 4 to 10 flowered; empty glumes 14-16 

 mm. n"-8") long, glabrous; flowering glumes (b) strongly pilose on the back 

 and densely, silky-bearded on the margins below, the teeth 2-3 mm. (l"-li") 

 long, acuminate; awn straight or somewhat bent, twisted below.— Open wood- 

 lands in dry soil, Massachusetts and New Jersey to Florida and west to Ten- 

 nessee and Alabama. May, June. 



