191 



Fig. 185. CHLiORIS VERTICILLATA Nutt. Trans. Am. Phil.Soe. II. 5 : 150. 

 1833-37. WINDMILL-GRASS.— A low, spreading perennial, with rather stout 

 upright flowering branches 1.5-5 dm. {i°-U°) high and numerous widely 

 spreading, slender spikes 8-13 cm. (3'-5') long. Sheaths exceeding the inter- 

 nodes, with few long hairs at the throat and margins; leaf-blades obtuse or 

 often acuminate, scabrous above, smooth beneath. Spikelets (a) about 3 mm. 

 m") long; first and second glumes scabrous on the keel, lanceolate, ari.state- 

 acute; flowering glume (b) 3-nerved, bearing a slender scabrous awn 8-10 mm. 

 (4"-.5") long, the fourth, sterile glume (c) broadly obovate, bearing an awn 6-8 

 mm. (3"-4") long.— Prairies, Kansas to Texas. May to September. 



This species is abundant in many localities and is an excellent gra.ss for 

 grazing, and one not easily tramped out. It is also a good turf-forming species 

 and has some value as an ornamental grass. 



