201 



Fig. 195. BOUTEIiOUA CURTIPENDUXA (Michx.) Torr. in Emory, Notes 

 Mil. Recon. 153. 1848. {Chloris curtipendula Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1 : 59. 1803; 

 Bouteloua racemosa Lag. Varied. Cienc. Lit. Art. 2* : 141. 1805.) TALL GRAMA 

 or SIDE OATS.— A densely tufted perennial 3-9 dm. (l°-3°) high, with numer- 

 ous (twenty to sixty), usually spreading or reflexed spikes scattered along the 

 common axis, forming a long, somewhat one-sided raceme 20-40 cm. (8'-16') 

 long. Sheaths loose, spar.sely pubescent; leaf-blades 10-30 cm. {4'-12') long, 4 

 mm. (2") wide, scabrous. Spikes (o) 6-16 mm. {3"-8") long, reflexed. Spike- 

 lets (b) 7-10 mm. (3i"-5") long; empty, glumes unequal, the first awn-pointed, 

 the second acute; flowering glumes (c) about 4 mm. (2") long, with three short 

 awns.— Dry fields, hillsides, and prairies, Ontario and Manitoba south to New 

 Jersey, Mississippi, Texas, and California. (Mexico, Central and South Amer- 

 ica.) May to October. 



This grass when abundant makes good hay, which is readily eaten by stock, 

 and the numerous basal leaves afford good pasturage in the arid and semiarid 

 regions of the west. 



