212 



Fig. 206. BOUTEIiOUA TRIFIDA Thurb. in S. Wats. Proc. Am. Acad. 18: 

 177. 1883. SMALL GRAMA.— A delicate perennial 1-3 dm. (4'-12') high, with 

 short, narrow leaves, and three to seven ascending spikes usually about 2 cm. 

 (1') long. Sheaths shorter than the internodes; leaves small, mostly radical, 

 2-8 cm. (l'-3') long, smooth or sparingly pilose. Spikelets about 3 mm. [U") 

 long; empty glumes (a) slightly unequal, the first one-fourth shorter than the 

 second; flowering glume (&) less than 2 mm. (1") long, dividing above into 

 three long-awned lobes 4-5 mm. (2"-2i") long. Palea {d) shorter than the 

 glume, 2-toothed. Rudiment (c) reduced to three slender awns, slightly en- 

 larged toward the base, on a short, smooth pedicel.— Mesas and sandy plains, 

 Texas to Arizona. (Northern Mexico.) May to October. 



