231 



FjG. 225. SCI.EIIOPOGON BREVIFOLIUS Philippi, Sert. Mendoc. 2 : 48. 1871. 

 ( Tricusjiis monstrom Munro in Hemsl. Diagn. PL Nov. Mex. 56. 1880; Lesourdia 

 m uUiflom and L. karwinskyana Fourn. Bui. Soc. Bot. Fr. 27 : 102. 1880.)— A wiry, 

 creeping perennial with densely tufted, upright, leafy branches 1-2.5 dm. (4'-10') 

 high, and unisexual spikelets; the staminate spikelets (a) 15 to 30 flowered, 

 1-2 cm. iV-V) long, forming a short, close panicle; flowering glumes (&) acute,' 

 5-7 mm. {2i"-Sk") long; pistillate spikelets forming an irregular panicle of three 

 to seven few-flowered spikelets, each subtended by a narrow bract; empty 

 glumes unequal, lanceolate; flowering glume (c) 8-10 mm. (4"-5") long, the 

 three nerves terminating in slender, twisted awns 5-12 cm. (2'-5') long.— Dry 

 mesas and canyons, Colorado to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southward 

 into Mexico and South America. May to October. 



