283 



Fig. 277. POA ARIDA Vasey, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 1: 270. 1893. (P. audina 

 Nutt.mS.Wats.King'sExplor.40thPar.5:388. 1871,notTrin. 1836.) PRAIRIE 

 SPEAR-GRASS.— An erect, often rather rigid, stoloniferous perennial 3-6 dm 

 (l°-2=') high, with flat or folded stiff leaves and narrow, rather densely flowered 

 panicles 8-15 cm. (3'-6') long. Sheaths usually overlapping; ligule 2-4 mm 

 (l"-2") long, acute; leaf-blades smooth beneath, scabrous above, 1-2 mm. (i"-!") 

 Avide, basal ones 7-15 cm. (3'-6') long, those of the culm shorter, pungently 

 pointed. Spikelets (o) 4 to 7 flowered, 5-7 mm. (2i"-3i") long; emptv glumes 

 nearly equal, acute, 3-nerved; flowering glumes (c) strongly silkv-pubescent on 

 the nerves below, 3-4 mm. (li"-2") long, erose-truncate at the apex, the lower 

 part very pubescent between the nerves.— Meadows and low grounds, North- 

 west Territory to Kansas and Arizona. April to August. 



