GRASSES OF IOWA. 



101 



Sheaths auricled on the 

 sides at the apex, strongly 

 scabrous, the points of 

 the minute spines which 

 lie in the depressions of the 

 striae, directed downwards; 

 ligule firm -membranaceous, 

 about a line long; leaf-blade 

 5 to 10 inches (10-20 cm.) 

 long, 3 to b or 7 lines (b- 

 12 or 14 mm.) wide, very 

 acute, contracted and often 

 pubescent at the base, scab- 

 rous on both surfaces, the 

 margins very rough with 

 minute sharp spines which 

 in the lower part of the leaf 

 are directed toward the 

 base, and in the upper part 

 are directed forward or to- 

 wards the apex. Panicle 6 

 to 10 inches (12-20 cm.) 

 long, the slender, ascend- 

 ing branches 2 to 4 inches 

 (4-8 cm.) long, naked 

 below, flower - bearing to- 



Fig. 71. Leersia oryzotde.s.-a, branch of niflor- 

 ward the ends. Spikelets 2 escence bearing several spikelets; 6, c, spikelet^, d, e. 

 .. „i v / \ i grain. (Div. Agros. U. 8. Dept. Agrl ) 



to 2$ lines (4-5 mm.) long, 6 5 



about I line ( i4 mm.) broad, loosely imbricated; apex of the glumes 

 and palea abruptly pointed, the keels strongly ciliate and with short 

 scattered hairs on the side>. Within the lower sheaths may be found 

 cleistogamic or hidden, fruiting spikelets. Along streams and ditches 

 and in marshes, usually in the open. August to October. Leersia ory- 

 zoides is common along all of our streams and borders of marshes. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Iowa. 3227 Boone, Dakota City, Hawarden, 241 Clinton ( Pam- 

 mel) ; 3029 Steamboat Rock (Miss King); Forest City (Shimek) ; 

 Kossuth County, 790 ( Pammel and C ratty) ; Decatur County (Fitz- 

 patrick) ; Manchester, 731 (Ball); Mt. Pleasant, 863 (Mills); Iowa 

 City (Hitchcock) ; Cedar Rapids, Ames (Hitchcock) ; Charles City 



