GRASSES OF IOWA. 



207 



. Bouteloua oligostaehya-a, empty Fig. 148. Bouteloua hirsuta-1, empty 



glumes; b, flowering glumes. (Div. Agros. U. S. glumes; 2, flowering glumes. (Div. Agros. U. 

 Dept.Agrl.) S. Dept. Agrl. ) 



DESCRIPTION. 



Mesquite Grass. A slender perennial, 6 to 20 inches (12-40 

 cm.) high; with one to five, remote, pectinately many-flowered, usually 

 spreading spikes, 1 to 2 inches (2-5 cm.) long. Spikelets about 3 lines 

 (6 mm.) long; flowering glumes hairy on the back; palea as long as its 

 glume, with tufted, long hairs on each side, at the base; pedicel of the 

 rudimentary floret hairy at the tip, and bearing several rudimentary 

 glumes and three very short awns. June to October. 



Mesquite grass is not common in the state. It occurs from Dickin- 

 son County west to S. Dak., as far south as Hawarden in Sioux Co.; 

 through Sioux, Lyon and Dickinson counties, and extends into Minne- 

 sota north and eastward to Wisconsin. It is an excellent forage plant, 

 one of the best for the states west of the Missouri and east of the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



