PRAIRIE BEARDGRASS 



Andropo'gon scopa'rius, syn. Schizachy'rium scopa'rium 



G15 





Flower heads (racemes) several on 

 each stem, each on a fairly long stalk 



Flower-head axis (rachis) zigzag, 

 jointed, breaking apart at the joints, 

 long-white-hairy 



Individual flower groups (spikelets) 

 2 at each joint of the rachis: one stalk- 

 less; the other long-white-hairy-stalked, 

 reduced to a single, short-bearded 

 (awned) bract 



Stalkless spikelet seed-producing, its 

 (2) outer bracts (glumes) thickened; 

 outer flower bract (lemma) enclosed in 

 2d glume, tipped by a slender, bent, 

 twisted awn about % in. long 



Leaves harsh, narrow, usually flat, 

 mostly 3 to 5 in. long, but in robust 

 specimens often up to 10 in. long 



Stalks (culms) tufted, pithy like corn- 

 stalks, mostly about 2 ft. or less (some- 

 times 5 ft.) high, yellowish, reddish 

 brown or purplish, usually smooth 



Boots numerous, fibrous, sometimes 

 with very short rootstocks 



