G22 



TALL OATGRASS 



Arrhena'therum ela'tius 



Flower heads (panicles) rather nar- 

 row, pale or'purplish, shining, up to 12 

 in. long, with ascending branches 



Stalks (culms) smooth, loosely tufted, 

 up to 4K ft. high 



Leaves flat, up to 12 in. long, harsh 

 on both surfaces 



Individual flower groups (spikelets) 

 slender-stalked, 2-flowered; the lower 

 (staminate) producing pollen only; the 

 upper, perfect 



Outer flower bract (lemma) of stami- 

 nate flower about y t in. long, 7-nerved, 

 with a bent and twisted beard (awn) K 

 in. long arising from below the middle 

 of the back 



Lemma of perfect flower usually with 

 a short, straight awn from just below 

 the tip 



Lowest (2) spikelet bracts (glumes) 

 thin, unequal, persistent; 1st glume 

 1-nerved, about K as long as 3-nerved 

 2d glume 



Roots perennial, fibrous, with short 

 rootstocks 



