G27 



SIDE-OATS GRAMA 



Boutelou'a curtipen'dula 



Flower head (raceme) of numerous 

 (sometimes 60) flower groups (spikes) 



Spikes somewhat drooping, mostly 

 turned to one side of the elongated 

 (6 to 12 in.)., somewhat zigzag stem, 

 their short stalks remaining as purplish 

 stubs- after spikes fall off 



Individual flower groups (spikelets) 

 stalkless, 1 to 12, spreading or pen- 

 dulous in 2 rows from under side of 

 flattened, troughlike, flowering branch- 

 let (rachis) 



Perfect flower (floret) only 1 , enclosed 

 by 2 flower bracts; outer flower bract 

 (lemma) } in. long, 3-veined, 3-toothed 

 at tip 



Imperfect, modified floret (rudiment) 

 1 , often reduced to but 3 bristles (awns), 

 on a tiny stalk above the perfect floret 



Lowest (2) spikelet bracts (glumes) 

 unequal in size, tapering, turning 

 purplish, remaining attached after 

 florets fall 



Stalks (culms) leafy, erect, smooth, 

 dark purplish at joints 



Leaves mostly basal; sheaths harsh; 

 blades 2 to 12 in. long, y 4 in. wide, flat, 

 the edges with scattered, long hairs 

 from pimplelike bases 



Rootstocks creeping below ground,, 

 strong, scaly 



Roots tough, fibrous 



