G29 



BLUE GRAMA 



Boutelou'a gra'cilis, syn. B. oligostach' ya 



Flower head (raceme) upright, composed of 

 usually 2 flower groups (spikes) 



Spikes ? 4 to 2 in. long, purplish, curved at ma- 

 turity, composed of numerous, crowded, indi- 

 vidual flower groups (spikelets) in 2 rows ar- 

 ranged like teeth of comb on one side of the 

 axis (rachis); rachis not prolonged at end 



Stalks (culms) densely tufted at base, 

 slender, unbranchod above, smooth, erect, 6 

 to 36 in. high 



Leaves numerous, mostly basal, narrow, flat, 

 smooth, 1 to 4 in. long, with a few, soft, white 

 hairs at junction of blade and sheath 



Roots fibrous, spreading 



Spikelets 3-flowercd; lowest flower perfect, 

 stalkless; upper 2 flowers imperfect, stalked, 

 hairy, reduced to bristles and scales 



Outer flower bract (lemma) of perfect flower 

 3-nerved, 3-awned, hairy on the back 



Inner flower bract (palea) of perfect flower- 

 2-nerved, 2-toothed 



Lowest (2) spikelet bracts (glumes) unequal, 

 somewhat hairy, bristle- (awn-) tipped 



