G4G 



CALIFORNIA OATGRASS 



Dantho'nia califor'nica, syns. D. america'na, Merathrep'ta califor'nica 



Flower head (panicle) simple, open, 

 with 3 to 10 individual flower groups 

 (spikelets) on slender, spreading, or 

 bent-down stalks 



Spikelets flattened, up to % in. long, 

 5- to 10-flowered; upper florets imper- 

 fect 



Outer flower bract (lemma) about K 

 in. long, hairless except along edges 

 near base, 2-toothed at tip, with twisted 

 and bent beard (awn) K m- long; awn 

 from between the 2 teeth 



Lowest (2) spikelets bracts (glumes) 

 equal, about same length as spikelet, 

 lance-shaped, hairless, with thin-papery 

 edges, 5- to 7-nerved 



Leaves narrow, with rolled, pointed 

 ends, harsh above; upper blades often 

 at about right angles to the stalks; 

 sheaths hairless except near junction 

 with blade where silky hairs occur 



Stalks (culms) tufted, spreading at 

 base, erect, up to 3 ft. high 



Hidden spikelets (cleistogenes) occur- 

 ring late in season at bases of lower leaf 

 sheaths, the joint just below commonly 

 breaking off, large,- 1-to few-flowered, 

 seed-producing 



Roots fibrou? 



