G85 



SPIKE MUHLY 



Muhlenber'gia wrigh'tii 



Flower heads (spikelike panicles) narrow, 

 lead-colored, somewhat blunt at tips, some- 

 times densely flowered, sometimes lax, up to 4 

 in. long and % in. wide 



Individual flower groups (spikelets) 1-flow- 

 ered, flattened 



Lowest (2) spikelet bracts (glumes) about 

 equal in length, 1-veined, bristle-(awn-) pointed, 

 persistent 



Outer flower bract (lemma) longer and firmer 

 than glumes, blackish toward tip, with short 

 (usually less than # 8 in. long), straight, per- 

 sistent awn 



Inner flower bract (palea) 2-nerved; "seed," 

 or grain, closely enfolded by lemma and palea 



Stalks (culms) erect, or somewhat spreading 

 at base, up to 30 in. tall, kafy, somewhat 

 flattened, smooth 



Leaves narrow (less than % in. wide), up to 

 4 in. long, sharp-pointed, slightly rough to 

 touch; sneaths often purplish near joints 

 of stalks 



Rootstocks short, inconspicuous, scaly, under- 

 ground 



Roots fibrous 



