Needlegrasses have narrow or inrolled leaves and usually narrow, 

 but open, occasionally spreading flower heads (panicles). The most 

 outstanding feature by which the needlegrasses may be distinguished 

 is the long, single beard (awn) which is twisted, bent, and, though 

 securely attached at the tip of the "seed", has a distinct line of union. 

 The "seeds" are hard, slender, and cylindrical (not plump as in rice- 

 grass (Oryzopsis spp.)), and have a sharp-pointed base (callus) 

 covered with fine, rather stiff, short hairs. This sharp point, witli 

 the accompanying hairs, aids effectively in planting and burying the 

 seed. The process of self -planting is furthered by the long awn 

 which reacts readily to moisture, untwisting when wet and twisting 

 again when dry, thus screwing the seeds into the soil. Each seed 

 is borne in a separate spikelet end singly on a slender stem (pedicel) ; 

 the two spikelet bracts (glumes) are very thin, of about equal length, 

 and remain attached to the stem after the seed has fallen. 



