G117 



WESTERN NEEDLEGRASS 



Sti'pa occidenta'lis, syn. S. oregonen'sis 



Flower head (panicle) loosely spike- 

 like, up to 9 in. long 



Individual flower groups (spikelets) 1- 

 flowered, on erect stalks 



Outer flower bract (lemma) about }{ 

 in. long, fine-hairy, closely enclosing 

 the "seed" (caryopsis), tipped by a 

 twice-bent beard (awn); awn twisted, 

 feathery to 2d bend, 1 to 1% in. long, 

 jointed at point 'of attachment to 

 lemma, persistent 



Lowest (2) spikelet bracts (glumes) 

 nearly equal, a little less than M in. 

 long, thin, 3-veined, sharp-pointed, 

 hairless, persistent after "seed" has 

 fallen 



Stalks (culms) tufted at base, slender, 

 erect, 1 to 2% ft. high, hairless 



Leaves mainly . basal, narrow, with 

 inrolled edges; sheaths hairless; collar 

 (ligule) between blade and sheath very 

 short and inconspicuous (fa in- long or 



Roots fibrous, deep-reaching 



