G120 



SLEEPYGRASS 



Sti'pa robus'ta, syn. S. va'seyi 



Flower head (panicle) somewhat 

 spikelike, robust, densely flowered,, pale 

 green, 8 to 18 in. long; lower joints 

 of panicle hairy 



Individual flower groups (spikelets) 

 1 -flowered, on erect stalks 



Lowest (2) spikelet bracts (glumes) 

 firm, narrow, indistirictly nerved, equal, 

 about X in. long, persistent after "seed " 

 falls 



Outer flower bract (lemma) with 

 short, soft, white hairs throughout, 

 about X in. long, terminating in an ob- 

 scurely twice-bent, harsh but not feath- 

 ery awn which is about % to IX in. long 

 and twisted to the 2d bend 



"Seed" (caryopsis) hard, cylindrical, 

 with a blunt-pointed, densely bearded 

 base (callus), closely enfolded by lemma 



Stalks (culms) robust; smooth, light 

 green, 3 to 6# ft. tall, with 1 to 3 joints 



Leaves usually broad (X in.), up to 2 

 ft. long; sheaths smooth, except at' the 

 densely hairy "throat"; collar (ligule), 

 at junction of blade and sheath, very 

 short 



Roots fibrous 



Sleepygrass, so called because of its narcotic or sleep-producing 

 effect upon livestock, is also known as Vasey needlegrass and robust 

 porcupinegrass. It is a coarse, leafy, bright green grass which 

 grows in thick bunches. The species, which usually is present in 

 scattered stands and sometimes occurs over fairly large areas, is 

 commonly found in open canyons or hillsides, and in parklike draws 

 of timbered mountains at elevations between 5,000 and 9,000 feet. 



