GKAMINK.K. (gRASS FAMTT.V.) 6o7 



sometimes simply awned, larger than the palct. Stamens 2 or 3. Seed 

 doselv enclosed. — Ours annuals. Leaves Hat. (Name composed of KfirTos, 

 slender, and x^<^«» r/rasa, from the long attenuated spikes.) 



1. li. mucron^ta, Kunth. Sheaths hairy; spikes numerous (20-40, 

 2-4' in kMi<;th), in a l(jng panicle-like raceme ; spikelct.s small; glumes more 

 or less mucronate, nearly ecjualling or exceeding the .'J-4 awnless ll(jwers. — 

 Fields, V'a. to 111., Mo., and southward. Aug. 



49. BUCHLOE, Kngelm. Blfi-alo Gkass. (I'l. 15.) 



Spikelets dioecious (rarely mona?cious), very unlike; the .staminate 2-3- 

 flowered, sessile in 2 rows in short 1 -sided spikes, the empty glumes blunt, 

 1 -nerved, very unequal, the flowering larger, 3-nerved, a little exceeding the 

 2-nerved palet ; fertile spikelets 1-flowered, in a contracted, capitate, 1-sided 

 spike, the large outer glumes indurated, 3-fid at the apex, united at base and 

 resembling an involucre, the inner (lower) much smaller and membranaceous, 

 or in the lowest spikelet resembling the outer; flowering glume narrow, hya- 

 line, bifid or nearly entire, enclosing the 2-nerved palet. Styles di.'^tinct. 

 Grain ovate, free. — A perennial, creeping or stoloniferous, with narrow flat 

 leaves; staminate spikes (2-3) in a pedunculate spike, the pistillate pair ses- 

 sile in the broad slieaths of the u])per leaves. (Name a contraction of Buba- 

 lochlo^, from ^uv^aXos, buffalo, and x^^^?, .9''<'5*'-) 



1. B. dactyloides, Engelm. Low (3-8' high) and broadly tufted; 

 sterile spikes 3-6" long, the fertile heads 3" long. — Plains of the Sask. to 

 Minn., Kan., and Tex. One of the most valuable grasses of the plains. 



50. TRIODIA, K.Br. (PL 10.) 



Spikelets 3 - 12-flowered, somewhat terete, the rliachis with bearded joints; 

 terminal flower abortive. Empty glumes unequal ; flowering glumes mem- 

 branaceous or somewhat chartaceous, much larger than the 2-tootlied palet, 

 convex, 2-3-tootlied or cleft at the apex, conspicuously hairy -bearded or vil- 

 lous on the 3 strong nerves, of which the lateral are marginal or nearly so 

 and usually excurrent, as is the mid-nerve especially, into a short cusp or awn. 

 Stamens 3. Stigmas dark purple, plumose. Grain oblong, nearly gibbous. — 

 Leaves taper-pointed ; sheaths bearded at the throat. Panicle simple or com- 

 pound ; the spikelets often racemose, pur))lisli. (Name from rpi-, three, aniX 

 o5o 's, a tooth, alluding to the flowering glume.) 



§ 1. TRIODIA proper. Glumes shorter than the rroirdeei Jiowers, the JJowerinij 

 one S-cAispidate bi/ the projection of the nerves, and usually/ with intermediate 

 membranaceous teeth : palet naked. 



1. T. ctiprea, Jacq. (Tall Kkd-top.) Perennial; culm upright (3 - 5*^ 

 high), very snjooth, as are the flat leaves; panicle large and compound, tiie 

 rigid capillary brandies spreading, naked below ; spikelets very numerous, 

 5-7-fl()wered, shining, ])urple (4" long); the flowering glumes hairy toward 

 the base, their points almost equal, scarcely exceeding the intermediate teeth, 

 thus appearing .5-toothed. (Tricuspis seslerioides, Torr.) — Dry or sandy 

 fields, southern N. Y. to Mo., and southward. Aug. — A showy grass, with 

 the spreading panicle sometimes 1° wide. 



42 



