No. 38. 



TRIODIA STRICTA (Nutt.) Vasey. (Tricuspis stricta Thurb. Windsoria 



stricta Nutt.) 



Plant coarse, apparently perennial, glabrous throughout except near the 

 ligule. 



Culms erect, few in a place, tufted, with sterile culms at base, not branched, 

 terete, thick, 2 to 3 feet tall. 



Leaves; radical and from radical shoots numerous, the long tapering sheaths 

 continuing with but slight constriction at the ligule, into the flat or involute smooth 

 blade, 2 lines wide, 8 to 12 inches long; of culm 4 or 5, sheaths usually exceeding 

 the internodes, open above, blade like those of radical leaves, ligule an inconspic- 

 uous, tawny fringe. 



Inflorescence a constricted, dense, erect, spike-like panicle, 4 to 12 inches long, 

 branches sessile, alternate, appressed, i to 1 inch long. 



Spikelets nearly sessile, obovate, compressed, 5- to 8-flowered, \\ to 2 lines 

 wide, 2 to 2| lines long; first and second glumes equal, narrowly lanceolate, longer 

 than the spikelet, acute, or irregularly toothed at apex, carinate, membranaceous, 

 smooth, 1-nerved, 2 to 3 lines long; floral glumes oblong, toothed at apex, obtuse, 

 membranaceous, 3-nerved, lateral nerves nearly marginal, middle one slightly 

 excurrent, all pubescent below, 1 to \% lines long; palet elliptical, obtuse, arched, 

 thin, the 2 keels minutely velvety pubescent. 



Grain obovate, 2-horned at summit, opaque, yellow, f line long. 



PLATE XXXVIII; a, spikelet; 6, empty glumes; c, floral glume dorsal and 

 side views; d, palet, dorsal and ventral views. 



Louisiana to Texas and Indian Territory. 



