No. 39. 

 TRIODIA TEXANA Watson. 



Plant perennial, with somewhat bulbous, tufted base. 



Culms erect, simple or sparingly branched, slightly geniculate, terete, slightly 

 pubescent, l to 2 feet tall. 



Leaves; radical numerous, with short, smooth sheaths and involute blades 3 

 to 6 inches long; of culm 3 or 4; sheaths usually exceeding internodes, close, nearly 

 smooth; blades flat or becoming involute, slender, pointed, smooth or slightly 

 pubescent, 2 or 3 lines wide, 6 to 10 inches long; ligule a minute fringe with longer 

 hairs at the sides. 



Inflorescence a loose, nodding or flexuous panicle, 3 to 5 inches long; branches 

 mostly alternate and spreading, slender, smooth, 1 to 2 inches long, divided and 

 bearing beyond the middle 3 to 5 or more pedicellate spikelets. 



Spikelets large, oblong, somewhat compressed, purplish, 6- to 9-flowered, 3 to 5 

 lines long; first glume ovate-lanceolate, acute or irregularly toothed, carinate, hya- 

 line, smooth, 1-nerved, 1 to 1 1 lines long; second glume same but^ line longer; 

 internode of rachilla curved, glabrous, articulate above, line long; floral glumes 

 nearly orbicular, slightly lacerate above, membranaceous, pubescent toward the 

 base of the 3 nerves, 2 lateral nerves not marginal, about 2 lines long; palet broad 

 at base, narrowed above, obtuse, 2 keeled, smooth, If lines long. 



PLATE XXXIX; a, spikelet; b, empty glumes; c, floral glume; d, palet, ven- 

 tral view. 



Louisiana to Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. 



