134 GRAMINEAE. 



3. Aristida basiramea Engelm. Forked Aristida. (Fig. 299.) 



Aristida basiramea Engelm.; Vasey, Coult. Bot. Gaz. 9: 

 76. 1884. 



Glabrous and smooth, culms G'-iS' tall, erect, 

 slender, much branched. Sheaths shorter than the 

 internodes, loose; ligule very short, ciliate; leaves 2'- 

 6 / long, about \" wide, involute-setaceous; spike-like 

 panicle 3'-5 x long; first scale of spikelet half to three- 

 quarters as long as the second, which is S // ~7" in 

 length, both awn-pointed; third scale shorter than the 

 second; middle awn 6 // -g' / long, coiled at base, hori- 

 zontal, lateral aw r ns one-quarter to one-half as long, 

 erect or divergent, somewhat spiral at the base. 



In dry fields, Illinois to Manitoba, south to Virginia and 

 Kansas. July-Sept. 



4. Aristida ramosissima Engelm. Branched Aristida. (Fig. 300.) 



Aristida ramosissima Engelm.; A. Gray, Man. Ed. 5, 618. 

 1867. 



Aristida ramosissima var. uniaristala A. Gray, Man. Ed. 

 5, 618. 1867. 



Glabrous, culms 6'-2 tall, erect, slender, branched, 

 smooth. Sheaths much shorter than the internodes, 

 loose ; ligule very short; leaves 1%'-$' long, i" wide 

 or less, flat, attenuate into a long point, smooth 

 beneath, scabrous above ; spikelets few, borne in loose 

 spikes from 2 / -4 / in length ; first scale awn-pointed ; 

 second scale 8 // -io // in length, exceeding the first, 

 terminated with an awn i // -3 // long ; third scale as 

 long as the second; middle awn about i' long, hori- 

 zontal or reflexed and forming a hook, the lateral 

 awns erect, i // -2 // long, rarely wanting. 



In dry soil, Illinois to Kentucky and Missouri 

 July-Sept. 



5. Aristida purpurascens Poir. Purplish Aristida. (Fig. 301.) 



Aristida purpurascens Poir. in Lam. Encycl. Suppl. 

 1:452. 1810. 



Glabrous and smooth, culms i-2^ tall, erect, 

 simple or sparing!}' branched at the base. Sheaths 

 longer than the iuternodes, crowded at the base of 

 the culm ; ligule very short ; leaves 4'-S' long, 

 about i" wide, flat, or becoming involute in drying, 

 attenuate into a long point ; spike-like panicles 

 5'-i8' long, strict, or sometimes nodding, its 

 branches appressed ; outer scales of spikelet awn- 

 pointed, the first longer than the second ; the third 

 scale from two-thirds to three-quarters as long as 

 the first, middle awn 9"-! 2" long, horizontal, the 

 lateral awns somewhat shorter, erect or divergent. 



In dry soil, Massachusetts to Minnesota, south to 

 Florida, Kansas and Texas. Scales purplish. Sept. -Oct. 



