GRASS FAMILY. 



M5 



g. Muhlenbergia microsperma (DC.) Trin. Small-seeded Muhlcnbrnri 



(Fig. 32S-; 



Ti ifliot liloa microsperma DC. Cat. Hort. Monsp i 



1813- 



Muhlenbergia microsperma Trin. Unifl. 193. 1824. 

 Ifuhlenbergia debilis Trin. Mem. Acad. St. IVtersb 

 VI.) 6: 295. 1841. 



Culms 6'-i)4 tall, erect, finally decumbent or 

 somewhat prostrate at base, slender, diffusely 

 branched. Sheaths usually shorter than the inter- 

 nodes, loose; ligule W long, truncate, toothed; 

 leaves X / ~ 2 X / l n g> l/f wide or less, scabrous; 

 panicle 2 / -4 / in length, slender, open, the branches 

 i' long or less, ascending or erect; outer scales of 

 the spikelet unequal, obtuse or rounded at apex, 

 about one-third the length of the third scale, 

 which is i^ // -iX // long exclusive of the awn 

 and strongly scabrous ; awn 6 // -i2 // in length. 



In dry soil, Kansas to California, south to Mexico. 



10. Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. Long-awned Hair grass. 



(Fig. 329.) 



Stipa capillaris Iatn. Tabl : 158. 1791. 



Muhlenbergia capillaris Inn. I'nifl. 191. 



Glabrous, culms i#-4 tail, erect, simple. 

 smooth or nearly so. Sheaths smooth, the lower 

 short and overlapping, the upper ones much 

 longer; ligule about 2" in length; leaves 6'- 1 loaf. 

 !//_ 2 // w ide, scabrous; panicle 7' -i in length or 

 more, diffuse, the capillary branches 4'-*' long. 

 at length widely spreading; spikelets on long hair- 

 like pedicels which are clavate-thickened at the 

 apex; outer scales unequal, acute or short-mwned. 

 slightly scabrous; third scale, exclusive of the 

 awn, 2" long, about twice as long as the first 

 one, scabrous, the awn 3"-o/' in length. 



In dry sandy or rocky soil, M<umchuMrtt to 

 Jersey and Missouri, south t iml Ttu*. 



Panicle usually light purple. Sept. -Oct. 



ii. Muhlenbergia gracillima Torr. Filiform Muhlenbergia. IM*. ;3<x) 



Muhlenbergia gracillima Torr. Pac. R. R. Rept. 4: 155. 



1875- 



Glabrous, culms 4'-i4' tall, from a slender creeping 

 rootstock, erect, slender, simple, rigid. Sheaths 

 smooth ; ligule i // -2 // long, entire and acuminate, or 

 variously cleft, with acuminate teeth; leaves i / -2 / long, 

 involute-setaceous, smooth or somewhat scabrous, 

 rigid, the basal numerous, usually strongly recurved, 

 the 1-3 culm leaves erect or ascending; panicle 2'-9' 

 in length, open, the branches finally widely spreading, 

 1'-$' long, filiform; spikelets about as long as the fili- 

 form pedicels which are clavate-thickened at the apex; 

 outer scales unequal, usually awn-pointed or short- 

 awned, slightly scabrous; third scale \X"-iW long, 

 longer than the outer ones, sometimes twice as long, 

 scabrous; awn i // -2 // long. 



On prairies, Kansas to Colorado, south to Texas and 

 Xc\v Mexico. Sept.-Oct. 



