No. 42. 
BOUTELOUA PROSTRATA Lagasca. 
Annual. Roots fibrous. 
Culms growing in small depressed tufts, spreading or decumbent, geniculate, 
leafy to the top. 
Leaves with short narrow blades 4 to 14 inches oe shicuad, somewhat loose, 
shorter than the internodes, striate; ligule inconspicuo 
Inflorescence a single terminal spike, generally ee. # to 1 inch long, 
smooth. 
Spikelets 20 to 30, in rows on one side of the smooth rachis, nearly 3 lines long, 
containing 1 perfect and 2 imperfect flowers. 
Empty glumes unequal; lower about one-half the length of the upper, narrow; 
upper about 2 lines long, ovate-lanceolate, acute; flowering glume smooth or 
slightly pubescent on the back, about 3 lines long, lower half broadly oblong, upper 
3-lobed, 3-awned, middle lobe broadest and longest, awns stiff. 
Palet nearly 2 lines long, denticulate at the apex. Imperfect flower reduced 
to 3 stiff awns with 1 or 2 scales at the base. on a short pedicel having a tuft of 
white hairs at the top. 
Puiate XLII: a, oe b, empty glumes; e, flowering glume from the back; 
d, palet; e, imperfect flower. 
This annual grass is widely distributed from Mexico to Colorado, prevailing 
in bottom lands, where it frequently mats the ground, but does not seem to be 
relished by cattle. 
