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 
ade, 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, 4 to 1 inch long. 
Spikelets nearly sessile, obovate, compressed, 5- to 8-flowered, 1} to 2 lines 
wide, 2 to 24 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 1} lines long; palet elliptical, obtuse, arched, 
thin, the 2 keels minutely velvety pubescent. 
Grain obovate, 2-horned at summit, opaque, yellow, $ line long. 
PLATE XXXVIII; a, spikelet; 6, empty glumes; ¢, floral glume dorsal and 
side views; d, palet, dorsal and ventral views, 
Louisiana to Texas and Indian Territory. 
