No. 39. 
TRIODIA TEXANA Watson. 
Plant perennial, with somewhat bulbous, tufted base. 
Culms erect, simple or sparingly branched, slightly geniculate, terete, slightly _ 
pubescent, 14 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 14 lines long; second glume same but 4 line longer; 
internode of rachilla curved, glabrous, articulate above, 4 linelong; 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, 1 lines long. 
PLaTE XXXIX; a, spikelet; b, empty glumes; ¢, floral glume; d, palet, ven- 
tral view.. 
Louisiana to Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. 
