105 



Fig. 79. Schedonnardus paniculatus (Nutt.) Trelease. TEXAN CRAB- 

 GRASS.— a, A portion of the axis of a spike bearing 3 spikelets; b, a single 

 spikelet; c, the flowering glume; d, palea. 



79. SCHEDONNARDUS Steud. Syn. PI. Gram. 146. 1854. Spikelets 1-flow- 

 ered, hermaphrodite, sessile, and scattered along one side of the slender rachis 

 of the widely spreading spikes; rachilla articulated above the empty glumes. 

 Empty glumes narrow, slightly unequal, membranaceous; flowering glumes 

 longer than the empty ones, membranaceous, becoming somewhat rigid, acu- 

 minate-pointed, or minutely mucronate at the apex. Stamens 3. Styles dis- 

 tinct: stigmas plumose. Caryopsis inclosed within the rigid fruiting glumes 

 and palea, but free. A low, diffusely branching annual, with short, narrow 

 leaves and slender paniculate spikes. 



Species 1, in western North America. 



