356 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



larger; empty glumes subulate-pointed, 12 to 18 lines long, slightly unequal; 

 flowering glume 8 to 10 lines long, including the barbed and very sharp-pointed 

 stipe or callus, sparsely pubescent below and crowned with a few short hairs; 



Fig. 147. Needle or Porcupine grass (Stipa 

 spartea). a, a single spikelet; b, floret more 

 highly magnified, with sharp pointed bearded 

 callus. (Div. Agros. U. S. Dept. Agrl.). 



palea nearly as long as the glume ; awn stout, 3 to 6 inches long, twisted below 

 and twice geniculate above. June to August. Common on dry, gravelly roads 

 and high prairies. 



Distribution. North America. From Wisconsin, Illinois to Missouri, Kan- 

 sas, Nebraska, Dakotas and Minnesota to New Mexico, Manitoba to British 

 Columbia. 



Injurious properties. Dr. M. Stalker says the fruits of the porcupine grass 

 are a frequent source of inconvenience and injury to living animals. 



In many of the northwestern counties of Iowa this grass grows in the greatest 

 profusion, and during the latter part of June, the season for maturing and consequent 

 falling of these spines, they are the occasion of much annoyance and in some instances 

 the death of domestic animals. Only such animals as are covered with wool or a 



