GRASSES OF OHIO 327 



inate or vestigial ; empty glumes of the sessile spikelet subequal, 

 indurated, the outer one dorsallv flattened with a strong nerve near 

 each margin, the inner one keeled above: first lemma hyaline; fertile 

 lemma membranous or hyaline, awned, its palet hyaline, sometimes 

 obsolete ; grain free. 



1. Inflorescence of 2 or more racemose branches ; joints of the rachis not 

 clavate. 2 



1. Raceme simple: joints of the rachis clavate, with a cup-shaped depression at 

 the top. A. scoparius. 



2. Raceme branches 2-6 on a iong peduncle ; rachis with short inconspicuous 

 hairs; tall coarse grasses. ./. furcatus. 



2. Raceme branches 2 or 3, subtended by a foliaceous sheath ; rachis covered 

 with long white hairs. A. z'irginicus. 



1. Andropogon furcatus Muhl. Big Bluestem. A large grass 

 with solid, robust stems simple at the base but branching from the 

 upper nodes, 3-8^ ft. high, with a sweetish sap and with a more or 

 less digitate panicle of 2-6 spike-like racemes, usually purplish. 

 Rachis joints and pedicels hairy on the sides and at the summit ; 

 pedicellate spikelet staminate ; sessile spikelet perfect ; fertile lemma 

 with a delicate awn. 



A characteristic and important prairie grass valuable for hay 

 and pasture. In dry or moist soil. Aug., Sept. Rather general. 



2. Andropogon virginicus L. Virginia Beard-grass. A grass 

 with rather slender stems sparingly branched above, 1 J/2-4 ft. high, 

 and with a loose and elongated inflorescence of 2-4 spike-like racemes 

 protruding from the sides of the sheaths. Hairs of the inflorescence 

 long and silky ; sessile spikelet perfect, its lemma with a nearly 

 straight awn ; pedicellate spikelet vestigial. 



In dry or moist open fields and hillsides. Aug., Sept. Gallia, 

 Jackson, Meigs, Athens, Vinton, Hocking, Fairfield, Belmont. 



3. Andropogon scoparius Mx. Little Bluestem. (Schizachyrium 

 scoparium ( Mx. > Xash. I A tufted grass with rather slender and 

 stiff, simple or branched stems, l-4*/> ft. high, and with loose racemes 

 on long-exserted, slender peduncles. Joints of the rachis and pedicels 

 ciliate with spreading hairs ; sessile spikelet perfect, the fertile lemma 

 with a bent and twisted awn; pedicellate spikelet reduced to a single 

 awn-pointed glume. 



An important hay and forage grass in the West. On dry prairies 

 and in sandy fields. Aug. -Oct. Rather general. 



