native Grasses of Kansas. 67 



Leptochloa, Beauv. — A very small genus. The spikelets are several- (rarely one-) flowered, ses- 

 sile, in two rows along one side of the slender spikes or branches of the panicle. The outer glumes 

 are keeled, awnless, or pointed. The flowering glumes are usually obtuse, prominently nerved, and 

 awnless. The palet prominently 2-nerved. 



103. Feathek Grass: Slender Grass; Leptochloa mucronata, Kth. — An annual 

 grass, 2 to 3 feet high, with flowers on a long panicled raceme ( sometimes 2 feet 

 long). The branches, or spikes, are very slender, 1 to 5 inches long, very numerous 

 ( 30 to 50, or more, with the sessile spikelets, in two rows on one side). It is a hand- 

 some grass, but of no agricultural value. ( Plate No. 103.) 



Buchloe, Englm.— A single, perennial species, very small, dioecious (rarely monoecious). In the 

 male plant the spikelets are two to three-flowered, in short, one-sided spikes. The spikes are two or 

 three at the summit of the culm, 4 or 5 lines long, and composed of five or six spikelets. The outer 

 glumes are unequal. The flowering glume and palet are of equal length, and membranous. In the 

 female plant, the spikelets are in short capitate spikes, near the ground, and partly inclosed in the 

 bract-like sheaths of the upper leaves. All the upper glumes are indurated and cohere with the thick- 

 ened rachis. 



104. Buffalo Grass; False Mesquite Grass; Buchloe dactyloides, Englm. — 

 The male plant has flowering stems, 4 to 8 inches high, bearing at the summit two 

 to four short spikes (about i inch long). The female plant has flower stems but 1 

 or 2, rarely 3 or 4, inches high, sometimes almost concealed among the leaves. This 

 grass grows in extensive tufts or patches, spreading largely by stolons or offshoots, 

 sometimes 2 feet long, with joints every three or four inches. It is spread exten- 

 sively over the plains, but in our State now abundant only in the western portion. 

 Though low (seldom more than 3 or 4 inches high) and having very small leaves, it 

 is for the plains one of the most important pasture grasses, and its virtues are 

 widely celebrated. (Plate No. 104.) 



Minroa, Torr.— A genus with three (American) species, one of which is found in our State. The 

 spikelets — each about 3-flowered (upper one imperfect) — are 2 or 3, in small, leafy heads or clusters, 

 terminating the numerous branches at the nodes. The outer glumes are hyaline, one-nerved, and 

 shorter than the flowers. The flowering glumes are larger, herbaceous, 3-nerved, the central nerve 

 terminating in a short awn. The palets are hyaline and 2-keeled. 



105. False Buffalo Grass; Munroa squarrosa, Torr. — A low, rigid, creeping, 

 worthless annual grass, of the western plains. ( Shown in Plate No. 105.) 



Phragmites, Trin.— A small genus of tall, stout perennials, with broad leaves and a large termi- 

 nal panicle. The spikelets are 2 to many-flowered; villous at the base, and with a conspicuous silky- 

 bearded rachis ; but the lowest flower of the spikelet is male only, and glabrous. The outer glumes are 

 narrow, unequal, glabrous, lanceolate, keeled and acute. The flowering glumes are membranaceous, slen- 

 der and awn-pointed. The palets are much shorter than the glumes, 2-keeled, and pubescent on the 

 keels. 



106. Reed Grass; Phragmites communis, Trin. — A tall, coarse, perennial grass, 

 reaching a height of 8 to 12 feet, and in case of prostrate (rooting) stems some- 

 times four times that length. The culms are sometimes nearly an inch in diameter, 

 and the leaves are an inch or two in width. The terminal, loose, ornamental panicles 

 are 9 to 15 inches long. The grass grows in swamp and wet places. It is good for 

 fodder only when young. The canes have been used in places for thatching, for 

 covering hot-beds, etc. 



Triodia, R. Br.— A genus of grasses which has many species in the Southwest. The spikelets are 

 many-flowered, (the upper one or more imperfect,) and form a simple or compound panicle. The outer 

 glumes are keeled and awnless. The flowering glumes are imbricated, rounded on the back, (at least 

 below,) and 3-nerved. The palet is brOad and prominently 2-keeled. 



107. Tall Red-top; Triodia cuprea, Jacq. (T. seslerioides, Benth.)— The culms 

 are very smooth, 3 to 5 feet high, bearing long, flat leaves. The purplish panicle is 

 large and loose, at first erect, but finally spreading. This is a showy, perennial 



