620 FLORA OF TEXAS. 



or neutral sterile flower fringed with spreading hairs ; per- 

 fect flower half as long as the awn, the glumes often 

 roughened with elevated points. Dry sterile soil. August 

 and ISeptember. Culms 2°-3° high ; spikes l'-2' long. 



*** Peduncles or branches mostly clustered, beanng 2-4 rigid {green) digitate 

 spikes ; rachis and pedicel of the triandrous awnkss sterile flower fnnged with 

 scattered hairs, and t^hort-bearded at the bat^e. 



A. FURCATUS, Muhl. Ciihn stout, rigid, 3°-5° high ; 

 leaves rough, fringed at the base ; pedtmcles or brandies 

 commonly several at each upper joint ; spikelets appressed ; 

 ghcmes hispid on the nerves, half as long as the bent awn. 

 Open woods. September. Spikes compressed, 2-3' long. 



**** Peduncles or bran-cheii 1-several fro'n each upper joint, of ten included in the 

 dilated sheaths ; spikelets slender, hoary with long si'.ky spreading hairs ; 

 sterile flower reduced to an awn-like glume at the ajnx of the tei^y slender 

 pedicel, or obsolete ; stamen 1. 



A. TETRASTACHYUS, Ell. Culius 3°-4° high ; leaves and 

 sheaths very hairy ; branches short, the lower ones by 

 pairs, the upper single ; spikes 4 ; glumes bristly-serrulate, 

 one-fourth as long as the straight awn ; pedicel of the awn- 

 like sterile flower barely exceeding the fertile flower. — 

 Var., DiSTACHYUS. Leaves and sheaths less hairy or 

 smooth ish ; spikes by pairs, more rigid, on long-ex ser ted 

 branches ; pedicel of the sterile flower much longer tlian 

 the smoother glumes. Low pine-barrens. September. 



A. MACROURUS, Michx. Spikes by pairs, exceedingly 

 numerous, crowded in a large and close panicle; atuns 

 3-4 times the length of the glumes ; sterile floiver an awn- 

 like glume. — Varies, with the whole plant glaucous and 

 more slender, branches and spikes more scattered. Low 

 barren soils. September. Calms 2°-5° high. 



ERIANTHUS, Michx. 



Tall reed-like grass, with long and flat leaves, and pani- 

 cled inflorescence ; spikelets by pairs on the slender 



