THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 65 



81. Andropogon scoparius, Michaux. 

 An-dro-po' '-gon sco-pa'-ri-us. 



PLATE XLII. 



Common Names. Wood Grass, Purple Wood Grass, Broom 

 Grass. 



Perennial. Stems from three to four feet high, with numerous pan- 

 iculate branches ; lower sheaths and narrow leaves hairy. Spikes 

 slender, scattered, mostly pedunculate, from one to two inches 

 long, very loose, often purplish, sickly, with dull whitish hairs. Sterile 

 spikelet awn-pointed or awnless, the fertile flower about half the 

 length of its twisted or bent awn. 



Grows in dry, barren soils, and flowers in August. 



In some parts of the South it is very common and much despised, 

 though it has its good qualities, for in the dr}- pine woods it contri- 

 butes, while green and tender, a large share to the sustenance of 

 stock. 



One analysis made in Washington, of specimens from Alabama, 

 gave ash 5.84, fat 1.58, nitrogen-free extract, 62.29, crude fiber 

 24.64, albuminoids 5.65. 



