HIEROCHLOE MACROPHYLLA Thurb.in Bolancl. Trans. Cal. Agric. 



Soc. 1864-5. 132. 



Plant perennial, tufted, from a slender or often knotted rootstock. 



Culm erect, slender, rarely branched above the base, usually naked above and 

 slightly hispid, 2 to 3 feet high. 



Leaves of culms 3; sheaths mostly open above, striate, nearly smooth, equaling 

 or exceeding the internodesj blades flat, tapering to both ends, hispidulous above and 

 beneath, cross veins between the nerves rather prominent, 4 to lines wide and 6 to 12 

 inches long; ligule membranaceous, usually purple, 2 to 3 lines long. 



Inflorescence an open panicle, 3 to 6 inches long; branches spreading or reflexed, 

 mostly in twos, slender, flexuose, lower ones 2 to 3 inches long, bearing 4 to 6 pedicel- 

 late spikelets beyond the middle. 



Spikelets obovate, 3-flowered (only the upper flower maturing seed), 2 to 2\ lines 

 long; first empty glume broadly ovate, acute, carinate, thin, smooth, purplish, 3-nerved 

 at base, 1£ to 2 lines long; second empty glume same but \ line longer and slightly 

 hispid on the keel; floral glume broadly oblong, obtuse or emarginate and mucronu- 

 late, ciliate, pubescent on back near apex, 5-nerved, 1£ to 2 lines long, upper one at 

 maturity slightly indurated and shining; palet oblong-linear, cleft at apex, thin, 

 pubescent on the 2 nerves, \\ to 1J lines long; grain triangular in cross section, taper- 

 ing to each end, brown, opaque, 1 line long. 



Plate VI; a, spikelct enlarged about. 5 times; />, empty glumes; c, floral glume; 

 d, palet. 



California and Oregon. Furnishes a huge amount of foliage, and is probably of 

 agricultural value. 



