Andropogon contortus, L.
(Heteropogon contortus, Beauv.)
This is a tufted perennial.
The stems are erect or slightly decumbent below, slender, rather compressed towards the base, leafy at the base, simple or branched, densely tufted and varying in length from 1 to 3 or 4 feet.
Fig. 163.—Andropogon contortus.
1. Lower pair of sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 2. upper pair of sessile and pedicelled spikelets; 3, 4, 5 and 6. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of pedicelled spikelets; 7, 8, 9 and 10. the first, second, third and the fourth glume, respectively, of the sessile spikelet; 11. ovary.
The leaf-sheath is smooth or sparsely hairy, compressed and shortly auricled or not at the mouth. The ligule is short, truncate and ciliolate.
The leaf-blades are linear, acute or abruptly acuminate, flat, rigid, sparingly ciliate above, with tubercle-based hairs towards the base, scaberulous throughout, and 2 to 12 inches long or more, 1/10 to 1/5 inch broad.