A perennial stoloniferous monoecious or apparently dioecious grass with flat leaf-blades and spicate inflorescence. Staminate spikelets borne in two rows on one side of the rachis, the spikes at the summit of the long and exserted culms. Pistillate spikelets in spike-like clusters of 2 or 3, on very short culms, scarcely exserted from the sheath. Stamens 3. Styles distinct, long. Stigmas elongated, short-plumose. Grain ovate, free, enclosed in the scale. [Name apparently from the supposed bulb-like base of old plants.]

A monotypic genus of central North America.

1. Bulbilis Dactyloides (Nutt.) Raf. Buffalo-Grass. Early Mesquite

Fig. 557

Sesleria dactyloides Nutt. Gen. 1: 65. 1818. Buchloe dactyloides Engelm. Trans. St. Louis Acad.

1: 432. 1859. Bulbilis dactyloides Raf.; Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 763.

1891.

Culms bearing staminate flowers 4'-12' tall, erect, slender, naked above, smooth and glabrous; those bearing pistillate flowers ¥-3' long, much exceeded by the leaves; ligule a ring of short hairs; blades 1" wide or less, more or less papillose-hirsute, those of the staminate culms 1'-4' long, erect, those of the stolons and pistillate culms 1' long or less, spreading; staminate spikes 2 or 3, approximate; spikelets 2"-2 1/2" long, flattened, 2-3-flowered, the empty scales 1 -nerved, the flowering 3-nerved; pistillate spikelets ovoid, the outer scales indurated.

On plains and prairies, Minnesota to Saskatchewan, south to Arkansas, Texas and northeastern Mexico. A valuable fodder grass. June-July.