Diarrhena americana Beauv. var. obovata Gl. American Beakgrass Habit: Perennials with slender rhizomes. Culms: 50-120 cm. tall, simple, erect, very rough, below the panicle, leafy below. Blades: 20-60 cm. long, 1-2 cm. wide, long-acuminate, flat, usually rough. Sheaths: Longer than the internodes, smooth or pubescent towards the summit. Ligule: Very short. Inflorescence: Panicle 10-30 cm. long, long-exserted, narrow, drooping, branches few, appressed, the lower distinct, with relatively few spikelets. Spikelets: 3-5-flowered, 10-18 mm. long, short-pediceled, the upper 1 or 2 flowers sterile, at first narrow, but the florets expanded at maturity, the rachilla disarticulating above the glumes and between the florets. Glumes: Unequal, the first about 1-2.5 mm. long, the second about 3.5 mm. long. Lemma: 4-6(-10) mm. long, acuminate, convex below, 3-nerved, acuminate or mucronate-pointed, often exceeded by the beaked fruit. Palea: Shorter than its lemma, obtuse, pale, widely spread from the lemma by the large, turgid fruit. Fruit: Grain large, usually beaked, with a shining coriaceous pericarp. Habitat: Shaded riverbanks and rich woods. August-September. Kansas Range: East half.