Tripsacum
(from tribo, tripeo, to thresh; alluding to the purpose to which the grain may be applied). ORD. Gramineae. A genus consisting of two species of rather tall, greenhouse or hardy Grasses, inhabiting America, from Mexico to Texas. Spikelets unisexual, monoecious, often two or three, rarely four, many or only one at the tips of the spike, the upper part of which is male, the lower female; glumes four; peduncles solitary or twin in the upper axils. Leaves long, subulate-acuminate. The species are valuable fodder-plants in their native places, but are too tender for our climate.