MANUAL OF THE GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 5 



Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and centipede grass 

 (Eremochloa ophiuroides) are planted, being propagated by cuttings. 

 Some of the fescue grasses are used in mixtures for lawns. These 

 are red fescue (Festuca rubra), sheep fescue (F. ovina), hard fescue 

 (F. ovina var. duriuscula), and shade fescue (F. rubra var. hetero- 

 phvlla). 



^ a ORNAMENTAL GRASSES 



Among typical ornamentals the plumegrasses, giant reed (Arundo 

 donax), Ravenna grass (Erianthus ravennae), eulalia (Miscanthus 

 sinensis), and pampasgrass (Cortaderia selloana) are the most popular 

 for parks and large areas. Dwarf bamboo (Bambusa nana) is used 

 for hedges in the South, and the smaller species of Phyllostachys for 

 masses of evergreen foliage. Sasa japonica, an aggressively spread- 

 ing hardy bamboo, is rather common in parks. Fountain grass 

 (Pennisetum ruppelii) and blue fescue (Festuca ovina var. glauca) are 

 used for borders. Ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinacea var. picta) is 

 a familiar grass in old gardens. Basket grass (a variegated form of 

 Oplismenus hirtellus) will fall in long festoons from hanging baskets. 



DISTRIBUTION OF GRASSES 



One of the most widely distributed of the families of flowering 

 plants, the grasses are found over the land surface of the globe, in 

 marshes and in deserts, on prairies and in woodland, on sand, rocks, 

 and fertile soil, from the Tropics to the polar region and from sea 

 level to perpetual snow on the mountains. 



The different grasses, like other kinds of plants, thrive best under 

 certain conditions of soil, moisture, temperature, exposure, and alti- 

 tude. The conditions under which a plant normally grows is its 

 habitat. Some species are narrowly restricted in their habitat — 

 being found only in sand or on rocks, in salt marshes or on alpine 

 summits, for example, whereas others are tolerant of wide variations 

 of habitat. Red fescue (Festuca rubra) is an example of wide dis- 

 tribution of a species tolerant of a variety of habitats. It is found 

 from the arctic regions south at low altitudes to Georgia and central 

 California and in the mountains farther south, and from the seacoast 

 marshes to mountain tops. 



Each species is found growing over a rather definite geographic 

 area but within this area it is confined to its particular habitat. 



In mountain regions altitude is an important factor in modifying 

 range, each species thriving within certain limits of altitude. Species 

 found at high altitudes in one range of mountains may reappear at 

 about the same altitude on other ranges. Certain grasses growing at 

 low levels in the north are found in the mountains and at increasingly 

 higher elevations southward. 



The geographic range is of importance and is given in some detail 

 for each species in the manual. The range as given is based upon 

 the study of a vast amount of material, both in the herbarium and 

 in the field. For convenience in keeping the records of distribution 

 a series of outline maps, one for each species or variety, has been 

 prepared in the grass herbarium of the United States National 

 Herbarium. The known range of each species is indicated upon 

 these maps by a dot on each State from which specimens are in the 

 herbarium or have been examined by the author. (A few extensions 



