49 



this region. The most important are Californian oat grass {Danthonia 

 californica), Eocky Moimtaiu oat-grass [Danthonia intermedia) (see fig. 

 16), and Parry's oat-grass {Danthonia parryi). 



As a rule these oat grasses occur naturally in rather dry meadows 

 and on mountain sides, Californian oat-grass being more inclined to 

 seek moist situations than either of the others. It is the largest of the 

 native oat-grasses, reaching a height of 3 feet under favorable condi- 

 tions, and is also the most abundant Northwestern s])ecies. In northern 

 Wyoming and Montana it forms a considerable portion of the meadow 

 vegetation at from 5,500 to 8,000 feet. It is occasionally found as low 

 as 5,000 feet, but is most abundant at from 6,000 to 7,000 feet. On 

 rich, irrigated meadows it makes a very fine growth. It is rarely 

 found as far south as Colorado, where it is replaced by Parry's oat- grass. 



Eocky Mountain oat grass is often found growing along with Califor- 

 nian oat-grass; but it is a smaller plant, preferring rather drier soil 

 and having a somewhat higher altitudinal range — seldom occurring 

 below 7,000 feet, abundant at 8,000 to 10,000 feet, and ascending to 

 11,000 feet or even 12,500 feet in Colorado. It is probably of more 

 value for pasturage than for hay. 



Parry's oat-grass is most abundant in the park region of Colorado, 

 but also occurs in southern Wyoming. Although occurring naturally 

 in rather dry meadows and on mountain sides, it makes a fine growth 

 under irrigation and is occasionally found in some quantity in timothy 

 meadows. It has a much more tufted habit of growth than Californian 

 oat-grass and its altitudinal range — from 7,000 to 10,000 feet — corre- 

 si)onds very well to that of its more northern relative. Although of local 

 occurrence it is abundant in places, soujetimes almost completely occu- 

 pying the open woods and parks in the mountains of central Colorado. 



The blue joints are usually conspicuous elements in the vegetation of 

 the moister mountain meadows. They are the chief grasses in many 

 of the deer parks in the higher mountains, and are ijarticularly abun- 

 dant in the wet, boggy, open aspen thickets so frequently found in the 

 Northwest, There are about a half-dozen species which are found in 

 sufficient quantities to be of importance as forage producers. By far 

 the most abundant is mountain blue-joint {Calamaf/rostis canadensis 

 acuminata), a near relative of the common blue joint, which it replaces 

 in the higher altitudes. It produces a large amount of excellent hay 

 in the wet, sandy or gravelly valleys along the mountain streams, and 

 usually occurs at an altitude of from 5,000 to 8,000 feet in the North, 

 but ascends to 10,000 or rarely to 11,000 feet in Colorado. In northern 

 Wyoming and central and southern Montana it makes an enormous 

 development in the rich, moist soil of some of the mountain parks, 

 frequently covering areas several acres in extent with a dense growth, 

 reaching a height of 3^ or 4 feet. 



Northern blue joint or Langsdorff's reed-bent {Galamagrostis lanc/s- 

 dorffii) is often found growing along with mountain blue joint and has a 

 20013— No. 12 1 



