48 



No. 139. Muhlenbergia mexicana (Linn.) Trin. Knot-root grass. (Fig. 56.) 



A much-branched, leafy perennial, 2 to 3 feet bigli, with strong, scaly, creeping root- 

 stocks, whirli often do good service in binding river banks, along which this 

 grass freiiuently grows. In the Northeastern States this grass is common in low 

 meadows, where it occasionally forms a considerable proportion of the native 

 hay of such placi's. If cut before the stems liave become woody, which they do 

 after dowering, the liay produced is of good (juality. It ranges from New Eng- 

 land southward to the Gulf and westward to the Kooky Mountains. In the 

 Eastern States It blooms in August. 



No. 140. Muhlenbergia porteri Scribn. Wire grama. 



This grass is a native of Xew Mexico and Arizona, growing 

 on the dry mesas and table-lands. It has a straggling 

 habit of growth. The stems are 1 to 2 feet long, much 

 branched, and often matted together. It furnishes ex- 

 cellent feed for cattle in tlie regions where it grows, 

 and yields good hay, which is har\ ested in considerable 

 abundance by the ranchmen. It withstands drought 

 very well, but is soon run out under the continued 

 trampling of cattle. 



No. 141. Muhlenbergia pungens Thuib. Blow-out grass. 



A rather rigid perennial, 12 to l!^ inches high, with linn 

 shar|[)-pointed leaves and open panicles. It has strong, 

 creeping roots, and often does good service as a sand 

 binder. In tlie sand-hills region of Nebraska it grows 

 abundantly around the borders of the so-called "blow- 

 outs,"' preventing their extension and assisting mate- 

 rially in restoring the turf. In some parts of Arizona 

 where it occurs it is esteemed a valual)l<; forage plant. 

 It grows from Nebraska southward to New Jlexico and 

 Arizona, and along the Colorado River above Fort Yuma. 



No. 142. Muhlenbergia racemosa (Michx.) B. S. P. Wild 



Timothy. (Fig. 57.) 

 An upright, usually sparingly l)ranched perennial, 2 to 3 

 feet high, with densely ilowered, narrow panicles 2 to 

 1 inches long, often resembling those of timothy. The 

 rootstocks are very tough, and closely covered with 

 thickened scales. It fre(iuents bogs and low grounds 

 from Now England westward to the Rocky Mountains, 

 extending southward to Tennessee, New Mexico, and 

 Texas. It is little prized in the East, but in the Northwestern States is recom- 

 mendt^d as an excellent grass for hay. 



No. 143. Opizia stolonifera I'resl. Mexican Lawn-grass. 



An extensively creeping, dio-cious grass, the very slender, ])r()strate stems sending 

 ui> leafy tutts 1 to 4 inches high. Similar in habit to Bermuda, but more deli- 

 cate. According to Dr. E. Palmer, this is one of the most important grasses of 

 M(!xico. Growing close tn tin' ground, it forms a tlii<k sod ovei- all exposed sur- 

 facis, even over the cobblestones in the streets of towns. It is used in the public 

 8i[uarc8 with good effect. By regular watering it is easily kejtt green, and but 

 little cutting is neeessarj'. The seed isilillicult to obtain, owing to th(^ constant 

 nibbling of domestic animals. I'ropagatiou by cuttings of the rooting, i)ros- 

 trate stems is ](roba])ly the best method. Trials with this grass ought to be 

 undertaken in the Southern States, both for lawns and pastures. 



Fi(i. 57. — Wild Timothy 

 ( Miililenberjia raceinosa.) 



