41 



No. 117. Pourniera niexicana Scribn. Mexican Lawn-grass. 



A low, extensively creeping grass that grows in tlie mountain valleys of western 



Mexico. Stock cat it with avidity. An excellent lawn and pasture grass for 



subtropical regions. 



No. 118. G-ynerium argenteum Noes. Pampas-grass. 



A stout perennial, 8 to 12 feet bigh, with mostly radical, narrow leaves 3 to 6 feet 

 long, and sbowy, silvery white or rose- red panicles 15 to 30 inches long. A iiiiich- 

 prized ornamental for lawn decoration. The liandsomc ]);uiicles are usc<l l'(tr 

 dry bouquets. Growing Pampas plumes is an important imlustry in some parts 

 of California. These plumes or 

 panicles are cut when exposed only 

 a few inches from the leaf sheath, 

 then dried, aud done up into bun- 

 dles for shipment. Pampas-grass 

 is a native of southern Brazil and 

 Argentina, and there the long 

 leaves are used for paper making, 

 and a decoction of the rhizome is 

 used as a diuretic, ^t. rosenvi is a 

 horticultural variety, with i)ale, 

 rose-colored plumes, (i.variegatum 

 is a form with variegated leaves. 



No. 119. Hilaria cenchroides IIBK. 



Curly Mesquit. (Fig. 48.) 



A delicate perennial with slender, 

 creeping stems, the upright, leafy 

 shoots a few inches to nearly a foot 

 high. This is one of the most val- 

 uable of the grasses of the dry 

 plains and mesas of the Southwest. 

 It forms a dense, green sward, and 

 in habit of growth closely resem- 

 bles the true Butfalo-grass. It has 

 the habit of creeping over the 

 ground aud rooting at the joints 

 of the stems, from which spring 

 leafy branches that in turn reach 

 out for other places in whieli to 

 take root. It makes a thick mat 

 of leafy turf during the summer, 

 matures on its roots, and in the fall 

 and winter, when not rotted by 

 late rains, atKbrds excellent pastur- 

 age for all classes of stock. No 



grass stands the long dry spells to which the Southwest is periodically subject 

 better than the Curly Mesquit. At such times it dries up and appears dead, 

 but in a few hours after a warm rain it becomes green to the end of the smallest 

 branches. It is best propagated by transplanting the runners. Seed is produced 

 in abundance, but is both ditificult to harvest and of rather uncertain vitality. 



No. 120. Hilaria mutica Benth. Black Buucli-grass. 



This is a rather coarse perennial, with creeping rootstocks, aud stems 12 to 18 inches 

 high. It is common on the dry mesas of New Mexico and Arizona, extendiug 

 eastward into Texas and Indian Territory. Where abundant it is regarded as 

 one of the most valuable native grasses aud furnishes excellent pasturage at all 



Fig. 48. — Curly Mestjuit (Hilaria ccn.ehroidei); a, 

 group of spikeleCs ; i.spikelet; c, d, florets. 



