57 



by the wiiuls or the washing of soils by overflows aud high tides. On good 

 lands it is very productive, and if cut before the stems have become hard yields 

 a large amount of hay of very good quality. 



No. 177. Pappophorum laguroideum Schrad. 



A handsome ornamental, 3 to 5 feet high, with narrow, plume-like panicles a foot or 

 more long. It is a native of Mexico, and has been successfully grown from seed 

 on the grounds of the Department of Agriculture. It is worthy of introduction 

 as an ornamental for gardens aud lawns because of the beauty of its pale straw- 

 colored panicles. 



No. 178. Pappophorum wrightii S. Wats. Purple-grass. 



A slender and apparently annual grass of western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, 

 growing on the open plains and 

 among the foothills of the moun- 

 tains. It has short, narrow leaves 

 and narrow, densely flowered 

 heads or panicles, which are 

 softly bearded and grayish or 

 l^urplish. It is said to be fuUy 

 equal to Grama or Buffalo-grass 

 innutritive value, and more pala- 

 table to horses or mules. 



No. 179. Paspalum bosciauum 

 Fliigge. Purple Paspalum. 



A rather stout perennial with ascend- 

 ing branching stems, 2 to 3 feet 

 high, long, flat leaves, and numer- 

 ous racemes crowded near the 

 summit of the culm and its 

 branches. It is a native of the 

 Southern States, growing in moist 

 grounds, preferring rather heavy 

 soils. Like other species of Pas- 

 palum, it grows in tufts and 

 often occurs covering consider- 

 able areas to the exclusion of 

 other grasses. It yields a good 

 bulk of sweet hay, but is rather 

 slow in drying. 



No. 180. Paspalum compressum 

 (Sw.) Nees. Carpet-grass. 



A slender, erect, or more frequently 

 prostrate and extensively creep- 

 ing perennial, rooting at the 

 nodes, and sending up numerous 

 leafy, flower-bearing branches, 

 6 to 24 inches hinrh. The verv 

 slender racemes or spikes borne at or near the summit of the stems are 1 to 3 

 inches long. The prostrate creeping stems spread rapidly, and soon form a dense, 

 carpet like growth, crowding out all other vegetation. It withstands protracted 

 drought, grows well on almost any soil, and in the more southern districts is 

 evergreen, yielding good pasturage both summer and winter. It is regarded as 

 one of the most valuable native pasture grasses of the regions bordering the Gulf, 

 and is a most excellent lawn grass, superior to Bermuda and less difficult to 

 eradicate. It is found in the warmer regions of both North and South America. 

 It is readily propagated by sets and seeds. 



Fig. 69. — Carpet-grass {Paspalum coinprcssrtm): a, 

 attachment ofspikelets to racliis; b and c, spikelets; 

 d, floret. 



