146 STOCK-POISONING PLANTS OF MONTANA. 



EEED CANARY GRASS. 



{Phalaris arundinacea L.) 



A perennial reed-like grass, 2 to 4 feet high, with broad flat leaves, 

 3 to 10 inches long, and flowering heads in large terminal panicles. 

 This species is very common in wet meadows and sloughs throughout 

 the State and is an important element of wild hay. It is found from 

 Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south to New Jersey, Kentuckj'^, 

 Kansas, and Nevada. Prof. J. M. Coulter^ quoting from Watson, saj^s 

 that " it is known as ' craz}^ grass' from its reputed injurious effect 

 upon horses." Although coarse in texture it is considered harmless 

 by the Minnesota agricultural station and by the Division of Agros- 

 tology of this Department. Our observations show that it is some- 

 times infested by ergot. This fungus is therefore most probably 

 responsible for any ill effects which have been attributed to the grass. 



WILD SUNFLOWER. 



[Balmmorluza sagittata Nutt.) 



A perennial with thick balsamic roots, tufted, long, hairy root leaves, 

 and simple, few-flowered, flowering stems 1 to 2 feet high, bearing 

 usually solitary flower heads from 2 to 5 inches in diameter (PI. 

 XXXIV). The flowers appear in May and are among the most con- 

 spicuous of the season. This plant grows on dr}^ hillsides in all parts 

 of the State. 



The dry rock}" hillsides and shallow coulees, at an altitude of from 

 about 5,000 to 7,000 feet, near Bozeman were yellow with the showy 

 blossoms of this plant from the middle of May to nearly the middle of 

 June. It is the most conspicuous of all the herbaceous plants at those 

 altitudes, and is often seen in association with death camas, white 

 lupine, and blue larkspur. The plant is generally distributed in the 

 Eocky Mountains from Colorado through Montana to British Colum- 

 bia. Close inspection of man}^ growing plants during May and the 

 first half of June in the Gallatin Valley failed to reveal any signs of 

 its having been grazed upon, although another plant, the low milk 

 vetch ( Orojjhaca caespitosa) ^ which was named to us as a suspect, 

 had been closely grazed in close proximity. A single leaf was fed out 

 of hand to a stable horse four or five times, but the animal finally 

 refused to eat any more, although it was strongly urged to do so. 

 Even at first it ate none at all when purposely grazed with its nose 

 close to the bunches. The wild sunflower is eaten on the range in other 

 parts of the State by cattle and horses, and less extensively by sheep. 

 On the summer ranges in the foothills and on the mountains, sheep eat 



iSixth Aim. Kept. U. S. Creol. Surv., vol. (>, p. 787. 1873. 'See p. 148. 



