34 Z()VS]EAE 



The Galleta Grasses . Tuibe II Zovsieae 



The coniniun name as usetl here is rather stretched in its 

 meaning, but is treated in this way f<jr lack of any other to 

 cover a group which is a very imiKMtant one, even though 

 the number of species is smah. 'J he name Galleta Grass 

 (gah-yet-ta) is applied locally by the Mexican people to one 

 species or sometimes to tw(j species of Hilana, (//. jamesii, 

 and H. inufica) usually and possibly more properly to the 

 former, while the latter is more frequently called Tobqsa. 

 The other species of the genus is probably the same as the 

 Texas Mesouite Grass, so much prized by stockmen. 



This group of grasses is probably second in import- 

 ance only to the Grama grasses in New Mexico. The 

 Galleta Grass proper (H. jamesii) occurs commonly over 

 th^e higher plains and in the higher mountains from about 

 5500 Lo 7000 feet, associated with the blue or white Grama 

 and produces a large part of the forage. It is not only 

 abundant but it is very nutritious, being especially well liked 

 by horses ; and stockmen agree that it will fatten horses more 

 quickly and put better flesh on them than any of the grasses. 

 It is not easily trami)ed ort. because of tlie large rootstocks 

 that are more or less proteci d in the ground and which are 

 hard to kill. It is sometimes called black Granra by 

 stockmen though this .is usually don.* U) distinguish it from 

 thj true (irama with wliicli it ntost frequently occurs. It is 

 not closely related to the Gramas nor does it look like them in 

 the least. It grows in "bunches" but in favorable location.? 

 the bundles may be near enough together to form almost a 

 sod. It is from 12 to 18 inches high when growing under 

 faxorable conditions of soil and moisture, produces numerous 

 rather wiry, rough, dull-green leaves and a cylindrical panicle 

 or siMke from 3 to 5 inches long and 1/4 inch in diameter 

 or sliglitly less. The spikelets are set rather close together 

 and are covered with spreading hairs. At first the spike ]5 

 cor.-]^act and slig]i(l_\- tinged with ])urple. but in age the spike- 

 lets spread, and the hair.> diverge and the spike is almost 



