CHLORIDEAE 97 



area of range land in New Mexico is more or less completely 

 occupied by the best known Grama Grass {Boiiteloua 

 oligostachya) which goes under the names "Blue Grama," 

 "White Grama" or more rarely "Crowfoot Grama," the latter 

 name probably incorrectly applied. Why the adjective blue 

 is applied to this grass is not apparent, since it does not 

 appear blue in any way ; and white is also unexplainable unless 

 it be in contrast to "Black Grama" to disjtinguish it from 

 another species. Its Latin specific name is most satisfactory 

 since it means "few spikes," a striking characteristic of the 

 species which distinguishes it from nearly all the others. It 

 grows in small tufts, stools out fairly well, and in places 

 almost produces a sod. The leaves are usually rather num- 

 erous, sometimes .short and curly, often long when the 

 plant has plenty of water. The flowering culm is from 6 

 to 18 inches high and bears 1 or 2, rarely 3, one-sided spikes, 

 an inch or so long, near the end. The habit, common ito 

 most of the Gramas, of curing as they stand is most pro- 

 nounced in this species, and it is no uncommon thing to see 

 horses picking at the short dry leaves of Grama a year old 

 instead of eating some other green grass beside it. Chemical 

 analyses show very little differences between the compositions 

 (in the terms in which such analyses are reported) of 

 different grasses some of which are much appreciated by 

 stock and others that the animals will hardly eat at all. 

 Palatability and digestibility and general usefulness of a 

 grass evidently depend upon characteristics not shown by a 

 chem'jal analysis. 



Blue Grama will endure rough treatment and recover 

 rapidly. On the upper plains in New Mexico, at levels of 

 6000 to about 8000 feet, it is thoroughly at home and per- 

 fectly able to take care of itself among all plant rivals. The 

 Galleta Grass (Hilaria jamesii) and the Buffalo Grass just 

 mentioned can compete with it on about even terms and 

 maintain their relative positions, but nearly any of the otlier 

 plants of such regions will be forced out by the Grama If 



