116 FESTUCEAE 



than none in sncli regions and the conchtion has been reduced 

 to that in much of the area over which it occurs. 



Carrizo ( P lira gill if cs phragiuitcs) is a tall coarse cane 

 that grows in wet soils beside streams or in boggy situations 

 at middle and lower levels, sometimes forming rather large 

 patches. Tlie name is also applied to a still larger introduced 

 , plant( Arundo donas) which is somewhat extensively grown 

 as an ornamental. Both produce hollow, jointed, woody 

 canes with broad flat leaves somewhat similar to those of 

 corn. PJiragmitcs is generally 5 to 6 feet high while Arundo 

 is often twice that and corres;>o:i(Iinglv heavv. Both produce 

 large spreading ] anicles cit the snds of the leafy stems. Grown 

 on a ditchbank where they can get sufficient water each has 

 some ornamental value. The canes of each are not infre- 

 quently used by the Mexicans to lay on the small poles that 

 rest on the vigas or rafters in the construction of the 

 roofs of their houses. The mud or adobe of which the roof is 

 composed rests on the reeds of the Carrizo and is prevented 

 from falling tln-oiigh. 



False Buffalo Grass (Mitnroa sqiiarrosa) is a little 

 spreading annual common on the sandv mesas at the lower 

 levels. It may be recognizefl liy the fact tliat it seems never 

 to have any ])anicle of flowers and also by the coating of fine, 

 almost cobwel)liy hairs which is very conspicuous when the 

 plant is young l)ut (lisa])]iears with age. The species is of 

 little economic im])ortance though relatively common through- 

 out the State. The flowers are borne in small axillary pan- 

 icles enclosed in leafy clusters with no stems. 



Dasychloa pulchella is a little perennial grass without 

 3 common name wln'ch grows on the driest of gravcllv mesas 

 in the southern part of the State. Tt i^ nf little value because 

 stock rarely if ever cat it and it never fr)rms a sod. 



Erioncumn pilosiiin is a fairly common little grass on 

 the mesas of the eastern and southeastern part of the State 

 where it is usually associated with the grass society of which 

 Hairy Grama is the dominant grass. It furnishes a small 



