FESTUCEAE 119 



amount of forage but would liardly be noticed except by the 

 collector. 



The genus 'fridcns is represented in New ^^lexico by 

 four species listed further on. None of them is very com- 

 mon or ir.iportant as forage plants, merely adding slightly 

 to the scctnty growth found on the dry rocky hills and mesas 

 of the southern part of the State. 



JUNE Grass {Koelcria crislata) is one of the most 

 widely distributed grasses in the mountains of this and 

 adjoining States where it forms a considerable part of the 

 summer forage. It forms "l)unches" 4 to 6 inches in diameter 

 with numerous bright green basal leaves 6 to 8 inches long, 

 and several erect stems 10 to 14 inches high each terminated 

 by a rather compact panicle of crowded spikelets, spreading 

 somewhat as they flower. Throughout the Transition Zone 

 and reaching up to the Canadian it is everywhere common. 



The genus Eragrostis, for wdiich th.ere is no common 

 name is represented in New Mexico by about ten species none 

 of which is of any great importance as a forage grass. 

 Candy Grass (Eragrostis major) is a pretty annual with a 

 rather sickish sweet odor fairly common in door yards and 

 beside the walks, occasional on the mesas or in the mountains, 

 but stock will rarely eat it. Eragrostis pilosa (or Eragrostis 

 purshii) if the two are distinct, is a common late summer and 

 fall weed in plowed lands. It does little harm apparently 

 and is of no value as feetl. Eragrostis neo-incxicana, said 

 by Dr. Scribner to be called Crab Grass in New ?^lexico (the 

 author has never heard this usage), occurs rather abundantly 

 in the mountains and the seeds are often carried into the 

 valleys with the irrigating water. When small it is difficult 

 to distinguish from the ])receding species. Mature well- 

 grown plants are several times as large, wdth much broader 

 leaves and bigger panicles but with usually fewer flowers 

 in the spikelets and the spikelet of lanceolate outline instead 

 of oblong. It is said to be a valuable hay grass but we have 

 Tiever seen it used in that wav. Horses wdll not eat it while 



