124 FESTUCEAE 



mountains. As noted further on Festuca pacifica is reported 

 from New Mexico on the strength of a small, scrappy speci- 

 men from near Las Vegas, collected by Prof. T. D. A. 

 Cockerell. The deteunination n.ay be incorrect on account of 

 the meagerness of the material. It is hardly to be expected 

 that the species should occur in our region as it normally is 

 a Pacific Coast species. 



Tall Fescue or Meadow Fescue {Festuca elatior 

 has been tried at several places as a pasture grass but with 

 rather indifferent success. As an escape it occurs in a few 

 places in the higher mountains. 



Arizona Fescue {Festuca arizonica) is an important 

 grass on the higher mountains in the open parks at 8000 feet 

 elevation or higher and on open burns or mountain peaks 

 •or ridges near or tven above timber line. It grows as a bunch 

 grass but on mountain slopes or on burnt areas it quite com- 

 monly occurs as almost pure stands in which the bunches stand 

 only a few inches a])art. It is of great importance as an early 

 summer feed, especially for sheep which eat it when it is young 

 and tender. It is good for horses buv the mature grass is eaten 

 l)y sheep only when there is nothing else. It is usually 18 

 inches to 2 feet high, in dense bunches or tufts 6 inches in 

 diameter or more, with numerous narrow basal leaves 8 

 inches to a foot long and several to many panicle-bearing 

 stems from each tuft. The stems are slender l)ui wiry and 

 elastic with a looselv spreading panicle of medium size. The 

 flowering glumes are green fnot tliin) and narrowly lanceo- 

 late terminating in a short awn. On account of its habit 

 and its abundance in the locations in which it occurs it can 

 liardly be mistaken for anything else. It will grow only at 

 the higher and cooler levels. Two or three otlier species of 

 Festuca occur sparinglv at high levels in the mountains as 

 is indicated in the list, Imt they are of little importance. 



The Bromk Grasses (Brouuis spp.) are common in 

 the mountains of the State, mostly in the timber covered por- 

 tions, where they are generally known by the name of Wild 



