GRASSES OF IOWA 



299 



Fig. 140. 



Alluvial bottoms of the Missouri, covered with coarse 

 Andropogon and PhalarU. 



;rasses. Spattina, cynosuroidea. 



old. Buffalo pe3, or ground plum, is common on dry sterile 

 hills throughout the region and afforJs valuable forage. 

 American vetch is one of the most valuable of the native 

 legumes. lb grows in the moist soil of low prairies ard open 

 woodlands. This vetch is well adapted 1o the conditions of 

 western and northwestern Iowa, and does well under cultiva- 

 tion. The prairie clovers {Petalostemon violaceus Mic'hx., and 

 P. candidus Micbx.) are common on the prairie every w^here, as 

 also on the loess soils of western Iowa. These plants are 

 seldom eaten by stock unless forage is scant. Dalea alopecu- 

 roides Willd. is common throughout the loess region and has 

 been intro 3 ucd farther eastward. Wild vetch {Hosackia pur- 

 shiana) well-known as a valuable forage plant c f the northwest, 

 i^ indigenous to the loess, though not abundant except locally. 

 It has been introduced into Boone county. Running buffalo 

 clover {Trifoliuin stoloniferum Muhl.), a native, is worthy of a 

 trial under cultivation. Mention should also be made of a loco 

 plant {Oxytropislamhertii'Pxiv&h.), native to this region. Though 

 often cnsumed by st ck, no complaints have been made that 



