GRASSES OF IOWA. 



827 



west. The allied F. rubra, L , has been naturalized at several 

 points in this state. It is superior to Sheep's fescue because 

 of its creeping rootstocks. One of the most valuable of all the 

 Festucas is the great bunch grass {F. scabrello, Torr.) which is 

 a native of the Rocky mountain regions, where it occurs in 

 large open parks. It is an ideal grass for winter forage, and 

 should be cult'vated in Iowa. 



Fig. 152. Group of Festucas. All commoa in Iowa. The F. nutans occurs in 

 woods; the F. shoriii in wet meadows; the F. Unella in sandy soil. 



Bluegrass {Poa pratensis, L.) — In Europe little has been 

 done with the cultivation of bluegi ass (Poa pratensis). Sinclair, 

 writing on this grass in 1824, says: "There are many other 

 grasses superior to this one. It comes early in the spring, but 



