GRASSES OF IOWA. 



423 



Iowa Bunch Grass. {Sporobolus heterolepis, Gray). — This 

 is the most widely distributed of the genus in wild meadows. 

 This grass is from two to four feet high and produces a large 

 number of slender leaves close to the ground. It is associated 

 with Panicum virgatum. Although it has scent glands like 

 Stink grass, this is apparently not objectionable as stock is 

 fond of it. Mr. Cratty considers • it one of the best of our 

 native bunch grasses for forage purposes. 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. 



One sample of this grass was analyzed and the results are 

 as follows: 



NATURAL CONDITION. 



© e3 



9.^ 



Cut Sept. 13, 1897 



27.72 



WA.TER FREE SUBSTANCE. 



I 1.64 I 5.29 I (4.37) | 37.55 | 7.68 | 47.84 



The following analysis is added for comparison: 



AIR-DRY SUBSTANCE. 



WATER FREE SUBSTANCE. 



5 23 I 1.79 I 38 12 | 6.13 | 48.72 | 5.:37 



Drop Seed Grass (5". cryptandrus, Gray) is found throughout 

 the state in gravelly or sandy soil and is abundant on the loess of 

 western Iowa, where it forms a considerable part of the herb- 

 age. It is a strong rooted perennial but rather wiry. In some 

 portions of the United States it is regarded as an important 

 forage plant. 



1. Bull. S. D. Exp. Sta. 40:7(= 



