G8 

 REDTOPS AND BENTGRASSES 



Agros'tis spp. 



Eedtops and bentgrasses belong to the large redtop tribe (Agrostideae) of 

 the grass family. The genus is composed of approximately 100 species which 

 are widely distributed throughout the temperate and cool regions of the world, 

 especially in the northern hemisphere. Some 25 to 30 species occur in the 

 United States, with California and the Pacific Northwest as the center of 

 distribution. The scientific name Agrostis is derived from the Greek word 

 agros, meaning a field, and refers to the field habitat of many of the species. 

 It is of interest that Agrostideae, the redtop tribe, and agrostology, the branch 

 of botany dealing with grasses, take their names from the genus Agrostis. 



The name, bentgrass, has been widely used for many species of Affrostis. 

 It most fittingly applies, however, only to those species which actually have 

 bent, trailing stems with a low, decumbent habit of growth. The true bent- 

 grasses are usually turf-formers which reproduce by means of stolons as well 

 as by underground rootstocks and seed. The characteristic reddish or pur- 

 plish hue of the flower heads of many species, and especially of the common 

 redtop (A. alba), gives rise to the name, redtop. This name is applicable to 

 both tufted and sod-forming species which have erect and unbent stems, par- 

 ticularly if their heads are reddish or purplish. It seems preferable to use 

 redtop, as a generic name for most of the native range species of Agrostis. 



The redtops and bentgrasses are distributed throughout North America ex- 

 cept in the extreme North. The use of a number of species as lawn, pasture, 

 and hay grasses has greatly increased their distribution. Since the species of 

 Agrostis thrive best in temperate or cool climates, they are of greatest im- 

 portance in cultivation and on the range in the northern part of the United 

 States and in the higher regions. Grasses of the Agrostis genus are typically 

 moisture-loving plants. They thrive in wet or moist rich soils but are also 

 capable of growing on drier situations. The native species occupy a great 

 variety of sites, ranging from said dunes at sea level to alpine meadows above 

 timber line. They occur largely in wet or moist, rich soils iu meadows, 

 grassy parks, along stream banks, iu shaded woodlands and aspen stands, and 

 are capable of growing in extremely wet situations, thriving even with their 

 stems partially submerged in water during part of the season. However, some 

 species often appear in drier situations, such as sagebrush and wheatgrass 

 types, on open ridges and in waste places. The cultivated species also favor 

 wet or moist habitats and are usually grown in meadows, but where they 

 have escaped from cultivation they may be found in waste places and along 

 ditch banks and roadsides. Several foreign species have become established 

 on many range areas, probably mostly through artificial reseeding activities, 

 and are now rather widely distributed on some of the ranges of the West. A 

 number of species are able to grow where the soil is acid or lacking in lime 

 and are used in meadows and lawns where bluegrass and other cultivated 

 grasses do not thrive. 



The genus furnishes a number of species that are extremely important for- 

 age plants either in cultivation or on the ranges in the West. In the range 

 country the redtops are highly regarded as forage plants. The forage pro- 

 duced by this group of plants is usually rated as good to very good for cattle 

 and horses and fairly good to very good for sheep. Several species having 

 large, finely branched panicles are grazed readily before heading out but are 

 avoided afterward. The redtops are choice elk feed, but are eaten only with 

 slight relish by deer. Many of the individual species are scattered and do 

 not occur in abundance except in restricted meadow and park areas. A few, 

 however, are common and widespread range plants and make up an important 

 component of the vegetation. Several of the more outstanding and typical 

 species are deserving of mention. 



The common redtop (A. al'ba), originally introduced from Europe but now 

 extensively cultivated in this country for hay and as a meadow and pasture 

 grass, is the most important species. It has been successfully used in the 

 artificial reseeding of meadows on depleted range lands and has become firmly 

 established and widespread on moist, favorable sites on many range areas. 



