Red three-awn, also known as dogtown grass, long-awned needle- 

 grass, prairie three-awn, longneedle three-awn, and wire needlegrass, 

 is a perennial bunchgrass, and is perhaps the most easily recognized 

 species of the genus. The outstanding mark of distinction of the 

 species is the unusually long three-branched (trifid) beards (awns), 

 which may be as long as 4^ inches. The variety robusta, as its 

 name intimates, is typically more robust and taller; it has more 

 leaves on the stalks, and has more stiffly erect branches in the seed 

 head. However, there are numerous intergradations between typical 

 forms of the species and the variety and, for that reason, they are 

 here considered together. 



Red three-awn ranges rather widely in the region west of the 

 Mississippi River, especially in the Southwest. It is known to occur 

 from Kansas to Montana, eastern Oregon, Arizona, western Texas, 

 and south into Mexico. It has also been reported from Washington 

 and southern British Columbia. Probably most of the more northern 

 material is of the variety robusta. The species is common through- 

 out New Mexico and Arizona at elevations below those of the pon- 

 derosa pine belt. It prefers the dry sandy soils on plains, mesas, 

 and foothills, and is an aggressive invader of denuded areas, or of 

 soils recently disturbed by burrowing animals, ploughing, or wash- 

 ing. Complaint has been registered against it on the ground that it 

 supplants wheatgrass on the range 2 in Wyoming and elsewhere, 

 but such a condition is almost certainly correlated with utilization 

 of the wheatgrass so close that the plants are weakened to such an 

 extent that they cannot successfully compete with species of inferior 

 palatability. 



There has been considerable difference of opinion among observers 

 as to the forage value of this species. Some reports and publications 

 indicate that it is practically worthless. However, the grass produces 

 a considerable volume of fine leaves and deserves a higher rating 

 than is frequently given it. According to Forest Service experience, 

 red three-awn, when partially green, during the winter and spring 

 months, rates at least fair in palatability both for cattle and sheep. 

 This fact combined with its abundance qualify it as one of the most 

 important species of the genus in New Mexico and Arizona. 



Through the cooperation of the Bureau of Chemistry, United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, a series of monthly analyses was made for the Forest 

 Service of the herbage of red three-awn over a 2-year period, 1917-18, the 

 material being collected on the Jornada Experimental Range in southern 

 New Mexico. The analyses showed a surprising amount of variation in the 

 relative proportions of the chemical constituents, apparently somewhat corre- 

 lated with fluctuations in rainfall. As contrasted with the valuable black 

 grama, with which it is often associated, red three-awn proved rather uniformly 

 higher in ash and lower in ether extract, its water and protein content almost 

 identical, the crude fiber slightly higher, and the nitrogen-free extract slightly 

 less. As far as such analyses may give a clue to feeding values this species 

 would appear to be about as nutritious as is the better known black grama, 

 on the whole, but more fluctuating. 



Red three-awn is a vigorous seeder, its seed crop usually being plentiful. 

 After maturity the seeds, with their long bristles (awns), often become a 

 menace by getting into the eyes and nostrils of grazing animals, as well aa 

 penetrating the wool of sheep and lowering fleece values. 



3 Johnson, L. A DESTRUCTIVE EANGE GBASS. Producer 8 (8) : 18, illus. 1927. 



