Pinegrass, so named because of its intimate association with ponderosa pine 

 and lodgepole pine forests, is also occasionally called pine reedgrass and 

 red reedgrass. The specific name rubesvens is from the Latin and refers to the 

 common reddish color of the flower heads and to the reddish hue which some- 

 times appears in the leafage, especially on the plants growing in open sunlight. 

 This species is widely distributed from British Columbia and Manitoba south- 

 ward to northern Colorado and central California. It ranges from sea level 

 to elevations of about 10,000 feet but grows most luxuriantly at medium 

 elevations beneath stands of ponderosa pine. It is also common on the floor 

 of open to dense lodgepole pine forests, occurring in greatest abundance 

 under the more open stands. Occasionally, this grass is also associated with 

 aspen, larch, and open Douglas fir stands and occurs in openings both in and 

 adjacent to the timbered areas. At the higher elevations, it is chiefly con- 

 fined to the warmer southern and western exposures. Pinegrass is fairly 

 drought-resistant and is able to thrive in well-drained situations where the 

 soil is relatively dry during most of the summer. The strong, well-developed, 

 creeping rootstocks of this grass produce a continuous, closely matted sod 

 or turf, which enables it to become the dominant herbaceous plant over large 

 range areas. 



By virtue of its abundance, pinegrass is an important range plant in many 

 localities, particularly in the ponderosa pine forests of the Northwest and 

 the lodgepole pine stands of the northern Rocky Mountains. Much diversity 

 of opinion exists regarding the forage value of pinegrass due, no doubt in 

 large part, to its varying palatabllity at different times of the year. This 

 plant is one of the least palatable of the more common range forage grasses, 

 being classed in most localities as practically worthless to poor for sheep 

 and poor to fair for cattle and horses. However, on some ranges it is rated 

 up to fair for sheep and fairly good for cattle and horses. In the spring, 

 when young and tender, pinegrass is grazed more readily than at any other time. 

 As the season advances the tissues of the leaf blades become harsh and 

 tough, and the grass is seldom eaten by any class of livestock if more succulent 

 feed is available. In the fall of the year it is usually grazed again to a 

 limited extent, since the leafage is apparently somewhat softened by the fall 

 precipitation. It remains green late in the season, long after most of the 

 other forage is dried up. Game animals crop pinegrass to a slight extent 

 in the spring, and elks, especially, eat it again in the fall and winter until 

 deep snows make it unavailable. 



Both cattle and sheep can be forced to utilize this grass closely by holding 

 them on pinegrass types by means of fencing or herding. However, such heavy 

 use is ordinarily not to be recommended since it usually results in the over- 

 grazing or elimination of highly palatable grasses as well as of the weed and 

 browse species which grow in association with pinegrass. Although these 

 more palatable associated species usually form a minor portion of the vege- 

 tative cover, they often make up a very important part of the ugable forage. 

 Consequently, the carrying capacity of pinegrass types is often lowered con- 

 siderably by overgrazing, despite the fact that the stand of pinegrass itself is 

 unharmed. Pinegrass turf is notoriously tough, as it stands up remarkably 

 well under heavy grazing and severe trampling. It is especially valuable for 

 watershed protection because of its effectiveness in binding and holding the 

 soil against erosion. 



This species reproduces vigorously by means of its rootstocks and, to a more 

 limited extent, by seed. For the most part the plants consist of numerous 

 flat, drooping leaves arising from the extensive system of underground root- 

 stocks. Flowering stalks and heads are sparse, being seldom produced except 

 on plants growing in the open or under full sunlight. However, the com- 

 paratively small amount of seed produced is usually high in fertility. In 

 germination tests in the Blue Mountains of Oregon. Sampson 1 obtained results 

 ranging from 58 to 98 percent. The seed-producing plants are usually some- 

 what tufted and erect, differing in appearance from the usual stemless, droop- 

 ing-leaved form that grows under the shade of timber stands. The plants can 

 usually be recognized by the ring of stiff short hairs at the junction of the 

 sheath and blade. 



1 Sampson, A W. IMPORTANT UANGB PLANTS : THEIR LIFE HISTORY AND FOEAGE VALUE. 

 U. S. Dept. Agr. Bull. 545, 63 pp., illus. 1917. 



