Prairie sandgrass, a tall, coarse, tough, perennial grass also known 

 as sandreed, is a drought-resistant species which occurs chiefly in 

 sandy soil (occasionally in heavy sterile soil) on plains and hills 

 east of the Rocky Mountains from western Ontario to Saskatche- 

 wan, northeastern New Mexico, Kansas, and northern Indiana. It 

 is the most widespread species of Calamovilfa, a genus of about 

 four species restricted to North America. Grasses of this genus are 

 perennials with horizontal rootstocks and single-flowered spikelets, 

 belonging to the red-top tribe (Agrostideae) of grasses. Prairie 

 sandgrass is of relatively inferior palatability and of little use dur- 

 ing the growing season ; however, it produces a considerable amount 

 of forage which cures on the ground and is an important source of 

 winter cattle feed. It abounds on some areas which support but 

 few other forage plants. It is also cut for hay. Its rootstock 

 system peculiarly adapts it for binding loose, sandy soils. 



The rigid leafy stems are from 2 to 6 feet high. The leaves taper 

 to a long, slender, inrolled (involute) point and have crowded 

 sheaths. The glumes or two lowest empty bracts of the individual 

 flower groups (spikelets), are shorter than the "floret", i. e., the soli- 

 tary flower, composed of essential floral organs (stamen and pistil) 

 with the lemma and the bract opposite it (palea). The grain is 

 permanently inclosed by its lemma and palea. 



