Curly-mesquite, sometimes called southwestern buffalo grass be- 

 cause of its similarity in growth to the true buffalo grass (BucMoe 

 dactyloides] , is identifiable at some distance because it forms light 

 green patches. It is distinguishable from the other hilarias by the 

 slender, wiry, creeping stolons which produce a close, firm sod in 

 favorable soil. Hilaria belangeri perpetuates the name of Charles 

 M. Belanger, a French naturalist and explorer of the nineteenth 

 century. This grass occurs from central Texas to Arizona and 

 south to Central America. It is most abundant on the plains of 

 Texas and Mexico and also grows on a considerable scale in south- 

 western New Mexico and southern Arizona. Curly-mesquite develops 

 small or fairly large patches on plains, mesas, and foothills in the 

 grass and open woodland types and is found on dry, deep clay to 

 gravelly or rocky soils at elevations of 3,500 to 5,500 feet. However, 

 the species occasionally grows in scattered clumps on rocky slopes. 

 Gramas (Bouteloua spp.), three awns (Aristida spp.), beardgrasses 

 (Andropogon spp.), mesquites (Prosopis spp.), and catclaw and 

 other acacias (Acacia spp.) are common associates of curly -mesquite. 



This grass is esteemed highly for forage wherever it occurs, as it 

 is one of the first to start spring growth, responds readily to summer 

 rains, and produces a fair amount of forage despite its small size. 

 Curly-mesquite cures well on the ground and is highly palatable 

 to all classes of livestock for both winter and summer use. It is 

 unusually resistant to extended drought and also withstands close 

 grazing, as is shown by its increase on many of the heavily grazed 

 ranges of the Southwest. Although the innumerable stolons facili- 

 tate the aggressive spread of the species, this valuable grass should 

 be protected during its growth period for best results. Its habit of 

 forming a sod makes it a very good soil binder in checking and 

 preventing erosion. 



Under favorable conditions curly-mesquite produces two seed 

 crops a minor production in the spring when moisture is adequate, 

 followed in late summer or fall by the major seed output resulting 

 from the summer rains. The species, however, depends chiefly upon 

 its stolons for reproduction, as the natural seed supply is insufficient 

 for satisfactory maintenance of the stands. 



Curly-mesquite is of finer texture than the other species of Hilaria 

 and has numerous, narrow, rather rigid leaves, usually 2 to 4 inches 

 long, as well as a few upright, leafy stems 4 to 12 (commonly 5 to 8) 

 inches high which are hairy at the nodes. The purplish spikes are 

 single, rather loosely flowered, and 1 to 2 inches long. The clusters 

 of spikelets lack the conspicuously long tuft of basal hairs character- 

 istic of most other species of Hilaria. 



Until recently this species was commonly confused in botanical 

 manuals with H. cenchftoidks, which is now regarded as a wholly 

 Mexican species differing from curly-mesquite in having a thick 

 spike, darker spikelets, and the rachis internodes shorter than the 

 spikelets. In contrast, curly-mesquite has a relatively slender spike, 

 pale spikelets, and rachis internodes about as long as the spikelets. 



