Galleta, sometimes and unfortunately referred to in older litera- 

 ture as black grama, is an erect perennial. It grows on mesas, 

 plains, and deserts from Wyoming and Nevada to California, west- 

 ern Texas, and south into Mexico, but is probably most common in 

 New .Mexico and Arizona. In Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and 

 Nevada the species occurs chiefly in scattered stands, usually in as- 

 sociation with blue grama in the sagebrush zone. In the Southwest 

 it is abundant over extensive areas in the upper plains and in the 

 lower limits of the ponderosa pine belt at elevations from 5,000 to 

 7,000 feet in the mountains. Wooton and Standley x state that gal- 

 leta grass is by far the most abundant and -characteristic plant on 

 the plains in the northwestern corner of New Mexico, where it often 

 forms practically pure stands which cover many miles of terrain. 



The abundance of galleta and its capacity for heavy forage pro- 

 duction make it a very important species on many southwestern 

 ranges. Wooton and Standley (op. tit.} regard it as probably the 

 second most valuable range grass of New Mexico. It is of highest 

 palatability (up to good or very good) during the summer rainy 

 growing season, and has the reputation among stockmen of being 

 nutritious for all classes of livestock. Its maximum use at this pe- 

 riod is desirable. Unless green and succulent its palatability is low 

 or. negligible. After growth ceases the rather harsh foliage soon 

 becomes dry and tough and is of little or no interest to livestock. 

 Range animals reject it during late fall and winter unless more 

 palatable species are scanty or unavailable. Wooton and Standley 2 

 call attention to the local reputation of galleta for fattening horses. 

 The tough, woody rootstocks, sometimes as much as 6 feet long, are 

 its surest means of reproduction, fortify it against trampling and 

 heavy grazing, and increase, its effectiveness as a soil binder. The 

 species is very drought-resistant and maintains itself satisfactorily 

 on arid ranges. It is not easily killed by overstocking. 



Although the galleta plants have strong, scaly rootstocks, they 

 usually grow in bunches and it is only under very favorable condi- 

 tions that these bunches grow sufficiently close together to approxi- 

 mate a sod. The numerous, narrow, rather wiry leaves are dull 

 green. The flower head (spike) has a fine, hairy, chaffy appearance, 

 often purplish at first and fading to almost white at maturity. 



1 Wooton, E. O., and Standley, P. C. FLORA OF NEW MEXICO. U. S. Natl. Mtis., Contrib. 

 U. 8. Natl. Herbarium 19, 794 pp. 1915. 



2 Wooton, E. O., and Standley, P. C. THE GRASSES AND GRASS-LIKE I-LANTS OF NEW 

 MEXICO. N. Mex. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 81, [176}. pp., illus. 



