G79 

 MUHLY GRASSES 



Muhlenber'gia spp., syn. Epicam'pes spp. 



The large genus of the redtop tribe (Agrostideae) includes nu- 

 merous perennial and a small number of annual grasses widely 

 distributed in both Americas and parts of Asia. It is especially 

 typical of the Mexican plateau and of the Southwestern States, 

 where it is represented by more species than any other grass genus. 

 With very few exceptions, species of this genus do not grow in pure 

 stands over extensive areas but are usually scattered over a wide 

 variety of types and soils. Their altitudinal distribution extends 

 from low deserts to high subalpine parks and timbered areas. In 

 this country they are important in the Southwest, the southern parts 

 of Nevada and Utah, and in southern and central Colorado, where 

 several species often occur in some abundance. Over the remainder 

 of the western rangeland the muhly grasses occur sparsely and but 

 few species are of economic importance. 



The palatability of the muhly grasses varies greatly with the dif- 

 ferent species. Bush muhly (M. porteri), at one time a very abun- 

 dant species of the Southwest, is so highly palatable year-long 

 that it has been largely killed out by overuse. Spike muhly (M. 

 wricfhtii) is one of the choice grasses wherever it occurs but is rather 

 limited in abundance. Mountain muhly (M. montana) is fairly 

 good forage and abounds on many southwestern mountain ranges 

 to the extent that it rates as one of the most important local for- 

 age species. Many other perennial species are small, produce but 

 little foliage and are only fair forage. The annuals are poor or 

 almost worthless as forage. Muhlies are chiefly valuable for spring 

 and summer use because the palatability of most species decreases 

 greatly as the plants attain maturity. 



The roots of a Mexican species (M. macroura, syn. Eplcampes 

 macroura) , known as Mexican broomroot or Mexican whisk, are used 

 in making brushes and are exported from Vera Cruz to Europe for 

 this purpose. 1 After the roots are cut for brush making the tops 

 are thrown away, and an experimental study has shown that 

 the dried leaves and stems (straw) of this grass offer promising 

 possibilities in the manufacture of paper. 2 



Several rather fine distinctions separate these grasses from their 

 close relatives. They have small, one-flowered spikelets (?'. e., each 

 floAver and "seed" is borne singly). The narrow outer flower scale 

 (lemma) closely envelops the grain and is 3- to 5-nerved, firm and 

 sharp-pointed or tipped with a fine beard (awn). This awn, when 

 present, is securely attached but not twisted. The lowest two-flower 

 bracts (glumes) are usually shorter or about equal to the lemma 

 (awned tips longer in M. racemosa) and remain attached to the 

 stem after the seed falls. Some of the muhly grasses are often con- 

 fused with species of dropseed (/Sporobolus) , ricegrass (Oryzopsis), 



1 Lamson-Scribner, P. ECONOMIC GRASSES. U. S. Dept. Agr., Div. Agrost. Bull. 14, 

 rev., 85 pp., illus. 1900. 



2 Brnnd, C. J.. and Merrill, J. L. ZACATON AS A PAPER-MAKING MATERIAL. U. S. Dept. 

 Agr. Bull. 309, 28 pp., illus. 1915. 



