Spike muhly, a tufted perennial grass, is also known as timothy- 

 like muhly, Wright (or black) muhly, black-timothy, wild-timothy, 

 and deergrass. It occurs in southwestern Colorado, Arizona, New 

 Mexico, and Mexico. This species grows scatteringly through browse, 

 woodland, and ponderosa pine types at elevations ranging from 

 about 5,500 to 9,000 feet, but is more common and abundant in 

 semidry meadows, parks, and flats in the upper woodland and 

 ponderosa pine zones. It is adapted to widely varying moisture 

 conditions, being found near springs and in moist depressions as 

 well as on dry rocky ridges. It occurs on all slopes with soil pref- 

 erences ranging from moist clay to gravelly or rocky sites, but is 

 more characteristic of sandy or clay loams. Mountain muhly (M. 

 montana), side-oats grama (Bouteloua cu7'tipendula) , blue grama 

 (B. gracilis), and pine dropseed (Blepharoneuron tricholepis) are 

 among its most common associates. 



Spike muhly is relished by all classes of livestock and is one of 

 the most palatable members of its genus. It produces a fairly large 

 amount of foliage which is grazed freely. Although it is abundant 

 only on small localized areas, this species is common throughout the 

 Southwest and, in the aggregate, produces a considerable amount of 

 forage. The short rootstocks provide a limited means of reproduc- 

 tion and aid materially in perpetuating the species. Seed, however, 

 is the chief means of reproduction and should be allowed to mature 

 occasionally. Spike muhly is valued for its soil-binding qualities, 

 especially on untimbered sites. 



The common names spike muhly, timothy-like muhly, black-tim- 

 othy, and wild-timothy have originated from the characteristic 

 flower head, which resembles the head of timothy somewhat although 

 it is darker, and does not usually form a continuous cylinder, but 

 is often broken and with the short branches sometimes slightly 

 spreading. The stems are somewhat flattened, usually erect, and 

 form a noticeably stiff stubble. 



