ing in height from 1 foot to 2 feet, with a narrow and closely Hmv. -r. -d 

 spike. Several species of fescue grass (Festuca) are intermixed with 

 the vegetation in varying proportions; the most important of these 

 probably are Festuca ovina in several varieties, and Festuca scabrella, 

 the latter especially in California, Oregon, and Washington. 



The genus Calamagrostis (or Deyeuxia, as it has been called) furnishes 

 several species which contribute largely to the vegetation of this region. 

 They are mostly tall, stiff, and coarse grasses, but leafy and some of 

 them very nutritious. Of these, Calamagrostis sylvatica and Calama- 

 grostis neglecta are the least valuable. Perhaps the best of them is 

 Calamagrostis Canadensis, which is soft and leafy. Next in value, prob- 

 ably, is Calamagrostis Aleutica, of California and Oregon, extending 

 into Alaska. Calamagrostis (Ammophila) longifolia, confined chiefly to 

 the plains east of the Eocky Mountains, is tall and reed-like, growing 

 in dense clumps, from 4 to 6 feet high. 



Several species of Andropogon are diffused from Arizona to British 

 America, but are not found on the western coast. The principal species 

 are Andropogon scoparius, A. furcatus, and A. (Chrysopogon) nntans. 

 Some of them are known under the name of "bluejoiut." 



Other grasses also widely spread, but in more sparing quantity, arc 

 several species of Poa and Glyceria. Several varieties of Agropyrum 

 repenSj or couch grass, occur abundantly in saline soils, and also Agro- 

 pi/rum glaucum, which is widely known as " blue stem," and is considered 

 among the most nutritious of grasses. Brizopyrum spicatwn, now called 

 DisticMis maritima, and some species of Sporobolus, also form extensive 

 patches or meadows in saline soils. Besides there is a large number 

 of grasses of low growth and of more spreading habit, which are known 

 in the southwest and east of the Eocky Mountains under the names of 

 u mesquite" and u buffalo "* grasses. The former belong mostly to the 

 genus Bouteloua, the most important species being R. racemosa, or tail 

 mesquite, and B. oligostachya, or low mesquite. The true buffalo gi 

 is, botanically, Buchloe dactyloides, which in many places forms exten- 

 sive fields over large areas. It is of a low and densely tufted or matted 

 habit. Another similar grass, but of little value, spreading out in low, 

 wide patches, is Munroa squarrosa. The above-mentioned species form 

 the larger proportion of the grassy vegetation of the great plains. 



