77 



Hordeum pratense. 



Aii animal or biennial grass growing principally in alkaline soil in 

 the Western States and Territories. It is eaten by cattle when in ;i 

 young state, but when mature it is worthless and pestiferous on account 

 of its barbed awns. 



ELYMUS. 



Spikelets two to four at each joint of the rhachis of the simple stout spike, sessile, 

 one to six-flowered ; outer glumes two for each ; spikelets nearly side by side in its 

 front, forming a kind of involucre for the cluster, narrow, rigid, one to three-nerved, 

 acuminate or awned ; flowering glumes herbaceous, rather shorter, oblong or lan- 

 ceolate, rounded on the back, not keeled, acute or awned ; palet shorter than its 

 glume, two-k'eeled. 



Elymus Canadensis (Wild Rye j Rye Grass ; Lyme Grass). 



A perennial, coarse grass, growing on river banks and in rich, shaded 

 woods. In some localities, especially on moist prairies and banks in the 

 west, it is quite common and is cut for hay. It should be cut early to 

 be of value. (Plate 89.) 



Elymus condensatus (Giant Rye Grass.) 



This is a perennial grass, ranging from San Diego throughout Cali- 

 fornia, and into Oregon and Washington Territory, also in the Kocky 

 Mountain region of the interior. It is very variable, but always a strong, 

 heavy-rooted, coarse grass, from 3 to 5 or even to 12 feet high. Mr. Bo- 

 lander states that it seems to do excellent service by fixing the soil on 

 the banks of creeks and rivers. In the larger forms the culms are half 

 an inch thick. The leaves are smooth, 2 feet long and an inch wide or 

 more, and the panicle 8 to 14 inches long and 1 inches thick. As ic 

 usually occurs in arid grounds, it is from 3 to 6 feet high, the leaves 

 about 1 foot long and half an inch wide, and the spike-like panicle 4 to 

 8 inches. In the large form the branches of the panicle are subdivided 

 and 1 or 2 inches long. 



Mr. W. G. Cusick, of Oregon, says : 



This is a very valuable grass, commonly known as rye grass. In Baker County 

 large quantities are cut for hay, for which it is said to be excellent. It is also much 

 used as a winter forage plant. Cattle are driven into the dry bottoms, where it grows, 

 and live upon it when the shorter grasses are covered with snow. 



(Plate 90.) 

 Elymus triticoides. 



This has been considered a variety of Elymus condensatus, from which 

 it differs in having strong runners, and not growing in thick clumps, 

 but scattering and singly. Mr. Cusick says it is a valuable grass in 

 Oregon, and cut for hay in wild meadows. 

 Elymus Virginicus (Wild Rye Grass; Terrell Grass). 



The culm is rather stout, 2 to 3 feet high, leafy ; the lower leaves are 10 to 15 inches 

 long, broad and rough. The sheath of the upper leaf usually incloses the s 

 and sometimes the base of the flower-spike. This spike is erect, dense, and rigid, 2 

 to 4 or 5 inches long, and one-half inch thick. The gpikelets are two or three to- 



