372 APPENDIX 



where it is now a pest, being almost impossible to eradicate 

 wherever it gains foothold. It is bright green and close- 

 growing, with small, pointed leaves. It makes good emer- 

 gency forage. 



Distichlis spicata. Salt grass. A low-growing, pale green or gray 

 grass, the leaves arranged in double rank, herring-bone 

 style. It is very common, forming a close sod on moist, and 

 especially on alkaline, soils. Its forage-value is low, but ani- 

 mals will eat it when hard pressed. 



Epicampes rigens. Basket grass: Span., Zacaton. A tall, rigid, 

 slender-stemmed, pale green grass forming large tussocks 

 from 2 to 4 feet high. It grows among rocks near streams, 

 and on dry hills, and though of little use as fodder it is much 

 valued by Indian women for basketry purposes. 



Oryzopsis membranacea. Sand grass. A small, tussocky grass 

 with slender stems from 6 to 12 inches long, leaves bright 

 green. It is found in sandy soil and is a useful forage plant, 

 being also valuable to the Indians for its abundant crop of 

 edible seeds. 



Panicum urvilleanum. A strong, coarse grass with rather stifT, 

 pale green leaves a foot or more long. It grows in loose dry 

 sand, and has little, if any, forage value. 



Pleuraphis rigida. Blue-stem: Span., Galleta. A coarse-, almost 

 woody-stemmed, stiff grass growing in large dense clumps to 

 a height of from 2 to 4 feet, and in the driest of soils. The 

 stems appear dry and dead except at the tips, which are pale 

 bluish green. It is an excellent forage-plant and of the great- 

 est value to desert travellers. 



Sporobolus airoides. Span., Zacaton. A coarse, stiff bunch- 

 grass 2 or 3 feet high, flowering in loose, spreading panicles. 

 It grows usually in alkaline soil and makes fairly good forage. 



Tridens pulchella. A low, tufted grass from 2 to 6 inches high, 

 common on dry hills and mesas, often among rocks, and no- 

 ticeable for its small dense panicles of blossom, in which the 

 tips of the glumes (flower-bracts) are tinged with purple. It 

 has practically no forage value. 



Hesperocallis undulatus. Desert lily: Span., Ajo. A true lily, with 

 narrow, ribbony, crinkle-edged leaves lying flat at the base of 

 the straight flower-stem, which is about 2 feet high. Flowers 3 

 or 4 inches in diameter, fragrant, vJ^hite with green veining on 

 back of petals, several to a stem. Blooms in mid-spring. 



