NATIVE PASTURE GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 9 



ARISTIDA CALIFORNICA Thurber. 



In southern Arizona Aristida californica, a species of needle grass, is of some value, 

 occupying, as it does, gravelly ridges of the foothills. It is closely grazed by cattle 

 and commonly makes two appreciable crops during the year. The main growth, of 

 course, is in the summer rainy season, but there is usually a considerable development 

 of root leaves in the spring, which is not true of many of the perennial species of this 

 region. Its perennial culms add decidedly to its value. 



No. 9588 was collected in the Santa Rita Mountains of Arizona, September 16, 1908. 

 Its percentage of moisture was 3.27. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were 

 as follows: Ash, 8.05; ether extract, 0.90; crude fiber, 34.50; nitrogen-free extract, 

 50.54; protein, 6.01; pentosans, 25.67. 



ARISTIDA LONGISETA Steud. 



Aristida longiseta, a species of poverty grass, is very conspicuous on dry hills and 

 rolling prairies of the western Plains and Rocky Mountain region, extending south- 

 ward to northern Arizona. Very often large areas may be seen, but it seldom grows 

 pure. While it sometimes reaches a foot in height, it is commonly only about 6 inches. 

 This, however, depends upon the season and the character of the locality in which it 

 grows, the drier situations producing, of course, much smaller plants. It is readily 

 grazed with other vegetation in both dry and green conditions, except for a short 

 period after the plant approaches maturity, when the awns are troublesome. 



Nos. 7089 and 7090 (Wooton) were collected near Las Cruces, N. Mex., October 4, 

 1912. No. 8873 was collected near Kalispell, Mont., August 16, 1907. This sample 

 was in late blossom; some old leaves were included, and it was cut close to the ground. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 



Our sample No. 7089 (E. O.W.). 

 Our sample No. 7090 (E. O. W.). 

 Our sample No. 8873 



3.55 

 2.60 

 5.73 



9.71 

 8.40 

 5.82 

 8.47 



1.56 

 1.32 

 1.51 

 1.31 



35.40 

 36.79 

 33.73 

 41.55 



44.32 



45.47 

 52.70 

 42.21 



9.01 

 8.02 

 6.24 

 6.46 



26.63 

 27.39 

 28.54 

















8.10 



1.42 



36.87 



46.18 



7.43 











i Wyoming Bui. 87, p. 26. 

 ARISTIDA MICRANTHA (Vasey) Nash. 



In southern and southwestern Texas Aristida micrantha furnishes half of the grazing 

 over -large areas and is a persistent palatable species, growing in large tufts about 15 

 inches high. Generally it grows best in open brushy regions and in reasonably fertile 

 loamy soils. This is one of the few grasses of the Southwest which has perennial 

 stems; for this reason its value on a previously unstocked range is apt to be overesti- 

 mated. 



No. 8387 was collected at Encinal, Tex., August 12, 1906. The sample was fully 

 mature, was cut at the surface of the ground, and contained about 5 per cent of old 

 growth. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 



Our sample No. 8387 



8.88 



11.37 

 6.85 



1.43 

 2.59 



31.60 



24.88 



49.36 

 61.36 



6.24 

 4.32 



24 90 



One other sample ' 











Average of both 





9.11 



2.01 



28.24 



55.36 



5.28 











] U. S. Department of Agriculture Report No. 32, 1884, p. 126. 



