NATIVE PASTURE GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



41 



PUCCINELLIA AIROIDES (Nutt.) Wats, and Coult. 



Puccinellia airoides is distinctly a salt-grass, and it is much more palatable to stock 

 than most grasses which inhabit salt marshes. It is not only able to withstand 

 large amounts of soluble salts in the soil, but will grow in situations where water holding 

 a large amount of the same ingredients in solution stands on the ground for a month or 

 more at a time. Indeed, it is in the edge of salt waters of this kind that the species 

 appears to be at home. When found, it is usually growing almost to the exclusion of 

 everything else, but commonly in very restricted areas, from northern Arizona north- 

 ward through the Great Basin and Great Plains regions. 



No. 8814 was collected at Devils Lake, N. Dak., August 11, 1907. The sample was 

 from overripe specimens growing in the edge of brackish waters. It was cut at the 

 surface of the water 2 inches above the ground . 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 





4.58 



7.86 

 7.50 



2.67 

 2.44 



31.72 

 33.46 



49.20 

 51.19 



' 8.55 

 5.41 



25.89 

















7.62 



2.52 



32.88 



50.53 



6.45 











1 Montana Report, 1902, p. 66; Wyoming Bui. 65, p. 30. 

 SCLEROPOGON BREVIFOLIUS Philippi. 



Schleropogon brevijolius is a peculiar-awned, stoloniferous, rigid-leaved species, 

 inhabiting the drier situations of the arid Southwest. Sometimes it is the only vege- 

 tation over considerable areas, and it makes almost a continuous cover only in rare 

 instances. It is difficult to conceive of stock being driven to such an extremity as to 

 eat this species. Such, however, sometimes is the case, but it is only rarely observed 

 to be touched. 



No. 8601 was collected near Deming, N. Mex., September 29, 1906. The sample 

 was all green with the exception of the spike, which was entirely dead and dry. Many 

 old leaves were attached to the base of the culm and consequently were included in 

 the sample, which was cut close to the ground. Its percentage of moisture was 3.56. 

 Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as as follows: Ash, 8.59; ether extract, 

 2.02; crude fiber, 30.41; nitrogen-free extract, 51.20; protein, 7.78; pentosans, 26.94. 



SITANION BREVIFOLIUM J. G. S. 



As a filler in barren places, among rocks, and" in the shade of bushes Sitanion brevi- 

 folium is of secondary importance only. It extends throughout the highland region 

 from Wyoming into northern Mexico. 



No. 7142 (E. O. W.) was collected in the San Andreas Mountains, N. Mex., May 

 23, 1913. The specimen was in full head, but not yet in blossom. 





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. 7142 (E. O. W.) 



4.48 



9.52 

 10.68 



2.24 

 2.31 



34.50 

 36.72 



45.56 

 40.84 



8.18 

 9.45 



27.70 













10.10 



2.27 



35.61 



43.21 



8.81 











1 Wyoming Bui. 87, p. i 



