IMPORTANT RANGE PLANTS. 31 



below the average. In the drought tests the individual plants wilted 

 excessively in soil varying in moisture from 6 to 8.5 per cent. 



The flower stalks of white foxtail are among the earliest to appear, 

 and are practically all produced by August 1. Matured seeds are 

 found as early as August 15, and are practically all ripened by the 

 end of the first week in September. Unlike most species, the seeds 

 are not disseminated immediately upon reaching maturity, but per- 

 sist for some time unless they are brushed off by direct contact or 

 shaken off by some vigorous mechanical means. Wind is ineffective 

 in bringing about a wide distribution of the seed, but stock, especially 

 sheep, when they come in contact with matured plants, distribute the 

 seed crop broadcast, the awns attaching themselves to the wool. 



Germination tests as well as observations on the reproduction of 

 this plant on the range indicate a high viability. In 1907 and the 

 two succeeding seasons an average of 43, 77, and 82.5 per cent of 

 the seed germinated under controlled conditions. The best repro- 

 duction is taking place on sparsely vegetated soils where the seed are 

 worked well beneath the surface and where competition with other 

 species is not severe. 



The forage value of white foxtail is always low. In the spring, 

 shortly after growth has started, the leaf blades are eaten by stock 

 of all kinds, but this period is so short as to be negligible. Even 

 before the majority of the flower stalks are produced the herbage 

 becomes tough and harsh, and stockmen claim that the mouths of 

 sheep become sore and tender if they graze it to any extent. As 

 soon as the seeds begin to ripen white foxtail is almost wholly dis- 

 regarded. If stock should consume any quantity, however, the awns 

 may cause sore mouths and big throats, and the barbs even get into 

 the eyes. Thus the plant is practically worthless, and the range 

 would be better off by its absence. 



grasslike plants. 



Distinctions Between Grasslike Plants and Grasses. 



Stockmen, as a rule, do not distinguish between true grasses and 

 grasslike plants such as sedges and rushes. The latter, because of 

 their frequent occurrence in marshes, swales, along creek banks, and 

 in other moist situations, are commonly referred to as " water grass," 

 "wire grass," "swamp grass," etc., but the three distinct groups of 

 grasses, sedges, and rushes are almost invariably spoken of collec- 

 tively as "grasses." 



Sedges, Carex, may readily be distinguished from grasses in the 

 following simple ways : 



1. The stems of sedges are triangular, jointless and solid, the 

 leaves 3-ranked, and the leaf sheaths closed. 



