GRASSES OF MINOR IMPORTANCE III 



inch thick, while those of hard fescue are about twice 

 as thick, 1/12 inch. Festuca ovina duriuscula (L.) Koch. 

 Festuca duriuscula L. 



Red Fescue. — This is a distinct species with a some- 

 what creeping base. The leaves are less densely tufted 

 at the base than in sheep's fescue, and are smooth to the 

 touch. The stems may grow to be 2 or 3 feet high. The 

 spikelets are similar to those of sheep's fescue, but the 

 bristle on the florets is longer, about half as long as the 

 floret. Festuca rubra L. 



Varioijs-leaved Fescue. — ^A variety of red fescue with 

 more slender softer leaves. The plants are more densely 

 tufted. Often used in shaded places on lawns. Festuca 

 rubra heterophylla (Lam.) Mut. ; Festuca heterophylla 

 Lam. 



RHODES GRASS 



Rhodes grass is a native of South Africa that has re- 

 cently been introduced into this country where it has 

 been tested as a forage grass. It promises to be of some 

 value in the warmer parts of the country from Florida 

 along the Gulf coast to Texas and in the irrigated regions 

 of the Southwest and also in the drier parts of the 

 Hawaiian Islands. Rhodes grass is a perennial which 

 forms creeping stems that throw up at intervals erect 

 flowering stems 2 or 3 feet high. The inflorescence is 

 made up of several slender one-sided spikes aggregated 

 at the summit of the stem forming an open tassel. The 

 botanical name is Chloris Gayana Kunth. (See U. S. 

 Dept. Agr. Farmers' Bulletin 1048.) 



