Il8 A MANUAL OF FARM GRASSES 



slender awn or bristle from the back below the middle. 

 The awns protrude beyond the spikelets giving the head a 

 silky-bristly appearance. The botanical name is Alope- 

 curus pfatensis L. The generic name is from two Greek 

 words meaning fox and tail. 



Napier Grass. — This is a native of tropical Africa 

 recently introduced in this country for trial. It gives 

 promise as a forage grass in Florida and west along the 

 Gulf Coast to Texas and also in southwestern Arizona 

 and southern California. Napier grass is a robust peren- 

 nial growing to the height of 6 to 12 feet, with narrow 

 spikes or heads 4 to 10 inches long. It may be propa- 

 gated from the seed, or from cuttings of the canes, or 

 from divisions of the crown or root-clump. The botani- 

 cal name is Pennisetum purpureum Schum. In Africa 

 it is called elephant grass. 



Carib Grass. — Carib grass is a native of the West 

 Indies that resembles Para grass in general appearance 

 but is more erect in its growth and hence more favorable 

 for a hay crop. It can be used only in the extreme south 

 in the region suited to Para grass. The botanical name is 

 Eriochloa suhglahra (Nash) Hitchc. 



