62 



panicle ; spikelets commonly densely crowded in two rows on one 

 side of the rhachis, each consisting of one perfect flower, and a 

 stalked pedicel bearing empty glumes and one to three stiff awns ; 

 outer glumes unequal, acute, keeled, membranaceous ; flowering 

 glume broader, usually thicker, with three to five lobes, teeth, or 

 awns at the apex; palet narrow, hyaline, entire or two-toothed, en- 

 folded by its glume. 



1. B. aristidoides, Thurb. Texas to Arizona. 



2. B. bromoides. (Dinebra bromoides, H. B. K.) Arizona. 



3. B. Burkei, Sciib. Texas. 



4. B. eriopoda, Torr. Texas. 



5. B. Havardii, Vasey. Texas to Arizona. 



6. B. liirsuta, Lag. (B. foena, Torr.) Texas to British America. 



7. B. juncifolia. (? B. Humboldtiana, Gris.) Texas to Arizona. 



8. B. oligostachya, Torr. Grama, Mesquite grass. Texas to Brit- 



ish America. 

 B. obligostachva, ? var. major, Vasey. Texas to Arizona. 

 This is the commonest species on the Great Plains. It is fre- 

 quently called Buffalo grass, although that name strictly belongs to 

 another grass, (Buchltie dactyloid.es?) On the arid plains of the 

 West it is the principal grass, and is the main reliance for the vast 

 herds <£ cattle which are raised there. It grows chiefly in small, 

 roundish patches, closely pressed to the ground, the foliage being 

 in a dense, cushion-like mass. The leaves are short and crowded at 

 the base of the short stems. The flowering stalks seldom rise over 

 a foot in height, and bear, near the top, one or two flower spikes, 

 each about an inch long, and from one-eighth to one-quarter of an 

 inch wide, standing out at right angles, like a small flag floating in 

 the breeze. Where much grazing prevails, however, these flowering 

 stalks are eaten down so much that only the mats of leaves are ob- 

 servable. In bottom lands and low, moist, ground it grows more 

 closely, and under favorable circumstances forms a pretty close sod, 

 bat even then it is not adapted for mowing, although it is some- 

 times cut, making a very light crop. Under the most favorable 

 circumstances the product of this grass is small compared with the 

 cultivated grasses. It is undoubtedly highly nutritious. Stock of 

 all kinds are fond of it, and eat it in preference to any grass grow- 

 ing with it. It dries and cures on the ground, so as to retain its 

 nutritive properties in the winter. No attempt is made by stock- 



