96 



alternately sessile on the continuous or slightly notched rhachis of 

 the simple spike, and with the side against the rhachis; outer glumes 

 nearly equal and opposite, membranaceous or herbaceous, one to 

 three nerved, scarcely keeled, tapering to a point or awned ; flower- 

 ing glumes similar to the outer ones, rounded on the back, three to 

 seven nerved, pointed or awned from the apex ; palet nearly as long 

 as its glume, the two prominent nerves almost marginal, scabrous 

 ciliate. 



1. A. caninnm, R. cfc. S. (Tritieum, Linn.) Mountains of Penn- 



sylvania? and Rocky Mountains. 



2. A. dasystachyum, Vasey. (Tritieum dasystachyum, Gr.) Shores 



of the Great Lakes, British America, and Rocky Moun- 

 tains. 



3. A. divergens, Nees. (T. strigosum.) Rocky Mountains. 



A. divergens, var. tenue, Vasey. (Tritieum segilopoides.) Rocky 

 Mountains. 

 4:. A. glaucum, li. & S. Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. Blue 

 stem, Blue joint. 



This species, which has been considered a variety of the next, 

 prevails on the Western Plains from Texas to Montana, and is well 

 known to stockmen. It differs from A. repens in having a stiffer, 

 more erect and rigid stem and leaves ; the leaves often becoming 

 involute and stiff. It is generally of a light bluish-green color. The 

 spike is generally shorter, denser, and with larger spikelets. 



Professor Scribner, writing of this grass in Montana, says : 



It is the most highly praised of the native grasses for hay. Wherever it occupies 

 exclusively any large area of ground, as it does frequently in the lower districts, 

 especially near Fort Benton, it is cut for hay. Naturally it does not yield a great 

 bulk, but its quality is unsurpassed. After two or three cuttings the yield of hay 

 diminishes so much that it is scarcely worth the harvesting. It is then customary 

 to drag a short-toothed harrow over the sod, which breaks up the creeping roots or 

 underground stems, and each fragment then makes a new plant. 



The same valuable opinion of this grass is entertained by stock- 

 men in Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico. It occurs nearly 

 everywhere, but sparsely, on the plains, and extending quite up into 

 the mountains. In the valleys and along streams it frequently forms 

 large patches and grows closer and more abundant, when it is com- 

 monly cut for winter use. 



5. A. repens, Beauv. (Tritieum repens, Linn.) Conch grass, Quack 

 grass. Introduced from Europe in the older States, and 



