QUAIL-FOOD PLANTS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES 7 
28. NUT SEDGES 
(Fig. 7, D) 
Fifteen species of nut sedges (Scleria) occur in the Southeast. They 
are slender, upright plants, usually 1 or 2 feet high, with three-angled 
stems, flat grasslike leaves, and small clusters of comparatively large, 
bony, white, ovoid or globular nutlets. They are common in low 
pinelands and are eaten frequently by quail. 
29. HUCKLEBERRIES; BLUEBERRIES; DEERBERRIES 
Species of the shrubby huckleberries (Gaylussacia), blueberries 
(Vaccinium), and deerberries (Polycodium) are rather numerous over 
the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and mountain areas. Though no 
special ones are recognized as outstandingly important, probably any 
kind is valuable that is locally abundant and bears considerable fruit. 
30. TUPELOS; BLACK GUMS 
There are six species in the Nyssa group, four of which are trees. 
The black gums (N. sylvatica and N. biflora) are fairly important in 
supplying food for quail. The former species has several fruits in a 
cluster and grows in both upland and lowland situations; the latter 
usually has but two fruits in a cluster and is restricted to swampy 
places. Tupelo (N. aquatica), another swamp or river-margin species, 
is used occasionally by quail. It is a tall tree with broad, several- 
toothed leaves and large solitary fruits. The fruit of Nyssa is a drupe, 
or stone fruit, usually dark blue and having a large, ridged stone. 
31. CRABGRASSES 
Eleven species of the crabgrass group (Syntherisma) occur in the 
South, six of them restricted to Florida. The most common are 
S. sanguinale and S. ischaemum. They are low annuals, with long, 
slender inflorescence branches radiating from a common axis and 
bearing tiny, closely attached grains. Crabgrasses are abundant in 
fallow fields, and while they appeared frequently in the quail stomachs 
examined, their total bulk in the diet is inconsiderable. 
32. VIOLETS 
Forty-one species of violet (Viola) are listed for the South, and 
probably all are more or less useful as quail food. When available, 
entire capsules containing seeds are freely consumed by quail. 
33. HOLLIES; ILEX 
Nineteen species of holly (ler) occur in the South. Probably 
gallberry (J. glabra) is the only one of any importance as a quail 
food, though the fruits of several species are used occasionally. - Gall- 
berry is common in the coastal flatwoods, where it forms a large part 
of the winter or early-spring food supply. Male and possibly some 
female trees of the common American holly (J. opaca) fail to produce 
berries, so that at least double the number of bearing trees desired 
should be planted. Yaupon, or cassena (J. vomitoria), is common 
along the coast, but it is used by quail comparatively little. 
34. BLUECURLS 
Bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum) is an erect, branching annual, 
averaging about 1 foot high and having four-angled stems, smooth- 
