46 



BULLETIN 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



SPOROBOLUS FLEXUOSUS (Thurber) Rydb. 



Sporobolus flexuosus is a familiar species of rather wiry but palatable grass, inhabit- 

 ing sandy lands from southwestern Texas to Nevada. It grows in scattering small 

 bunches, 2 feet or more high. In some situations it grows almost pure, but it never 

 makes a thick stand. Commonly on the looser sands it is found only in scattering 

 bunches among other species. It is palatable to stock in all stages and is conse- 

 quently closely grazed. 



No. 7073 (E. O. W.) was collected near Las Cruces, N. Mex., September 21, 1912. 

 No. 8602 was collected at Deming, N. Mex., September 29, 1906. It was fully mature, 

 but still green. It was harvested about 1 inch high. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



"Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 



Our sample No. 7073 (E. O.W.). 

 Out sample No. 8602 



3.57 

 4.57 



6.00 

 6.99 



1.23 

 1.39 



35.94 

 32.07 



51.29 

 50.97 



5.54 

 8.58 



24.64 

 22.86 









4.07 



6.49 



1.31 



34.01 



51.13 



7.06 



23.75 











SPOROBOLUS GIGANTEUS Nash. 



Sporobolus giganteus is one of the most striking of the species of "dropseed," grow- 

 ing invariably in sandy, loose lands, especially in New Mexico and western Texas. 

 It grows scatteringly in large clumps with culms 3 or 4 feet high and furnishes a large 

 amount of pasturage. 



No. 7068 (E. O. W.) was collected on the sand hills northeast of Las Cruces, N. Mex., 

 September 8, 1912. Its percentage of moisture was 4.32. Other constituents (on 

 a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 5.77; ether extract, 0.98; crude fiber, 43.47; 

 nitrogen-free extract, 45.46; protein, 4.32; pentosans, 25.63. 



SPOROBOLUS INDICUS (Trin.) R. Br. 



Sporobolus indicus, a characteristic species of the Southern States, is said to have 

 been introduced from tropical regions, although it often has all the appearance of 

 a native species. Being coarse and early becoming woody, it is a grass of secondary 

 importance, but where feed is scarce, and especially in waste places and partially 

 disturbed ground, i t often makes a good growth and furnishes considerable grazing. 



No. 8724 was collected at Jacksonville, Fla., June 8, 1907. The sample represents 

 plants in full fruit, but perfectly green. They were cut at the surface of the ground. 





Percent- 

 age of 

 moisture. 



Water-free basis (per cent). 



Material analyzed. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Pento- 

 sans. 





5.50 



8.18 

 6.99 



1.94 

 3.80 



29.88 

 23.87 



54.43 

 53.05 



5.57 

 12.29 



27.68 

















7.29 



3.33 



25.37 



53.40 



10.61 









' 



1 Connecticut Report, 1879, p. 153; South Carolina Report, 

 Report No. 32, 1884, p. 126. 



I, p. 132; U. S. Department of Agriculture 



