52 BULLETIN 201, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



TRIDENS MUTICUS (Torr.) Nash. 



About the same can be said for Tridens muticus as for T. nealleyi, but the former is 

 more abundant and, on the whole, a more valuable species. It has a wider range, 

 extending from the Pacific coast to Texas and north into Colorado. 



No. 7065 (E. 0. W.) was collected upon limestone hills in the foothills of the San 

 Andreas Mountains, near Las Cruces, N. Mex., September 8, 1912. Its percentage of 

 moisture was 5.86. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 

 6.04; ether extract, 1.72; crude fiber, 35.05; nitrogen-free extract, 49.75} protein, 

 7.44; pentosans, 25.27. 



TRIDENS NEALLEYI (Vasey) Wooton and Stand. 



In many situations in the mountains and upon stony ridges and knolls in southwest- 

 ern Texas and southern New Mexico Tridens nealleyi assumes considerable importance 

 on account of its abundance. It furnishes considerable grazing and is a persistent 

 species. Like the other members of the genus it is of second quality in palatability. 



No. 7097 (E. O. W.) was collected in the San Andreas Mountains, near Las Cruces, 

 N. Mex., September 23 to October 10, 1912. Its percentage of moisture was 4.55. 

 Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 5.98; ether extract, 

 1.16; crude fiber, 38.02; nitrogen-free extract, 49.05; protein, 5.79; pentosans, 29.13. 



VALOTA SACCHARATA (Buckl.) Chase. (Pankum lacnanthum) . 



Valota saccharata, a conspicuous and attractive cotton-topped species of the south- 

 western United States and of Mexico, is of decided importance to stock interests. Its 

 seed habits, however, are bad, the seed being covered with long silky hairs, rendering 

 it very difficult to handle. It is therefore of doubtful value for domestication. In 

 many situations, especially in the moister places in the desert foothills of Arizona and 

 the plains of Texas, it grows almost pure over large areas and makes a striking appear- 

 ance. It grows quite readily from seed, notwithstanding the difficulty of handling. 

 The date of its maturity is very variable in the region indicated above, maturing in 

 central Texas in June if conditions are favorable, or in August if they are not. In 

 southern Arizona its period of development is during the rainy season of summer, in 

 July, August, and September. (PI. IX, fig. 2.) 



No. 8399 was collected near Green, Tex., August 14, 1906. The sample was in early 

 maturity, but no seeds had fallen, and the whole plant was perfectly green. It was 

 cut 1£ inches high. Its percentage of moisture was 7.85. Other constituents (on a 

 water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 11.96; ether extract, 2.38; crude fiber, 29.97; 

 nitrogen-free extract, 45.72; protein, 9.97; pentosans, 20.46. 



ZIZANIOPSIS MILIACEA (Michx.) Doell and Aschers. 



The marsh millet (Zizaniopsis miliacea) inhabits swamps and banks of streams from 

 Texas eastward and northward to Ohio. It is a tall, rank species, resembling super- 

 ficially the wild rice of more northern latitudes and from a forage standpoint corre- 

 sponds very closely to that species. It is always grazed in closely fed pastures, but not 

 until more palatable feeds fail. 



No. 9205 was collected at San Antonio, Tex., April 20, 1908. The sample was in 

 blossom and was cut off at the surface of the water about 2 feet high. Its percentage 

 of moisture was 8.77. Other constituents (on a water-free basis) were as follows: Ash, 

 9.46; ether extract, 1.53; crude fiber, 32.20; nitrogen-free extract, 43.17; protein, 

 13.64; pentosans, 17.11. 



O 



