FOE AGE PLANTS. 49 



. Alfilaria {Erodlum cicutarium). — This / jrage plant, which is of so much impor- 

 tance on many of the Arizona and California arid pastures, was seen in considerable 

 quantity along the western base of the Pine Forest Mountains in Nevada and at Denio, 

 Oreg. , but it is very doubtful whether it is abundant enough to be of much value. 



THE GRASSES. 



Short- leaved wheat grass (Agropyron brevifolium) . — Occasional in Steins Moun- 

 tains. 



Awned wheat grass {Agropyron caninum pubescens) . — A common species in the 

 mountains. It forms some pasture at moderate elevations, especially in the Pine 

 Forest Mountains. 



Western wheat grass {Agropyron occideniale) . — This forms a scattering growth 

 in the lower sage-brush areas. It seldom, if ever, grows on the lower alkaline soils. 

 It is of very little importance here compared with the plains region. The variety 

 molle grows in similar localities. 



Western couch grass {Agropyron pseudorepens) . — Common in the rich, drier 

 meadows, but never forming the quantity of feed that it does east of the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



Bunch wheat grass {Agropyron spicatum). — This is the most important wheat 

 grass of the region. It is an awned grass, and grows almost invariably in rocky but 

 fertile soils in the upper foothills and mountains. Although rather harsh and wiry, 

 it furnishes much valuable feed for summer and autumn pasture. 



Slender wheat grass {Agropyron tenerum). — Although common on the richer, 

 well-drained lowland areas throughout the region and of some importance as a pas- 

 ture and hay grass, it amounts to but little compared with the plains region, where 

 it furnishes such magnificent pasturage and hay. 



Water foxtail {Alopecurus geniculatus) . — A low, smooth, tender grass with weak 

 stems, which often root at the joints. It is found abundantly throughout the 

 region, along streams, and in wet meadows which are not completely sodded over 

 with the sedges. It furnishes good pasturage, but the quantity of hay is of little 

 consequence. 



Redtop {Agrostis alba). — Doubtless some forms of this widely distributed and 

 valuable forage plant are indigenous, but it is so widely distributed in all meadows 

 that the introduced form often appears native. It is well adapted to the poorly 

 drained, boggy areas, and it is believed that it could be more extensively introduced 

 with great profit. 



Rough hair grass {Agrostis hy emails). — A slender, smooth grass with delicate 

 panicle, furnishing some pasture in moist mountain meadows, as well as upon the 

 lowlands. The quantity of its hay is small, but the quality good. On the low 

 meadows of the White Horse Ranch much' of it was found in the hay. Probably as 

 high as a fifteenth of the entire bulk consisted of this grass in limited localities. 



White top {Agrostis exarata grandis). — An erect, smooth, rather tall grass, growing 

 usually in loose bunches. It is of much value for both pasturage and hay and is 

 relished by all stock. It is never abundant enough to make a. crop itself, but it often 

 forms an eighth or tenth of the bulk of the forage on the low meadows. 



Slender bent grass {Agrostis variabilis). — A tufted, slender mountain species 

 which furnishes much pasture in moist meadows. It was especially abundant in 

 Steins Mountains, where it often furnished good feed in rather dry localities. It is 

 always more or less abundant in all the depressions and along streams. 



Purple bent-grass {Agrostis humilis) . — A slender, purple-topped, tufted species, 

 growing in moist places in mountains. It furnishes some feed in the vicinity of 

 streams and lakes in the Pine Forest Mountains. 



16370— No. 15—02 4 



