ne 
ing in height from 1 foot to 24 feet, with a narrow and closely flowered 
spike. Several species of fescue grass (Festuca) are intermixed with 
the vegetation im varying proportions; the most important of these 
probably are Festuca ovina in several varieties, and Festuca scabrella, 
the latter especially in California, Oregon, and Washington. 
The genus Calamagrostis (or Deyeuxia, as it has been called) furnishes 
several species which contribute largely to the vegetation of this region. 
They are mostly tall, stiff, and coarse grasses, but leafy and some of 
them very nutritious. Of these, Calamagrostis sylvatica and Calama- 
grostis neglecta are the least valuable. Perhaps the best of them is 
Calamagrostis Canadensis, which is soft and leafy. Next in value, prob- 
ably, is Calamagrostis Aleutica, of California and Oregon, extending 
into Alaska. Calamagrostis (Ammophila) longifolia, confined chiefly to 
the plains east of the Rocky Mountains, is tall and reed-like, growing - 
in dense clumps, from 4 to 6 feet high. 
Several species of Andropogon are diffused from Arizona to British 
America, but are not found on the western coast. The principal species 
are Andropogon scoparius, A. furcatus, and A. (Chrysopogon) nutans. 
Some of them are known under the name of * bluejoint.” 
Other grasses also widely spread, but in more sparing quantity, are 
several species of Poa and Glyceria. Several varieties of Agropyrum 
repens, or couch grass, occur abundantly in saline soils, and also Agro- 
pyrum glaucum, which is widely known as “blue stem,” and is considered 
among the most nutritious of grasses. Brizopyrum spicatum, now called 
Distichliis maritima, and some species of Sporobolus, also form extensive 
patches or meadows in saline soils. Besides there is a large number 
of grasses of low growth and of more spreading habit, which are known 
in the southwest and east of the Rocky Mountains under the names of © 
“mesquite” and ‘“ buffalo” grasses. The former belong mostly to the 
genus Bouteloua, the most important species being B. racemosa, or tall 
mesquite, and B. oligostachya, or low mesquite. The true buffalo grass 
is, botanically, Buchloé dactyloides, which in many places forms exten- 
sive fields over large areas. It is of a low and densely tufted or matted 
habit. Another similar grass, but of little value, spreading out in low, 
wide patches, is Munroa squarrosa. The above-mentioned species form 
the larger proportion of the grassy vegetation of the great plains. 
