GSAMINEAE 



of the gra.SE over large areas* This species is so extremely var- 

 iable as to be frequently unreoognized. It may be that the species 

 will eventually be divided into two or more distinct species or at 

 any rate, varieties. There seems to be considerable variation in the 

 moisture conditions of the different forms of the June Grass. Its 

 natural home seems to be the open meadows, plateaus and plains in 

 and adjoining the Rocky Fountains. Recently a form was found quite 

 abundant on the hills between Safford and Clifton. The site seems 

 much drier than that normal to this grass and it may prove to be a 

 strain better adapted to our arid conditions. 



Lycuru s phleoides , Texas Timothy, This seldom grows in pure 

 stands in our range. It, however, is rather abundant in eastern 

 New Mexico and in limited areas in southern Arizona* "«tfhile it is 

 not one of our outstanding grasses, its rather high palatability 

 and fair root system, combined with good seed production, commend 

 it. "ve have planted an acre of it at Albuquerque and if seed can 

 be produced in this way the lowered cost of harvesting may warrant 

 its more extensive use. 



Muhlon b ergia . The genus Muhlonbergia (or the Muhlys), con- 

 stitutes an enormous group of grasses in the southwest. They are 

 so numerous that they will only be discussed very briefly here: 



Muhlenb ergia aspe rif olia, Scratch Grass. In the nursery at 

 Tucson this shows some of the characteristics so desirable in an 

 erosion control grass. It has abundant rhizomes and forms a rather 

 dense sod. It grows in quite dense alkali* Its usefulness is 

 limited by its moisture requirements, as it grows only in moist or 

 wet soil. It has a wide natural distribution occur ing throughout 

 the west* 



Muhlenbergia dumosa, Oane Muhly. This is one of the grass 

 curiosities of "the south' west* The slender canes are perennial and 

 "branch quite freely. They arc leafy from bottom to top with slen- 

 der soft leaves which give the entire plant a plumose appearance. 

 This grass is a handsome ornamental and it is sometimes used as 

 such by those who arc acquainted with it. The places in which it 

 grows arc nearly as unusual as the grass itself. This must be so 

 for the grass is so little known. In places in the Baboquivari 

 Mountains of Irizona, however, it forms pure stands in secluded 

 spots where there is little or no grazing. It is to be found also 

 in the Santa hita and Santa Catalina Mountains and along Sycamore 

 Canyon in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Its distribution is 

 probably much wider even in Arizona. Where it grows in pure stands 

 the stout rhizomes almost completely fill the top soil and the 



