GPAL'IINEAE 



Oryzops is coerulescens is another exotic Rice Grass which 

 is less promising than 0. n iliacea . Until careful observational 

 work in the field has been carried on, however, their relative 

 merits cannot be determined, 



Piptochaetium fimbr iatum , the Pinon Rice Grass, is a remark- 

 able grass, closely resembling the common rice grass, Oryzopsis 

 hymenoides , but it has a very dense mass of slender, basal leaves. 

 It has the peculiar habit of seeking extremely dry, sandy sites at 

 the base of cliffs and in canyons. Occasionally, however, it forms 

 almost pure stands under pinon s and junipers. It ranges from Colo- 

 rado to western Texas, Arizona and Mexico, is a fine forage grass 

 and fairly good soil erosion control grass but is extremely dif- 

 ficult to handle in the nursery. 



* Pan i cum antidotalc, Giant Panic. Judging from observations 

 on the nursery at Tucson, this is one o? cur most valuable grass 

 introductions for warmer regions. Under irrigation it is very 

 vigorous, forming heavy rhizomatous roots and tops five to six feet 



high. It is ideal as a low windbreak and as a sand binder. In 

 winter the culms die but remain standing, thus continuing to offer 

 protection against the wind. On the nursery it requires very lit- 

 tle irrigation. 'While it freezes at Shiprock, its very vigorous 

 first year's growth suggests its desirability as an annual. It is 

 reported to be fair forage, Vfe have not verified this at Tucson, 

 At Mandan, North Dakota, this grass grows vigorously and seeds the 

 first year, convincing proof that it can be used as an annual in 

 cooler climates. 



Panic urn bulb o sum, Bulb Ionic. iJe find very little mention 

 of this species among our Soil Conservation groups. It is, however, 

 widely distributed in the southwest but with us is confined to 

 canyons and valleys in the mountains where the grazing is not too 

 severe. It is found also in Texas, Oklahoma and Mexico. The 

 culms are often three root or more tall and small areas are often 

 completely covered by it. The roots arc gnarled and. the bases of 

 the culms are bulbous. There arc at least two distinct strains in 

 our collections from Arizona, Both make luxuriant growth in the 

 nursery but one is considerably larger than the other, ".Then irri- 

 gated the bulbs all but disappear and up to the present seed pro- 

 duction has been very disappointing, Since this is a good forage 

 grass and a fair soil binder, further observational work on it is 

 warranted. 



Pan i cum, hallii , Hall's Panic. The features of this little 

 grass which recommend it are that it grows in very dry sites and 



