GRAMINEAE 



We have planted six acres in the nursery at Albuquerque for seed 

 increase. 



It is probably a strain of this which we obtained near 

 White City, New Mexico, which is very promising in the nursery. 



Pap popho rum wr ightii , Spike Pappus. This is a rather un- 

 usual grass in our region and is hardly significant for erosion con- 

 trol or for forage. Its natural range is Texas, New Mexico, Arizona 

 and south of Bolivia in South America. We are trying it in the nur- 

 sery, however, as its growth habit, slightly decumbent culms and 

 perennial root system recommend it. We obtained seed from Texas of 

 P_. bicolor, a grass confined to the southwest and Mexico, and have 

 a planting in the nursery at Tucson. Plants are two feet high, very 

 leafy and promising as forage plants. 



Pasp alun di lata turn, Dallis Grass. This is a native grass 

 of South America but has been extensively introduced into southern 

 United Statos. It accommodates itself to quite dry bottom lands as 

 well as to marshy, brackish places. Its use with us is certain to 

 bo very limited. 



Pas palu m di.stiohum, Knot-grass, is only suitable for low 

 moist places or ground under irrigation, and for this reason its 

 use must be very limited in the southwest. It often forms low 

 clumps with numerous stolons. At the nursery at Tucson it looks 

 promising and for any situations where water is rather abundant 

 it may prove to be a valuable soil binder. It is excellent forage. 

 It is widely distributed through the east, south and west. 



Penni setum chil cnsis . This exotic grass does not resemble 

 Elephant Grass mentioned later, being very much smaller and more 

 slender. It is seldom over two feet high. Its response in the 

 nursery is good but it has not been tried in the field. We ob- 

 tained a good seed increase in 1937* 



Pennisetum orientalis . This exotic Pennisetum is similar 

 to P, chilcnsis. It is a rather slender grass without rhizomes. 

 Further observations in the nursery are necessary on this as well 

 as P. ohile nsis before they can be tried in the field. 



Pennisetum purpuroum, Elephant Grass, is even coarser than 

 corn but" is a perennial with a heavy root system. With us it is 

 probably no more than an interesting exotic. It is not suitable for 

 dry sites or cold climates. It is, however, grown for forage in 

 Florida and should be tried in wet sites in our southwestern ranges. 



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