GRAMIHEAE 



*And ropogon hallii, or Turkeyfoot, is widely distributed in 

 the central states west of the Mississippi and in the Rocky Moun- 

 tain regions. It also grows in Iowa. It is a tall, coarse grass 

 with plumose seed heads which grows by choice in very sandy regions. 

 It has large, creeping rhizomes. In eastern Mew Mexico and Colorado 

 it is an excellent sand binder. A grass which is considered to be 

 the same species but which has peculiar yellow heads, grows in the 

 Navajo region. This is called A. chrysocomus by some authors. It 

 is also a good sand binder. 



*Andropogon f urcatu s, Blue joint Turkeyfoot, is a grass quite 

 similar to A, hall ii. It has shorter rhizomes and the finger-like 

 divisions of the seeding heads are narrower and loss plumose. It 

 grows in all the states of the Union except California, Washington, 

 Oregon, Idaho and Nevada, In the Southwest, however, it is relative- 

 ly rare. From eastern How Mexico eastward and northward it becomes 

 of much greater importance. It is comparable to A, hallii as a sand 

 binder. 



*Andropogon s copa rius, the Prairie Beardgrass, grows in all 

 of the states of the United States except California, Nevada, Oregon 

 and "Washington. It is probably most abundant in the central western 

 states where it is a very important range grass. It is frequently 

 called Little Blue Stem and can be recognized by its bushy habit, 

 purplish tinge, single spikes of flowers and flexuous beards. 

 Within Region 8 it is commonly very scattering but nevertheless an 

 important part of the grass cover. It is common in eastern Hew 

 Mexico and the upland region east of Flagstaff. With us it is not 

 commonly considered a highly palatable grass. 



Andropogon sac char o ide s , Silver Beard Grass. Perhaps A. 

 barbin odis should be considered along with A^ s accharoides . The two 

 are very similar, cannot be readily distinguished in the field and 

 have a similar range In Region 3. Perhaps the chief point in favor 

 of this grass is its ability to reproduce itself and "carry on" on 

 the range. It lias been tried successfully on small scale seeding 

 operations in the past. It commonly occupies swales, strips along 

 old roads and trails and other places where there is a little excess 

 moisture. It is a fair soil binder and makes fair forage when 

 young. Seed is difficult to collect except by hand as the plants 

 are too tall for the use of power machinery. Ho attempt has been 

 made to raise this species on increase plots in the nurseries. 



Andropogon cirratus, Texas Beard Grass, Although this species 

 can hardly be considered a form of A. scoparius, it is very similar 

 to it in habit and environment. It is also comparable to. it as a 

 soil, binder and probably somewhat superior as forage. This species 

 is seldom found in pure stands and occurs in such rocky sites that 



