ACANTHACEAE 



Elytrar ia tridentata, another member of the family Acanth a ceae , 

 grows in rooky dry sites in the extreme southwest. The plants are 

 low and except for the leaves at the woody base resemble a club moss. 

 The flowers are rather showy and the plant recommends itself for 

 rock gardens and for border. As it has a good root system and is 

 palatable, it may be useful for erosion control work since it grows 

 readily from seeds and can be easily transplanted. It is likely, 

 however, that its uso will be insignificant because of the diminutive 

 size of the plant. 



Pi aped. run re sup ina turn, is considered a rather rare plant 

 probably because it is eaten wherever stock can get at it. It has 

 been grown in the lathhouse for roots and lias escaped there, coming 

 up among the pots. It produces an abundance of stems and leaves 

 and should be tried as a crop under irrigation. It is also suit- 

 able for use as an ornamental • The natural distribution of Diapedium, 

 the foothills of our southwe stern ranges, suggests that it will not 

 withstand much cold. It may be worthwhile, however, to try it 

 further north as an annual. 



C a r 1 owr i gh t i a linear if olia is a shrub in the foothills of 

 western Texas but the stems are delicate and. the plants arc commonly 

 found in the protection of other shrubbery. This plant has not 

 been tried in the nurseries but may be found useful as a forage 

 plant as palatability is high. Its erosion control value is doubt- 

 loss slight. 



Carl owr i gh t i a arizonica and Siphonoglossa longifolia, are 

 both low shrubs w' ioh are highly palatable but which are only suit- 

 able for extreme desert, warm sites in the foothills of our south- 

 western ranges. Ho experimental work has been conducted with these 

 in the nurseries. 



Jacob inia candicans lias been reported as occurring along 

 Salt River below the Roosevelt Dam. Up to the present the nurseries 

 have been unable to obtain seed of this shrub. It may prove of 

 value along streams in our warmer regions and as an ornamental. No 

 member of the Acanthaceae should be considered lightly as the group 

 contains valuable forage and erosion control plants. 



PLA! "TAG 12 TA C EAE 



*Plantago fastigiata. This is probably the most important of 

 our Indian VJheats though this is not certain. Several species be- 

 come very abundant in our deserts in years of sufficient winter 

 rainfall and produce an abundance of feed for all kinds of stock. 

 In contrast to many of our annuals these plants remain palatable 

 even after they become dry. There scorns to be abundant evidence 



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