30 
SOME COLORADO GRASSES. 
f 
PANICUM VIRGATUM, (L.). 
(Tall Panic Grass; Switch Grass.) 
Stem stout, smooth, unbranched, growing chiefly in 
stout clumps in moist soils on the plains, 1 to 5 feet high ; 
leaves ample, flat, hairy at base above, sometimes rough 
on the margins; ligule a fringe of hair; sheaths longer 
than the nodes; spikelets distant, purplish ; outer glumes 
very unequal,- pointed, the lower five-nerved, the upper 
seven-nerved ; male flower seven-nerved ; palet smaller, 
two-nerved; perfect flower, small, smooth, obtuse. 
This species is one of the most promising of the 
native hay grasses. It yields heavily to the acre, but 
should be cut young, as the ripened stems become woody 
and are then unpalatable to stock. Depauperate forms 
are met with in the mountains up to 7,000 feet. 
ANALYSIS. 
Moisture_ 8.75 
Ash_ 9.63 
Fat_ 3.58 
Albuminoid nitrogen_12.36 
Crude fiber_19.50 
Nitrogen-free extract_54.93 
Total_100.00 
