84 
SOME COLORADO GRASSES. 
MUHLENBERGIA GRACILLIMA (Torr.). 
Stems about 6 inches high, forming ring-like patches, 
which kill out in the centre; leaves very fine, involute, 
curled at maturity, growing in tufts; panicle slender, 
purplish, spreading, few-flowered; branches capillary, 
solitary or in 3s ; outer glumes unequal, very acute, rough 
on the keel; flowering glume glabrate, three-nerved, bifid, 
with a straight, slender awn; palet of similar texture, the 
acute apex toothed. 
This grass abundant on light, dry soils on the plains. 
It is too small to have much economic value. 
ANALYSIS. 
Moisture_ 6.62 
Ash_:_ 22.93 
Fat_. 2.28 
Albuminoid nitrogen_7.93 
Crude fiber_ 17.60 
Nitrogen-free extract_ 49.26 
Total_100.00 
TRISETUM SUBSPICATUM (Beauv.). 
Stems tufted, slender, smooth, 6 inches to 2 feet in 
height, varying with the altitude; leaves flat and smooth, 
or with the sheaths very scabrous; ligule rounded, 
laciniate; panical slender, cylindrical, purplish, inter- 
rupted below, 6 inches long; spikelets twx> to three* 
flowered ; outer glumes unequal, acuminate, rough on the 
keel; flowering glume acutely two-toothed at apex, bear¬ 
ing a stout', divergent awn, longer than its glume; palet 
equal, finely toothed, the nerves ciliate. 
This grass grows in stout tufts in the shade of pines 
on gravelly soils, at high elevations. It furnishes a large 
amount of pasturage in some localities. 
Note.— There are 3 species in the Rocky Mountains, 
viz : subspicatum, var. molle; also, Montanum. 
