SOME COLORADO GRASSES. 
113 
PHLEUM PRATENSE (L.). 
(Timothy; Cat’s Tail, Grass.) 
This well-known grass is cultivated to a small extent 
in the mountains and on the plains. It is found along 
roads or trails over the highest passes, sometimes in con¬ 
siderable quantity. It is readily recognized by its 
superior vigor, the upper leaf often subtending the green¬ 
ish, cylindrical spike. 
Stockmen unite in saying that the spike becomes 
much reduced in size from mountain-grown seed. 
PHLEUM ALPINUM (L.). 
Culms 1 to 2 feet high, smooth, leafy, geniculate at 
the lower joints ; leaves linear, smooth ; ligule short, trun¬ 
cate ; sheaths shorter than the nodes, inflated, loose; 
spike oblong, 1 to 2 inches long, dark purple at high 
elevations, greenish when growing in partial shade, in 
good soil, at lower altitudes; outer glumes compressed, 
coarsely fringed on the mid-rib, scabrous all over; apex 
bristle pointed; flowering glume thinner, obscurely 
nerved, apex truncate and toothed; palet small, hyaline. 
At high elevations only, and in partial shade. It 
is less vigorous than the cultivated species, but is said, 
by an observer in Iowa, not to rust in that State. 
ANALYSIS. 
Moisture__ 7.87 
Ash_ 6.30 
Fat_ 2.60 
Albuminoid nitrogen_ 10.67 
Crude fiber_ 16.91 
Nitrogen-free extract_ 63.52 
Total_100.00 
