. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. sheep. As the season advances reedgrass herbage becomes harsh and tough, and is eaten little where more tender herbage is available. Big game animals consume appreciable amounts. Elk graze several species moderately; deer to a lesser ex- tent. Reedgrasses are not as a rule strong seed producers, but the limited seed crop that fully matures usually germinates well. The reedgrasses important on Califor- nia range lands are pine reedgrass and bluejoint among the sod-formers, and Brewer reedgrass and purple reedgrass of the
. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. sheep. As the season advances reedgrass herbage becomes harsh and tough, and is eaten little where more tender herbage is available. Big game animals consume appreciable amounts. Elk graze several species moderately; deer to a lesser ex- tent. Reedgrasses are not as a rule strong seed producers, but the limited seed crop that fully matures usually germinates well. The reedgrasses important on Califor- nia range lands are pine reedgrass and bluejoint among the sod-formers, and Brewer reedgrass and purple reedgrass of the bunch habit of growth. Key to Species Panicle open, the branches spreading Plants without rhizomes, densely tufted, the blades capillary 1. C. breweri Plants with creeping rhizomes; blades flat, to 4-8 mm wide 4. C. canadensis Panicle narrow, dense or somewhat loose Glumes 6—8 mm long; awn of lemma exceed- ing the glumes; panicle purplish; collar of sheath glabrous 2. C. purpurascens Glumes 4—5 mm long; awn of lemma shorter, exserted from side of glumes; collar of sheath pubescent, sometimes obscurely so 3. C. rubescens 1. BREWER REEDGRASS {Calamagrostis breweri) is densely tufted with a mass of fine foliage at base; culms slender, 6-12 in (15-30 cm) tall; panicle very open, few-flowered, l%-3 in (3-8 cm) long; spikelets 3-4 mm long, purple, the ge- niculate awn exceeding the glumes. (Fig. 81.) Distribution and habitat: Brewer reed- grass is typical of high meadow lands in the Sierra. It occurs at 7000 to 12,000 ft from Plumas County south to Tulare County, and is found in more scattered stands in higher north coast ranges. Though seldom forming pure stands, it is sometimes the dominant species in moist, open, or partly shaded sites. Forage value and reproduction: The fine leafage is highly palatable to all classes of livestock and is well liked by deer. Succulent forage is produced. Fig. 81. Brewer reedgrass (Calamagrostis breweri). [92]. Please note that these images are
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, booksubjectforageplants, booksubjectgrasses
