. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. 4. PINE BLUEGRASS {Poa scabrella) forms dense tufts as much as 4 in (10 cm) across, with a mass of rather rough foliage at the base, mostly 4-7 in (10- 18 cm) high, the culms rather few to the tuft, reddish at the base, mostly 1% to 2% ft (45-75 cm) tall; panicle narrow but loose; the spikelets not so flat as in most bluegrasses. (Fig. 33.). Fig. 33. Pine bluegrass (Poa scabrella). Distribution and habitat: Pine blue- grass, widely distributed throughout Cali- fornia, occurs from near sea level on the coast to 9000 feet.
. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. 4. PINE BLUEGRASS {Poa scabrella) forms dense tufts as much as 4 in (10 cm) across, with a mass of rather rough foliage at the base, mostly 4-7 in (10- 18 cm) high, the culms rather few to the tuft, reddish at the base, mostly 1% to 2% ft (45-75 cm) tall; panicle narrow but loose; the spikelets not so flat as in most bluegrasses. (Fig. 33.). Fig. 33. Pine bluegrass (Poa scabrella). Distribution and habitat: Pine blue- grass, widely distributed throughout Cali- fornia, occurs from near sea level on the coast to 9000 feet. It is most abundant in the upper ponderosa pine—sugar pine belt and in the Douglas fir forest (Transi- tion and Canadian life zones), but also important on ranges of low eleva tion in the coastal counties. It grows in open ground on gravelly or thin soils, and rocky outcrops, where it is one of the drought-enduring plants. Forage value and reproduction: Pine bluegrass starts growth in December or January if moisture conditions are favor- able on the foothill ranges. Protein and mineral contents of the young plants are high in this early growth stage (13). By the time of flowering two months later, however, the levels of both protein and minerals have dropped off considerably. In fact at seed maturity—just three months from the start of growth—the per- centage of protein in pine bluegrass is below the minimum necessary to keep range animals in a thrifty condition. Foraging animals relish the basal leaf- age of the grass, which is always grazed closely until after seed maturity. On sum- mer ranges the fine, tender herbage is eagerly sought by lambs. Seed habits are moderately strong. At lower elevations seed ripens in May, but it is September before it is cast at higher altitudes. 5. OLNEY BLUEGRASS {Poa nervosa) re- sembles Kentucky bluegrass, but the fo- liage is paler and shorter; panicles more open; florets without cottony tuft at the base. An exceedingly variable
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