. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. grass has a relatively high late-season nutrient content, which probably ac- counts-for its value as a winter feed. Seed production is good at medium ele- vations, but deferred grazing is needed to assure satisfactory reproduction of most stands. 2. SLENDER WHEATGRASS (Agropyron trachycaulum) resembles bearded wheat- grass, the spikes usually more slender, 4-10 in (10-25 cm) long, sometimes slightly twisted, appearing unilateral; spikelets mostly not overlapping; lem-. Fig. 50. Slender wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycaulum)
. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. grass has a relatively high late-season nutrient content, which probably ac- counts-for its value as a winter feed. Seed production is good at medium ele- vations, but deferred grazing is needed to assure satisfactory reproduction of most stands. 2. SLENDER WHEATGRASS (Agropyron trachycaulum) resembles bearded wheat- grass, the spikes usually more slender, 4-10 in (10-25 cm) long, sometimes slightly twisted, appearing unilateral; spikelets mostly not overlapping; lem-. Fig. 50. Slender wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycaulum). mas awnless; glumes broad, nearly as long as the spikelet. (Fig. 50.) Distribution and habitat: Slender wheatgrass is fairly abundant in north- eastern California where it grows be- tween 3000 and 10,000 ft. It is found in open woods, rocky exposed hillsides, up- land plains, and on moist meadows. Forage value and reproduction: The herbage of slender wheatgrass is choice feed for all grazing animals. Sheep graze the young herbage nearly as well as finer-leaved fescues and bluegrasses. Cat- tle and horses crop the foliage through- out the growing season. It is excellent winter feed and produces an abundance of seed. Although the grass has been used to some extent in artificial range reseeding, stands have been slow to estab- lish. 3. BEARDED WHEATGRASS (Agropyron subsecundum) is mostly 2-3*4 ft (60- 100 cm) tall, in large lumps; blades to 6-8 mm wide; spike 2^-6 in (6-15 cm) long; glumes broad, nearly as long as the spikelet; lemmas with straight awns mostly 1-2 cm long, sometimes shorter or longer. (Fig. 51.) Distribution and habitat: Bearded wheatgrass occurs scatteringly in the mountains of central and northern Cali- fornia between 3500 and 9500 ft. Though typically inhabiting light soils of moist slopes and meadows, it is also found on dry hillsides and in partial shade of open timber or brush stands. Forage value and reproduction: Bearded wheatgrass is highly palatable to
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, booksubjectforageplants, booksubjectgrasses
