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• HARD FESCUE: FESTUCA OVINA DURIUSCULA (L.) KOCH <br />Hard fescue is a European introduction. It prefers dry-moist sites. It may be a mi- <br />nor poisoner of livestock. The disease known as fescue foot may be contracted by cattle or <br />sheep (horses are not effected) when grazing on fescue. It appears that the toxicity of fescue <br />may be produced 6y an as yet unidentified fungus parasitic on feacues and not by the grass <br />itself. The toxic compound appears to be an alkaloid. Contraction of fescue foot may be <br />avoided by ceasing grazing on areas where fescue is the predominant forage species <br />available. <br />INDIAN RICEGRASS: ORYZOPSIS HYMENOIDES (R. & S.) KICKER <br />This perennial, native bunch grass prefers dry sites between 4,000 and 9,500 feet. It <br />is non-weedy and reproduces sexually. The plant is not poisonous and may have the abil- <br />ity to fix nitrogen. Growth of Indian ricegrass is good on sandy loam, loam and clay <br />loam. Moderate and gentle slopes produce healthier plants than steep slopes. This grass is <br />rated medium in erosion control potential and is also medium in terms of its establiah- <br />• ment requirements. Short term revegetation potential is medium with long term potentials <br />being high. Potential biomass production is medium. This species gives fair cover for <br />game birds and good cover for small non-game birds and small mammals. Food value <br />for elk, deer and game birds is fair. Small non-game birds and small mammals receive <br />good food value from this plant. Forage palatability for cattle is good and sheep fair. <br />Energy value retention is good, but protein value retention is poor. <br />(TROY) KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS: POA PRATENSIS L. <br />This grass was introduced from Eurasia and prefers dry-moist sites from 4,000 to <br />12,200 feet in Colorado. It reproduces sexually end vegetatively by rhizomes. It has the po- <br />tential of becoming a colonizing weed. The Troy variety ie much less aggressive than <br />others of this species and doesn't form a dense sod. This grass is not poisonous to live- <br />stock. Growth of Kentucky bluegrass in sandy loam, loam and clay loam on gentle to <br />moderate slopes is good. On steep slopes in these soils growth is fair. This grass is highly <br />rated for its erosion control potential. Establishment requirements for this plant are low. <br />The short term revegetation potential is high and long term medium to high for this blue- <br />grass. Potential biomass production is medium. Cover value for game birds, small non- <br />• <br />4.4-B-7 <br />