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• ROUGH FESCUE: FESTUCA SCABRELLA TORR. <br />Rough fescue is a perennial native, clump grass that grows between 7,900 and 12,000 <br />feet in Colorado. It prefers dry -moist habitats in mountain meadows and open wood- <br />lands. This fescue reproduces sexually and rarely by rhizomes. It is not weedy and is not <br />poisonous to livestock. Growth on sandy loam is fair, loam and clay loam is good, and <br />clay ie fair. Optimum depth of soil is 20 inches. Growth on gentle and moderate slopes is <br />good and steep slopes fair. This fescue is rated medium in erosion control potential. <br />Rough feacue's establishment requirements ere medium. Short term revegetation poten- <br />tial is medium and long term is high. The potential for biomass production is medium. <br />Cover values for deer, game birds, small non-game birds and small mammals is fair. <br />Good food value is obtained by elk and small mammals and fair food value by deer. Cattle <br />and sheep forage palatability is good. Energy value is fair and protein value poor. <br />RUSSIAN WILDRYE; ELYMUS JUNCUS <br />This wildrye was introduced from northern Asia. It grows in dry sites in Colorado <br />• from 5,500 to 7,000 feet. It is not poisonous to livestock and reproduces sexually. In terms of <br />weediness, it is classified ae colonizing. Growth slopes encourage good growth of this <br />plant and growth deteriorates to poor on steep areas. This wildrye is medium in its erosion <br />control potential and has medium establishment requirements. Long and short term <br />revegetation potentials are medium. Potential biomass production by this species is high. <br />Fair cover for deer and good cover for game birds, small non-game birds and small <br />mammals is produced. The food value obtained by elk, game birds, small non-game birds <br />and small mammals is fair. Forage palatability for sheep and cattle is good. The energy <br />value is fair and the protein poor. <br />Russian wildrye produces cover and food for wildlife, and domestic livestock ob- <br />tains good forage from it. It is a desirable species for these reasons in regard to post-min- <br />ing land aces. This wildrye produces a quick temporary stabilizing vegetative cover that <br />not only helps control erasion but also acts ee an organic mulch. Russian wildrye is com- <br />patible with the plant and animal species present in the region and it is neither poisonous <br />nor noxious. <br />• <br />4.4-B-10 <br />