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<br />Grasses <br />Agropyron smithii <br />(Western wheatgrass) <br />Western wheatgrass is one of [he commonest and most abundant .of [he western <br />wheatgrasses. I[ is a perennial Erom creeping rootstocks, and under the most <br />favorable conditions may grow in dense patches or even form a compact sod. It <br />occurs from southern Ontario and northern Minnesota west to British Columbia and <br />south [o west central California, western Texas, northwestern Arkansas, and Indi- <br />ana. Western wheatgrass grows in a great variety of soils and withstands drought <br />well. It is best adapted to well-drained bottom lands, but is commonly found on <br />open plains, hillsides, and benchlands. It is alkali-enduring and often occupies <br />lands inhabited by few other grasses. It occurs in considerable abundance and on <br />adobe soils is often the dominant grass over large areas. Ln Montana, this grass <br />is often [he firs[ to appear in quantity on abandoned, dry farm lands. <br />• Western wheatgrass is one of the most valuable native forage plants of the west. <br />IL is an important constituent of numerous spring, summer, and early fall ranges. <br />Despite the stiff leaves the plant rarely becomes sufficiently coarse and rank to <br />prevent sheep from grazing it. Sheep are particularly fond of the heads. It <br />cures well on the ground, makes very good winter forage and also yields excellent <br />hay of high feeding value. The limited seed supply usually matures late but this <br />handicap is offset by vigorous reproduction from rootstocks. Western wheatgrass <br />is rated as a choice forage plant for elk and deer. <br />Bromus inermis <br />(Smooth Brome) <br />Smooth brome is a long-lived perennial grass with running rootstocks and is one <br />of [he most successful of cultivated, introduced species, being used extensively <br />for pasture and forage crop plantings. It was introduced into the United States <br />about 1880 by the California Agricultural Experiment Station and has since been <br />grown extensively as hay and pasturage from Alaska as far south as Tennessee, <br />• Kansas, and California, <br />2-75 <br />