. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. Fig. 109. Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crusgalli). mm wide; panicle 4-8 in (10-20 cm) long, the thick spikelike branches as- cending or spreading, often purplish; spikelets subsessile, irregularly crowded; the glumes and sterile lemma bristly-his- pid at maturity, the sterile lemma with an awn 2-15 mm long, variable in a single branch; fertile lemma indurate, acuminate-pointed, the tip of the palea not enclosed. (Fig. 109.) Distribution and habitat: Barnyard- grass, also called watergrass, is an in- troduced annual that is
. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. Fig. 109. Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crusgalli). mm wide; panicle 4-8 in (10-20 cm) long, the thick spikelike branches as- cending or spreading, often purplish; spikelets subsessile, irregularly crowded; the glumes and sterile lemma bristly-his- pid at maturity, the sterile lemma with an awn 2-15 mm long, variable in a single branch; fertile lemma indurate, acuminate-pointed, the tip of the palea not enclosed. (Fig. 109.) Distribution and habitat: Barnyard- grass, also called watergrass, is an in- troduced annual that is found in all agricultural sections of California (Fig. 108.) It occurs in moist pastures, in ir- rigated fields and orchards, and along streams and ditches (45). Forage value and reproduction: The rapidly maturing foliage is not par- ticularly palatable to stock. When grow- ing on cropland the plants usually re- main ungrazed until the herbage has be- come coarse and dry. The cultural prac- tices used in the production of rice, cot- ton and beans have been favorable to the spread of this grass. Seed production is prodigious and barnyardgrass rapidly spreads to cultivated lands and livestock lots kept bare by trampling. 45. KIKUYUGRASS (PENNISETUM CLANDESTINUM) Kikuyugrass is an extensively creeping leafy perennial with sparsely pilose foli- age; flowering culms compressed, the few-flowered inflorescence enclosed in the upper sheath, only the inconspicuous long stigmas and stamens protruding. First introduced into California from Africa some 20 years ago. Once established, Kikuyugrass is tena- cious and little injured by grazing. It has been planted to prevent erosion in San Diego County (45). It does not en- dure severe winter weather, hence is most suitable for revegetation in the milder climatic units of California, as along the coast. In a few localities it is regarded as a pest in lawns and orchards. Kikuyugrass is an excellent forage grass in highland valleys in Peru, whe
Size: 1128px × 2214px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, booksubjectforageplants, booksubjectgrasses
