. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. Fig. 41. Small-flowered melicgrass (Melica imperfecta). 3. HARFORD MELICGRASS (Melica har- fordii) is densely tufted, mostly reddish and curved at base, 2-4 ft (60-120 cm) tall; blades elongate, scabrous; panicles slender; spikelets erect, purple, fading in age; lemmas pilose on the margin be- low, and with a minute awn from the ob- tuse apex. Harford melicgrass occupies dry slopes and open woods at intermediate to low elevations from the northern part of the state to Ventura County. (Fig. 38.) Like other melics, this pl
. California grasslands and range forage grasses. Grasses; Forage plants. Fig. 41. Small-flowered melicgrass (Melica imperfecta). 3. HARFORD MELICGRASS (Melica har- fordii) is densely tufted, mostly reddish and curved at base, 2-4 ft (60-120 cm) tall; blades elongate, scabrous; panicles slender; spikelets erect, purple, fading in age; lemmas pilose on the margin be- low, and with a minute awn from the ob- tuse apex. Harford melicgrass occupies dry slopes and open woods at intermediate to low elevations from the northern part of the state to Ventura County. (Fig. 38.) Like other melics, this plant grows in scat- tered stands; and while it does not pro- duce a large volume of forage it is taken with fair to good relish up to plant ma- turity, which varies from about June to August depending on locality. 4. CALIFORNIA MELICGRASS (Melica californica) is relatively robust, often 3 ft (90 cm) or taller; lower sheaths per- sistent, brown and shredded; panicle narrow, mostly 6-8 in (15-20 cm) long, tawny to purplish; spikelets short- pediceled, about 10-12 mm long. Distribution and habitat: California melicgrass, a northern species, occurs in the northern coast ranges and at low to middle elevations in the Sierra Nevada (2). It ranges from sea level to about 5000 ft, occupying dry sites and ledges which are largely inaccessible to live- stock. Forage value and reproduction: For- age value of California melic is fair. Cat- tle graze it season long, but sheep and goats take only the succulent growth. The flower stalks appear in May and con- tinue to be produced until early June. A fairly large seed crop reaches maturity in August. Judging from the abundance of California melic on protected areas, re- establishment of this plant should be pos- sible under good grazing management. 5. BULBOUS MELICGRASS (Melica bul- bosa) grows in dense clumps, the culms mostly 1-2 ft (30-60 cm) tall, the bases bulblike or sometimes only slightly swol- len; panicles narrow, rather dense, the bra
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, booksubjectforageplants, booksubjectgrasses
