HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



4b. Awn fine and delicate, about 3 — 4 times as long as the lemma; 

 spikelets 2 mm. long. Fig. 192. 



RABBITFOOT GRASS PoJypogon monspeJiensis (L.) Desf. 



Annual; tufted; usually 15 — 50 cm. tall; pani- 

 cles dense, often somewhat lobed, densely 

 covered with soft, silky yellowish awns. Rab- 

 bitfoot grass is rather widely distributed in 

 the United States, but is most common in the 

 West, at low altitudes. Frequently found on 

 seepy wet ground around springs or on 

 banks of streams. Weedy; forage value low. 

 May — October. Introduced from Europe. 



Figure 192 



5a. Panicle dense, cylindrical and spikelike 6 



5b. Panicle open, with spreading or drooping branches 7 



6a. Spikelets about 5 mm. long; panicles 7 — 10 mm. in diameter; awns 

 protruding. Fig. 193. 



MEADOW FOXTAIL Aiopecurus piatensis L. 



Perennial; tufted; culms 30 — 80 cm. tall. 

 The panicles resemble those of timothy but 

 the lemmas have protruding bent awns and 

 the spikelets fall off at a touch when ripe. 

 This genus is one of very few having unit- 

 ed glumes. Meadow foxtail is sometimes 

 cultivated as a forage grass in the north- 

 ern states and found growing wild in 

 meadows and waste ground. May — lune. 

 Introduced from Europe. 



Figure 193 



103 



