18a. Basal sheaths reddish, shining, perennials 



31. Festuca rubra — Red Fescue 



Leaves folded in bud-shoot ; sheath mostly somewhat flattened, smooth, 

 split with overlapping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar narrow, 

 generally divided; ligule membranous, .2 to .5 mm. long, truncate; blade 

 1 to 3 mm. wide, generally bristle-like, smooth to rough above and on 

 margins, smooth below. Inflorescence — a narrow, contracted panicle. 

 Common throughout. Lawns, meadows and waste places. 



18b. Basal sheaths not reddish, annuals 19 



19a. Blade margins smooth 



32. Festuca myuros — Rattail Fescue 



Leaves folded in bud-shoot; sheath round, smooth, split with over- 

 lapping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar narrow, may be divided; 

 ligule membranous, about .2 mm. long, truncate; blade 1 to 2 mm. wide, 

 bristle-like, smooth above and below and on margins. Inflorescence — a 

 narrow panicle with appressed branches. Coastal Plain, Massachusetts 

 south. Open ground. 



1 9b. Blade margins at least slightly rough 



33. Festuca octoflora — Six-weeks Fescue 



Leaves folded in bud-shoot; sheath round, smooth, split with over- 

 lapping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar narrow; ligule mem- 

 branous, .2 to .4 mm. long, truncate; blade 1 to 2 mm. wide, bristle-like, 

 smooth above and below, margins rough to slightly rough. Inflorescence 

 — a narrow panicle with short branches. New York south. Open, 

 sterile ground. 



GROUP 3 



la. Collar hairy at least on margins 2 



lb. Collar not hairy 5 



2a. Sheath hairy at least at top or throat 3 



2b. Sheath not hairy 



34. Eragrostis poaeoides — Low Lovegrass 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot; sheath round, smooth, split with over- 

 lapping margins; auricles absent; collar broad, hairy near margins, 

 margins hairy; ligule a fringe of hairs, 1 to 1.5 mm. long; blade to 3 mm. 

 wide, smooth above and below, margins rough. Inflorescence — an erect, 

 open panicle. Throughout, not common. Waste places. 



3a. Ligule to 1 mm. or more long 4 



16 



