6a. Blade tapering to a narrow boat-shaped tip 7 



6b. Blade not tapering (parallel-sided), tip abruptly boat-shaped 



174. Poa annua — Annual Bluegrass 



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

 split part way with hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar medium 

 broad, divided; ligule membranous, 1 to 3 mm. long, acute; blade to 4 

 mm. wide, smooth above and below, margins mostly smooth but rough 

 near tip. Inflorescence — a small open, few-branched panicle. Common 

 throughout. Lawns, pastures, open ground and waste places. 



7a. Sheath rough and split part way only 



175. Poa trivalis — Rough Bluegrass 



Leaves folded in bud-shoot; sheath distinctly flattened, rough, split 

 part way; auricles absent; collar broad, divided; ligule membranous, 2 to 

 6 mm. long, acute, sometimes ciliate; blade 2 to 5 mm. wide, at least 

 slightly rough above, keeled and smooth to rough below, margins rough 

 at least near boat-shaped tip. Inflorescence — an oblong, open panicle. 

 Throughout. Moist places. 



7b. Sheath smooth to slightly rough and split to base 



176. Poa palustris — Fowl Bluegrass 



Leaves folded in bud-shoot; sheath distinctly flattened, smooth to 

 slightly rough, split with overlapping hyaline margins; auricles absent; 

 collar medium broad to broad, divided ; ligule membranous, 2 to 6 mm. 

 long, rounded to acute; blade 2 to 5 mm. wide (occasionally to 7 mm.) , 

 smooth to rough above and below, keeled below and sometimes glossy, 

 margins smooth to rough and sometimes minutely hairy. Inflorescence — 

 an open, nodding, yellowish-green or purplish panicle. Throughout. 

 Meadows and moist open ground. 



GROUP 14 



la. Ligule notched near front on one or both sides 



177. Phleum pratense — Timothy 



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

 ping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar medium broad to broad, 

 may be divided, sometimes oblique; ligule membranous, to 4.5 mm. long, 

 rounded, notched near front at least on one side; blade 5 to 10 mm. wide, 

 mostly smooth near base and rough near tip above and below, margins 

 rough. Inflorescence- — densely flowered, cylindrical, spike-like. Com- 

 mon throughout. Fields and waste places. 



lb. Ligule not notched as above 2 



52 



