6b. Blade not tapering to a narrow base 



182. Agrostis alba — Red top 



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

 ping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar narrow to broad, divided, 

 may be oblique, sometimes minutely hairy ; ligule membranous, to about 

 5 mm. long, rounded to acute, may be hairy on back; blade to 10 mm. 

 wide, rough above and below, keeled below, margins rough and hyaline. 

 Inflorescence — a reddish spreading panicle. Common throughout. 

 Meadows, pastures, lawns and waste places. 



7a. Leaves folded in bud-shoot 



183. Poa palustris — Fowl Bluegrass 



Leaves folded in bud-shoot ; sheath round, keeled, smooth to slightly 

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

 narrow to broad, divided; ligule membranous, to 9 mm. long, acute; 

 blade to 9 mm. wide, smooth to somewhat rough above and below, keeled 

 and sometimes glossy below, margins smooth to rough, tip narrowly boat- 

 shaped. Inflorescence — an open, nodding, yellowish-green or purplish 

 panicle. Throughout. Meadows and moist open ground. 



7b. Leaves rolled in bud-shoot 8 



■ 



M 



m 



1ft 



Wrm 



8a. Collar hairy on margins 



184. Anthoxanthum odoratum — Sweet Vernalgrass 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot; sheath round, smooth, frequently hairy 

 near top, split with overlapping hyaline margins ; auricles absent ; collar 

 narrow to broad, mostly divided, hairy on margins ; ligule membranous, 

 to as much as 9 mm. long, mostly rounded, lacerate or toothed, may be 

 short ciliate; blade to 10 mm. wide, rough and mostly short hairy above, 

 mostly short hairy below, margins mostly short hairy. Inflorescence — 

 short, narrow, brownish-yellow, spike-like. Throughout. Meadows, pas- 

 tures and waste places. 



8b. Collar not hairy on margins 9 



9a. Blade rough above and below 



185. Agrostis perennans — Autumn Bent 



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

 ping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar narrow, may be indistinct; 

 ligule membranous, to 6 mm. long, rounded to acute; blade to 7 mm. 

 wide, rough above and below, margins rough and hyaline. Inflorescence 

 — a pale to tawny, open panicle. Throughout. Open ground and old 

 fields. 



54 



