GROUP 18 



1 a. Sheath split part way only 2 



1 b. Sheath split to near base 3 



2a. Ligule to 1.8 mm. long 



226. Bromus japonicus — Japanese Chess 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot; sheath round, densely soft white hairy, 

 split part way with hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar narrow to 

 broad, hairy at least on margins; ligule membranous, .8 to 1.8 mm. long, 

 rounded, toothed or lacerate, sometimes ciliate ; blade mostly 5 to 8 mm. 

 wide, dense short hairy above and below, margins hairy. Inflorescence — 

 an open, diffuse, somewhat drooping panicle. Vermont south. Common. 

 Waste places. 



2b. Ligule 2 mm. or more long 



227. Bromus tectorum — Downy Chess 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot; sheath round, densely soft white hairy, 

 split part way; auricles absent; collar narrow to medium broad, divided, 

 mostly hairy; ligule membranous, 1.5 to 3 mm. long, rounded to acute, 

 may be toothed and ciliate; blade 5 to 10 mm. wide, hairy above and be- 

 low and on margins. Inflorescence — a rather dense, soft, drooping, often 

 purple panicle. Throughout. Waste places. 



3a. Blade densely velvety hairy above and below 



228. Holcus lanatus — Velvet Grass 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot; sheath loose, round, dense velvety short 

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

 narrow to medium broad, usually divided, hairy; ligule membranous, to 

 3 mm. long, truncate to rounded, may be toothed and ciliate; blade 

 mostly 5 to 10 mm. wide, dense velvety short hairy above and below, 

 margins short hairy. Inflorescence — a long, contracted, pale, purple- 

 tinged panicle. Throughout. Open ground, meadows and moist places. 



3b. Blade not as above 4 



4a. Plant with short creeping rhizomes 



229. 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, divided, hairy on margins; ligule membranous, mostly 

 1 to 2.5 mm. long, but at times to as much as 9 mm., rounded, may be 

 lacerate or toothed or ciliate; blade to 10 mm. wide, mostly hairy above 

 at least near base, smooth or short hairy below, margins very variable. 

 Inflorescence — short, narrow, brownish-yellow, spike-like. Throughout. 

 Miadows, pastures and waste places. 



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