6b. Blade without white stripes 



258. Phalaris arundinacea — Reed Canarygrass 



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

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

 ligule 2 to 3 mm. long, rounded, occasionally toothed; blade 10 to 20 mm. 

 wide, smooth to slightly rough and rarely hairy near base above, keeled 

 and smooth to rough below, margins rough and rarely short hairy near 

 base. Inflorescence — a densely flowered, spreading to narrow panicle. 

 Throughout. Marshes, riverbanks and moist places. 



7a. Collar hairy on margins 



259. 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, 2 to 3 

 mm. long, rounded, may be lacerate or toothed or ciliate ; blade to 1 2 

 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. Meadows, pastures and waste places. 



7b. Collar not hairy on margins 8 



8a. Blades to not more than 12 mm. wide 



260. Arrhenatherum elatius — Tall Oatgrass 



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

 ping margins ; auricles absent ; collar broad ; ligule membranous, 1 .5 to 

 3 mm. long, truncate, toothed, may be short ciliate; blade to 12 mm. 

 wide, smooth to rough above, keeled and smooth below, margins at least 

 slightly rough and hyaline. Inflorescence — a narrow, pale or purplish, 

 shining panicle. Throughout. Meadows, open ground and waste places. 



8b. Blades at least 1 5 mm. wide 



261. A vena sativa — Oats 



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

 ping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar broad, divided; ligule 

 membranous, 2 to 3 mm. long, rounded, toothed ; blade to 20 mm. wide, 

 smooth near base and rough near tip above and below, keeled below, 

 margins rough and hyaline. Inflorescence— a. loose, open panicle. 

 Cultivated. 



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