VEGETATIVE ORGANS OF GRASSES 



349 



Agropyroii tenerimv. Slender Wheat Grass. Figure 124. 



An erect, smooth, soft leaved perennial, growing in bunches 

 or tufts. Resting period two to three weeks. Rhizomes not 

 creeping but forming a short, tough, thickened rootstock at the 

 b'ase of the previous year's growth. Fro'm this grow a number of 

 culms, hence its descriptive term "bunch" grass. The nodes, 

 scarcely distinguishable, are very close together and from 

 them develop an abundance of long, tough, fibrous roots, having 



Fig. 124. — Agropyrcn tenen-um. Slender Wheat Grass, 

 collar ; C, auricles ; D, rhizome ; E, last year's growth. 



A, ligule ; B, 



many root hairs, the scales not conspicuous if present. The 

 leaves are rolled in the bud. glaucous, three to six inches long, 

 narrow, rather rigid and flat. Ligule membranous, short obtuse, 

 slightly wavy along the upper edge. Sheathes compressed. Au- 

 ricles present, conspicuous, pointed or clawlike. Blade narrow, 

 glaucous, flat, sharply pointed, one and one-half to three mm. 

 wide. Nerves rather prominent. Collar broadened at margin, 

 narrow at the mid-nerve. 



