4o6 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



as a rule, imperfect, whereas in Arrhenatherum the 

 lower floret is male, the upper female or herma- 

 phrodite. The second Latin name indicates that 

 the grass resembles the Oat, whilst the English 

 name denotes that the resemblance is not complete. 



This grass is one of those that are found in all 

 parts of the British Isles, where, indeed, it is, under 

 the name of Couch Grass, regarded as a pest. In 

 Scotland it is found as far north as the Shetlands. 

 In the north of England it is found at elevations of 

 1500 feet. It is a native also of the Channel Islands. 



Being mainly a pratal species, this grass is found 

 generally in meadows and pastures. It grows also by 

 the wayside, in hedgerows, and even in woods and 

 thickets in the more open spots. It has been found 

 on clays and loams in damp oakwoods, and on similar 

 soils in neutral grassland, on limestone grassland, on 

 chalk grassland. 



Like other grasses False Oat Grass has the grass 

 habit. There is an extensive creeping rootstock, which 

 may be knotted, from which the stems grow erect, and 

 are slender and smooth. The leaves are flat, limp, 

 roughish. The sheaths are smooth, and the ligule 

 blunt. 



The flowers are arranged in a long, narrow, loose 

 panicle, which is at length close. The branches are 

 binate or ternate, nearly erect, roughish. The spike- 

 lets are two-flowered, greenish, shining, pale. The 

 lower empty glume is the smallest, the upper oblong 

 to lance-shaped, acute. The flowering glumes are 



