418 



WEED FLORA OF IOWA 



Wire Grass (Poa compressa L.). 



Spikelets lanceolate, 5-9-flowered, one-sixth to one-quarter in. in 



length, flowering glumes about one-seventh in. in length, obscurely 



5-nerved ; marginal teeth of palet continue to extreme apex. Found 



with seed of Kentucky blue grass and other commercial grass seed. 



rj ■■■■■ jyt 



Figure 251A 



Figure 251B 



Fig. 251. A. Wire Grass (Poa comjiressa). a, b, two views of seed; c, 

 natural size ; d, upper portion of palet showing marginal spines. B. Ken- 

 tucky Blue Grass (Poa pratensis). a, b, two views of seed; c, natural 

 size ; d, upper part of palet showing marginal spines. 

 (Hillman, Bull. Mich. Agr. Exp. Sta.) 



Kentucky Blue Grass (Poa pratensis L.). 



Spikelet 3-5-flowered, one-sixth in. long, on short scabrous pedi- 

 cels; empty glumes slightly unequal, lower nearly lanceolate, 1- 

 nerved, upper glume broader, 3-nerved ; flowering glume ovate, 

 scarious towards the apex, base cobwebby, rachilla slender; palet 

 with marginal teeth disappearing short of the apex. Found oc- 

 casionally in fescue grass seed and the commercial grass seed. 



Meadow Fescue (Festuca elatior L.). 

 Spikelet lanceolate, 5-10-flowered ; empty glume lanceolate, acute, 

 one-quarter in. long, smooth, faintly striate ; indistinctly 5-nerved ; 

 rachilla slender. Occasionally found in brome grass and rye grass 

 seeds. 



Fig. 252. Meadow Fescue (Festuca elatior). 

 (Drawing by Ada Hayden.) 



