50 FODDER AND PASTURE PLANTS. 
RED TOP (Agrostis stolonifera L.). 
Plate 5; Seed, Plate 26, Fig. 9. 
Other Latin name: Agrostis alba L. 
Other English names: Fiorin Grass, Creeping Bent-grass, White 
Bent-grass. 
Botanical description: The name Red Top has been used for 
two species of the genus Agrostis—A. stolonifera L., which is also 
called A. alba L., and A. vulgaris With. A. stolonifera and A. 
vulgaris are two distinct species but are often confused. Plants 
known as Red Top have often been described by American and 
Canadian writers under the name of A. vulgaris, which is compara- 
tively rare in America and of little agricultural value. As the 
description in such cases is not of A. vulgaris, but evidently of A. 
stolonifera, the latter species must be considered the true Red Top. 
The followiag description consequently refers to A. stolontfera, 
which is common all over North America. 
There are a great number of widely different varieties of Red 
Top. It is strongly perennial with a creeping rootstock which 
generally sends out runners. Although these are sometimes under- 
ground, as a rule they creep along the surface, rooting at the joints 
and producing numerous leafy shoots. On account of the creeping 
character of the rootstock and the runners, Red Top does not grow 
in tufts but forms a dense, continous sod. The stems vary in the 
different varities. In some they are only a couple of inches high, 
while in others they reach a height of four feet or more. Only 
varieties of the latter type are important from an agricultural stand- 
point. The leaves vary in size, number and colour. Their ligule 
is always long and generally acute. The flowers are arranged in a 
panicle with numerous branches. When in bloom the main branches 
of the panicle as well as the secondary ones are spreading; and as 
their length gradually decreases towards the top of the panicle, the, 
latter has the shape of a pyramid with a broad base. When flowering 
is over, the secondary branches lie appressed to the main branches, 
and the latter, as a rule, to the main stem. After flowering, the 
panicle is therefore often contracted and narrow. The numerous 
spikelets are often reddish-brown—hence the name Red Top. Each 
_ spikelet contains only one flower. At blossoming time pistils and 
stamens develop together, and both self- and cross-fertilization are 
thus possible. 
Geographical distribution: Red Top is indigenous to all 
European countries, northern Africa, northern and central Asia and 
