54 FODDER AND PASTURE PLANTS. 
YELLOW OAT GRASS (Trisetum flavescens (L.) Beauv.) 
Plate 6; Seed, Plate 26, Fig. 11. 
Other English names: Yellow False Oat, Golden Oat Grass. 
Botanical description: Yellow Oat Grass is perennial with a 
short rootstock forming loose tufts. The stems are from one to two 
feet high, very slender, and leafy to about the middle. Secondary 
shoots develop from the base of the stems. They sprout from buds 
within sheaths of old leaves and are at first enclosed by them. In 
the development of the shoots the old sheaths burst, and thus the 
base of the stems becomes surrounded by the ragged remnants of 
brown old sheaths. The secondary shoots produce quite a number 
of leaves. These, like those of the stems, are very soft in texture 
and covered with soft hairs. Their sheaths, as a rule, are also hairy. 
The flowers are arranged in a panicle, pyramidal in shape and with 
spreading branches during flowering time. After flowering, the 
branches turn upwards and the panicle thus becomes contracted and 
narrow. The numerous spikelets aré green at first, but toward 
flowering time they turn a beautiful golden yellow—hence the name 
of the grass. After flowering they assume a duller, yellowish-brown 
shade. The spikelets contain three flowers, each of which is enclosed 
by two glumes. The outer glume bears on its back a delicate, 
somewhat bent and twisted awn. The fertilization is accomplished 
as in Tall Oat Grass. 
Geographical distribution: Yellow Oat Grass is indigenous 
to Europe, northern Africa and the temperate parts of Asia. It has 
been introduced into North America. It has been recorded only 
once as growing wild in Canada. 
Habitat: It grows naturally in somewhat dry meadows, along 
roadsides, on the slopes and even summits of mountains, and in 
mountain valleys. 
Cultural conditions: Yellow Oat Grass is not fastidious about 
the soil, provided that other conditions are favourable. Although it 
stands some drought, it makes poor growth where the ground is too 
dry. It likes a fairly moist soil, rich in organic matter and lime. 
It is more sensitive to excessive moisture than to drought, stagnant 
water having always an injurious effect. 
