58 FODDER AND PASTURE PLANTS. 
ORCHARD GRASS (Dactylis glomerata L.). 
Plate 8; Seed, Plate 26, Fig. 13. 
Other English name: Cocksfoot. 
Botanical description: Orchard Grass is perennial with a very 
short rootstock. The stems, which are from two to three feet high, 
are crowded and surrounded at the base by numerous leafy shoots. 
The leaves are long, broad and flat, rather soft in texture, and for 
this reason often overhanging, especially in dry, hot weather. Orchard 
Grass can be easily recognized, even at a very early stage of de- 
velopment, by the basal shoots which are flat and double-keeled. 
This peculiar shape of the shoots is due to the leaves in the bud 
being folded together along the middle line. The flowers are in a 
short panicle, which as a rule has only two or three stout and 
rather short main branches. When in bloom the branches spread 
like the toes of a bird’s foot—hence the English name Cocksfoot. 
During the ripening period they gradually move upward, after the 
manner of arms being lifted over the head, soas to form a rather 
narrow panicle. The branches of the panicle are naked below, 
carrying the spikelets at their top in dense, one-sided clusters. The 
spikelets are compressed, the one side being slightly hollow, the other 
rounded. They contain from two to five flowers, each of which is 
enclosed within two strongly keeled and sharply pointed glumes. The 
stamens are developed a trifle later than the pistil. Thus there is 
a possibility of cross-fertilization between flowers of different plants. 
The flowers of a panicle are, however, very crowded and self-fertiliz- 
ation probably takes place to a great extent. 
Geographical distribution: Orchard Grass is indigenous to 
Europe, the temperate zone of Asia and northern Africa. It was 
introduced into North America very early. When it was first grown 
for fodder in England, about one hundred and fifty years ago, the 
seed was obtained from Virginia. It is now grown in temperate 
regions all over the world. 
Habitat: Orchard Grass grows naturally in meadows, waste 
places, along roadsides, etc. It occurs in woods as well as in open 
fields, and is more adapted to shady situations than other meadow 
grasses. Its frequent occurrence in orchards has given it its name. 
