111] VEGETATIVE CHARACTERS 57 
B. Leaves or sheaths, or both, distinctly hairy. 
(a) Leaf-blades eared at the base. 
(a) Ears sharply pointed. Leaves convolute, and sections 
of shoots round, Ligule short and inconspicuous. 
Agropyrum repens, Beauv. (Couch-grass). A trouble- 
some weed of arable land and gardens, &c., owing to the 
extraordinary vitality of its underground stolons. The 
young shoots are readily eaten by stock. Perennial, and 
extensively stoloniferous; bright or glaucous green. Blade 
thin, dry, rough edged, hairy and rough above, glabrous 
or hairy below. The short ligule fringed. Ears long, or 
sometimes short, pointed; often obliquely crossing in 
front of the sheath. Ridges inconspicuous. Hairs may 
be absent from the sheath, and nearly so from the blade. 
The sea-shore varieties are stiffer and more glaucous, the leaves 
more ribbed, involute and pointed—e.g. A. juncewm, Beauv. 
Agropyrum caninum, Beauv. (Bearded Wheat-grass). 
Tufted weed, not creeping, in woods, &c. Blade thinner 
and rougher beneath, but very variable. Properties similar 
to those of A. repens. 
Agropyrum may be confused with Lolium (see p. 49) and 
Agrostis (see p. 51), but hardly with any other grass, and with 
these only because it is liable to be glabrous or nearly so on poor 
soil. 
Elymus has much more pronounced ridges than the sea-shore 
varieties of Agropyrum. 
(b) Base of blade with inconspicuous rounded ears. Leaves 
convolute. Ligule conspicuous. 
Anthoranthum odoratum, L. (Sweet Vernal-grass). 
Compact tuft. Common in pastures and hay, but it only 
