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FIG.269. DACTYLISGI.OMERATAL.Sp.Pl.71. 1753. ORCHARD-GRASS - 

 A coarse, erect grass 9-12 dm. (30-4°) high, forming dense tufts, with long flat 

 or slightly keeled leaf-blades and 3 to 5 flowered spikelets (a) crowded in 

 dense, one-sided clusters at the ends of the panicle branches. Ligule (shown 

 m d) thm, membranaceous, elongated; flowering glume (&) 4-6 mm {'V'-^") 

 long, short awn-pointed. At b a floret is illustrated, showing flowering glume 

 palea, stamens, and stigmas; the flower and lodicules are shown at c and the 

 joint m the culm e, 1 and the swollen base of the leaf-sheath is shown at e -^ _ 

 Extensively naturalized in fields and waste ground. New Brunswick to South 

 Carolina, west to Manitoba, Idaho, and Colorado. (Europe. ) May to August 



Orchard-grass is one of the best known and highly esteemed of our cultivated 

 grasses. It is valuable for hay or pasturage and grows well in the shade 

 Owing to Its habit of growing in tussocks or bunches it is not adapted to lawns* 



