WEEDS 



171 



animals will hardly touch. The difference between 

 them is well shown in figures 88 and 89. In the spring 

 the musky filaree grows faster than the other and is 

 easily known by its coarse, rank look. It has pale 

 stems and leaf stalks, 

 while in the other the 

 stems and leaf stalks 

 are red (figures 88 and 

 89). 



As the plants get 

 larger the differences 

 are seen clearly. The 

 leaves of the red- 

 stemmed are seen to 

 be much more cut up 

 than those of the 

 musky filaree. The 



Calyx Or OUtside COVer- FIG- 87. Young plant of plantain, or 

 f. , , n c , , rib grass. About natural size. 



ing of the flower of the 



musky sort does not have the fine bristles which are 



found on the calyx of the red-stemmed. 



In grain fields filaree sometimes completely covers 

 the ground after harvest. Filaree has a tough, wiry 

 root, which goes deep into the soil, and a sharp tool is 

 needed to cut it. If not cut off below the lowest leaf, 

 it makes new branches which bloom and set seed under 

 the very feet of the cattle. 



The seeds of filaree have a wonderful way of boring 



