30 



Botanical Section 



[PT i 



KEY TO THE MORE COMMON GRASSES, BASED MAINLY 

 UPON THEIR FOLIAGE CHARACTERS. 



GROUP I. All the leaf-blades expanded. 



A. Shoot flattened (leaves folded in young shoot), plants entirely 



glabrous. 



(a) With small auricles. 



Lolium perenne (p. 113), basal sheaths red or pink; 

 blade dull above, glossy below. 



(b) Without auricles. 



(DactyUs glomerata (p. 93), sheaths very sharply 

 keeled ; long acute ligule ; no stolons, generally 

 distinct tufts. 



Poa trivialis (p. 129), ligule prominent and acute; 

 blade glossy below ; thin surface stolons if old. 

 Sheaths Poa pratensis (p. 127), strong rhizomes if old ; ligule 

 entire short and blunt, sometimes almost wanting; 



whilst blade dull. 



young 1 Glyceria fluitans (p. 105), aquatic; sheath striated; 



blade ribbed; sheaths with air cavities. 

 Glyceria aquatica (p. 104), aquatic; blade often 

 an inch wide, not ribbed; sheaths with air 

 cavities. 

 Poa compressa (p. 123), sheaths very firm and acutely 



keeled. 

 Poa annua (p 122), ligule comparatively large and 



white; blades dull, often wrinkled. 

 [ 2 Cynosurus cristatus (p. 90), dull dark-green blades; 

 short blunt ligule ; old basal sheaths yellowish. 

 Avena pratensis (p. 70) may come here.] 



B. Shoot cylindrical (leaves rolled in young shoot), plants 



glabrous, 

 (a) With auricles (or at least ledge-like projections at 



base of blade). 



Lolium italicum (p. 115), ligule distinct; basal 

 sheaths red; leaves broad, dull above and 

 glossy below. 



1 Later on the sheaths may be partially torn or split from above downwards. 



2 The shoot section varies as the young leaves may be folded or rolled. 



