GREEN FORAGE 



37 



meadow and pasture grasses (Fig. 15). In L. italicum floral glumes (pales) usually 

 distinctly awned, in L. perenne glumes naked or bluntly acuminate. 



Cynosurus cristatus, common dog's-tail grass. False spike, prismatic, fourth side 

 of the rachis naked. Culm rigid, upright, leaves narrow. Cristate glumes at base 

 of each spikelet (sterile florets). Good grass of medium feeding value. 



Nardus stricta, nardus or bristle grass. Low grass with bristly leaves. No value. 



Agrostis alba, bent grass, bonnet grass, florin grass. Panicle pointed when in 



Fig. 13. Meadow Foxtail {Alopecurus pratensis). 



bloom; conical; contracted after blossom period; cespitose. Forms stolons. Val- 

 uable. 



Agrostis vulgaris, redtop, dew grass. Herd's grass of the Southern States. Pan- 

 icle purple, oblong, with short, spreading, or divaricate roughish branches. Leaves 

 linear with very short ligules, sometimes the upper one elongated. A common and 

 valuable grass in old fields and drained swamps. It is quite variable in aspect 

 (Wood). 



Avena elatior, high meadow oats, French rye grass. Very tall, culm 2 to 4 feet 

 high, geniculate, smooth. Panicle loose, equal, nodding; branches in pairs or termi- 

 nate. Spikelets bluish violet, becoming straw colored. Excellent forage grass. 



Avena pubescens, downy oatgrass. Leaves downy on both sides. 

 ., Avena pratensis, meadow oats. 



