PERENNIAL FORAGE GRASSES 



53 



nodes to each culm, each bearing a leaf, although the lower 

 node may not. Usually one, and occasionally more, of the lower 

 internodes is swollen to form one or more corms or tubers. 

 This character which dis- 

 tinguishes it from other 

 forage grasses is most fully 

 developed on dry soils and 

 may, it is said, disappear 

 entirely when the plant is 

 grown in wet places. Oc- 

 casionally tuberous branches 

 may occur on the upper 

 part of the stem. 1 There is 

 a large proportion of culm 

 to basal leaves, which, with 

 its accompanying leaves is 

 easily cured into hay. 



The leaf blade varies in 

 thickness and color, com- 

 mon variations being from 

 one-eighth to three-eighth 

 inch in width, and from 3 



to 15 or more inches in Proliferous (left) and normal vright) inflor- 



escence of timothy 



length. The radicle or basal 



leaves vary also in erectness, these with long, erect blades being 



best for hay. 



The inflorescence is usually called a spike, although in reality 

 it is a contracted panicle, which form it not infrequently as- 

 sumes. It usually varies from 2 to 7 inches in length, extremes 

 of two-tenths to 13 inches having been reported; in width, 

 two-tenths to five-tenths of an inch. It also varies in the com- 

 pactness of the spikelets. Compact spikelets produce harsh, 

 firm, rigid heads, while in some cases the head cannot maintain 



1 Vermont Sta. Bui. No. 94 (1902), p. 144. 



