Ill] VEGETATIVE CHARACTERS 57 



B. Leaves or sheaths, or both, distinctly hairy. 



(a) Leaf-blades eared at the base. 



(a) Ears sharply pointed. Leaves convolute, and sections 

 of shoots round. Ligule short and inconspicuous. 



Agropyrum 7'epens, Beauv. (Couch-grass). A trouble- 

 some weed of arable land and gardens, &;c., owing to the 

 extraordinary vitality of its underground stolons. The 

 young shoots are readily eaten by stock. Perennial, and 

 extensively stoloniferous ; bright or glaucous green. Blade 

 thin, dry, rough edged, hairy and rough above, glabrous 

 or hairy below. The short ligule fringed. Ears long, or 

 sometimes short, pointed; often obliquely crossing in 

 front of the sheath. Ridges inconspicuous. Hairs may 

 be absent from the sheath, and nearly so from the blade. 



The sea-shore varieties are stiflfer and more glaucous, the leaves 

 more ribbed, involute and pointed — e.g. A. juncemrij Beauv. 



Agropyrum caninum, Beauv. (Bearded Wheat-grass). 

 Tufted weed, not creeping, in woods, &c. Blade thinner 

 and rougher beneath, but very variable. Properties similar 

 to those of A . repens. 



Agropyrum may be confused with Lolmm (see p. 49) and 

 Agrostis (see p. 51), but hardly with any other grass, and with 

 these only because it is liable to be glabrous or nearly so on poor 

 soil. 



Elymus has much more pronounced ridges than the sea-shore 

 varieties of Agropyrum. 



(6) Base of blade with inconspicuous roimded ears. Leaves 

 convolute. Ligule conspicuous. 



Anthoxanthum odoratum, L. (Sweet Vernal-grass). 

 Compact tuft. Common in pastures and hay, but it only 



