40 



sometimes called abortive flowers, each one with an awn between the 

 lobes; the upper or perfect flower is smaller, consisting of one broad, 

 thin, three-nerved glume, and one (commonly considered the palet) nar- 

 row, one-nerved, hyaline glume. No true pal et. Stamens two; styles 

 two, distinct. 

 A. odoratum (Sweet Vernal Grass). 



A perennial grass, native of Europe, much employed as a part of 

 mixed lawn grasses, and frequently naturalized in meadows. It grows 

 thinly on the ground, with slender culms, seldom more than 1 foot to 18 

 inches in height, and scanty in foliage. The panicle is 2 to 3 inches 

 long, narrow, close, but expands considerably during flowering time. 

 It is very fragrant and gives a pleasant odor to hay. (Plate 34.; 



ALOPE GURUS. 



Alopecurus geniculatus (Water Foxtail). 



This species and its variety aristulatus, which is the more abundant 

 form, is native to this country. It commonly grows on the muddy 

 banks of streams and lakes, and sometimes is found in wet meadows 

 and ditches. It seldom reaches more than a foot in height; the stem 

 is usually bent at the lower joint, and the sheaths of the leaves are 

 more or less swollen, especially the upper one. It is of no value for 

 cultivation, being useful only for the amount of grass it may contribute 

 to the wild forage of the place in which it grows. 



Alopecurus pratensis (Meadow Foxtail). 



This is a perennial grass, a native of Europe, bnt it has been introduced into this 

 country and is frequently found in meadows of the Eastern States. It has consider- 

 able resemblance to Timothy, but will be readily distinguished by an examination. 

 It ordinarily grows but 2 feet high, but frequently in good soil reaches 3 feet or more. 

 The culms are erect, with four or five leaves at pretty uniform distances. The 

 sheaths are long and rather loose, particularly the upper one. The blade of the leaf 

 is 3 or 4 inches long, about one-quarter of an inch wide at the base, and tapering 

 gradually to a point. The panicle terminates the stalk, and is a cylindrical spike 2 or 

 3 inches long, dense, soft, and with the awns of the flowers conspicuously projecting. 

 The spikelets are single-flowered, between 2 and 3 lines long. The outer glumes 

 are strongly compressed, boat-shaped, keeled, nearly equal, sometimes slightly united 

 together at the base, and have a line of soft, short hairs on the keels. These glumes 

 closely inclose the flower, which is of nearly the same length, and consists of a flower- 

 ing glume, but without any true palet. This flowering glume is folded upon itself 

 and incloses the stamens and styles. It gives rise on its back, near the base, to a fine 

 awn, which extends two or three lines beyond the glumes. 



Mr. J. S. Gould says : 



It flourishes in May, nearly four weeks in advance of Timothy, and ie one of the 

 earliest grasses to start in the spring. Pastures well covered with this grass will 

 afford a full bite at least one week earlier than those which do not have it. It does 

 not flourish in dry soils, but loves moist lands ; no grass bears a hot sun better, and 

 it is not injured by frequent mowings, ou which account, as well as for its early 

 verdure, it is valuable for lawns. 



(Plate 35.) 



