Group IV. Cord-rooted Grasses (in Hill 

 Pastures). 



iv. i. With few exceptions, the true roots of grass plants 

 are excessively fine fibres. So-called creeping roots 

 are not roots at all, but underground stems. In the 

 cord-rooted group, all the roots are not fine fibres, 

 but some are thickened into cord-like structures 

 very striking, when the plants which possess them are 

 pulled out of the ground. 



MAT GRASS. 



iv. i, 2 . The blades are here remarkably hard bristles, very 

 sharp and thorn-like at the apex. The base of the 

 bristle is thick, and cartilaginous. The young blade 

 is erect, but soon attains the horizontal position. 

 The bristle blades of sheep's fescue are more or less 

 erect, softer, and never spread out in a horizontal 

 direction. 



FLYING BENT OR PURPLE MOLINIA. 

 The former name refers to the circumstance that 

 the old blades readily detach from the parent plant. 

 Being very thin, dry, and light, they are readily carried 

 along by the wind. The blades often accumulate in 

 sheltered drains on the hills, in quantities sufficient to 

 necessitate cleaning. 



iv. 3 , 4 . The shape of the blade is characteristic. Starting 

 from the narrow base, the edges gradually diverge till 

 near the middle, when they change their course, and 

 gradually converge, ultimately forming the acute apex. 

 The blade is, therefore, described as taper-based and 

 acute-pointed. 



