25 



The absence of ribbing immediately distinguishes 

 meadow from ryegrass. 

 Summary : 



a. Shoot narrow, flat, with two acute edges. 



b. Blade relatively small, acute, tapered from the 



base, ribless ; shining on lower surface. 



Group VI. (See Part 17.) 



Group VII. Bitter-tasted Grasses. 



Search among the bottom vegetation of the pasture 

 for hairy grasses (not Yorkshire fog). Pull some, and 

 chew the blades. A peculiar bitter taste, resembling 

 the smell of new-mown hay or woodruff, indicates the 

 group. This characteristic taste is due to the presence 

 of cumarin. 



SWEET VERNAL GRASS. 



The hair varies very much ; sometimes it is present, vn 2. 

 sometimes, absent. The top part of the sheath has 

 often long spreading hair, but the most characteristic 

 feature is the presence of a long beard at the base of 

 the blade. 



The shape of the leaf blade is peculiar. The taper vn. i, 2 

 which forms the acute apex often commences quite 

 near the point, and well beyond the middle. 



The base frequently shows two small rounded ears 

 (seen by the lens), a peculiarity found in no other 

 grass. 



