xii. 



xii. 



. Bend the blade round the finger, and examine the 

 upper surface. A pair of parallel lines run along the 

 middle, from base to apex: these, from their situation, 

 are termed median lines. When the blade is held up 

 to the light, and examined (preferably with the lens), 

 the thin parts, corresponding to the parallel depres- 

 sions, stand out as yellow lines, contrasting strongly 

 with the dark background formed by the remainder 

 of the thick blade. When faint, median lines are 

 most readily detected by this method of examination. 



. The ligule is quite short and inconspicuous. 

 Summary : 



a. Blade with parallel edges, a rounded apex, 



and firm between the fingers. 



b. The blade is ribless, with a pair of median 



lines. By transmitted light, the median 

 lines appear as a pair of yellow lines. The 

 rest of the blade, being thick, is dark green. 



c. Ligule short. 



NOTE. On some soils, where this grass is not 

 readily eaten, smooth-stalked meadow becomes very 

 luxuriant, and, in this condition, is often confounded 

 with cocksfoot. The following are the most obvious 

 distinctions : 



