49 



Group I.- Characteristically Coloured 

 Grasses. 



Blade shining on lower surface ; ribs prominent ; ligule 

 remarkably short. 



Red sheathed ; shoot flat, because the blades are 

 folded. 



Lolium Perenne, L. (Perennial ryegrass). 

 Fig. I. Base of shoot shewing colour. 



Red sheathed, shoot round, because the blades 

 are rolled (I. i). 



Lolium Italicum, Braun (Italian ryegrass). The 



veins do not appear as white lines when the blade 



is held up to the light and examined by a lens ; 



basal margins smooth. 

 Lolium temulentum, L. (Darnel). An annual, very 



like L. Italicum. Reputed poisonous. 

 Festuca elatior, L. (Meadow and tall fescues). 



The veins appear as white lines by transmitted 



light ; basal margin rough. 



Old sheaths yellow. 



Cynosurus cristatus, L. (Crested dogstail). Blades 

 earless, thicker than perennial ryegrass and less 

 closely folded, hence the shoot is more rounded. 

 Ligule eared (XIV. n). 

 Fig. 2. Base of shoot shewing colour. 



Sheath dark brown or violet ; ribs low and flat. 

 Alopecurus pratensis, L. (Meadow foxtail). 



Fig. 3. Base of shoot shewing colour. 



(Alopecurus agrestis, L. (Slender foxtail). Annual. Ribs 

 acute. ) 



Hairy ; red veins in white sheath (fig. 4). 



Holcus lanatus, L. j Holcus mollis, L. 



(Yorkshire fog.) (deeping soft grass.) 



Growth I Tufted Creeping. 



Shoot 'Contracted JLengthened, with two 



rows of leaves. 

 Nodes Hair little or none With a downward sloping 



ring of hair. 



