NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



161 



PRATENSIS SPEAR-GRASS GREEN MEADOW-GRASS JUNE- 

 GRASS KENTUCKY BLUE-GRASS. (Fig. 11.) 



Stem smooth, erect, 

 terete, surmounted by a 

 rather spreading crowd- 

 ed panicle, and whose 

 spikeletsare ovate, acute 

 and crowded on the 

 branchlets, from two to 

 five flowered. Glumes 

 unequal, sharply accu- 

 minate, lower paleae five 

 nerved. 



This grass is a native 

 of Europe, but has be- 

 come extensively natu- 

 ralized in the United 

 States, both north* and 

 south. It is particularly 

 at home in some of the 

 south-western States, as 

 Kentucky and Tennes- 

 see. It extends through 

 the Atlantic States as 

 far south as Charleston, 

 where, according to El- 

 liott, it grows to the 

 height of 18 inches, 

 where it also makes a 

 fine winter grass, re- 

 markable for its deep 

 green color, and soft suc- 

 culent leaves. It bears 

 the summer heats in 

 (FIG. 11.) close, rich soils-, and 



wants only size to render it one of the most valuable acquisi- 

 tions to the farmer. It is perennial, and hence deserves the 

 special attention of the southern planter, as there is a great 

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