GRASSES OF MINOR IMPORTANCE 



101 



tucky bluegrass. It may be used for hay, producing 



a good quality but a small yield. On 



the whole, Canada bluegrass is of no 



importance except under conditions 



not suited to Kentucky bluegrass. 



The seed is nearly all produced in 



the southeastern part of the province 



of Ontario west of Niagara Falls. 



Description. The plants produce 

 numerous tough creeping rootstccks 

 which form a firm sod. The stems 

 are not tufted but arise from ther oot- 

 stocks singly. Stems usually about 

 a foot high, distinctly flattened, 

 the blades rather short and upright. 

 Panicle smaller and narrower than 

 that of Kentucky bluegrass. The 

 florets (the seed of commerce) resem- 

 ble those of that species and are used 

 to adulterate its seed. The color of 

 the plants of Canada bluegrass is 

 distinctly bluish green as distinguished 

 from the dark green of Kentucky 

 bluegrass. 



Botanical and Common Names. The botanical name 

 is Poa compressa L. It belongs to the bluegrass genus 

 as is indicated by the first part of the name. The specific 

 name compressa (compressed) refers to the flat stem. 



The recognized common name is Canada bluegrass or 

 the variant Canadian bluegrass. Other names are Eng- 



16. Canada Blue- 

 grass. A fl o w e r 

 head or panicle and 

 a single leaf. 



