Illustrated Descriptions of the Grasses 



cultivated "by a few curious farmers" he leaves the interpretation 

 of the adjective to the prejudices of his readers. 



The long, fibrous roots, on which bulbous 

 formations are occasionally developed, give to 

 the plant great drouth-resistant qualities, but, 

 though valued in the South and extreme West, 

 Meadow Oat-grass has hardly proved itself 

 worthy of extensive cultivation north of Mason 

 and Dixon's line. 



Meadow Oat-grass. Arrhenaiherum elaiius 

 (L.) Beauv. , 



Perennial. 



Stem 2-4 it. tall, erect. Ligule about i"Iong. Leaves 

 3'-i2' long, i"-4"wide, flat, rough. 



Panicle 4'-io' long, narrow, branches short, erect or 

 ascending. Spikelets 2-flowered, 3"-5" long, brown- 

 ish, lower flower staminate, upper flower perfect. 

 Scales 4; outer scales acute, unequal; flowering 

 scales sparingly hairy, scale of lower flower bearing . 

 a bent and twisted dorsal awn about 6" long, scale 

 of upper flower bearing a very short, straight awn 

 between its teeth. Rachilla prolonged. Stamens 3, 

 anthers yellow. The fresh plant has a decidedly 

 bitter taste. 



Fields, waysides, ana waste places. May to August. 



Maine and Ontario to Georgia and Tennessee, also on 

 the Pacific coast. 



WILD OAT-GRASS, FLATTENED OAT- 

 GRASS, AND SILKY OAT-GRASS 



in rock-strewn pastures, where the scanty 

 soil supports low sumac and fragrant bayberry, 

 a slender, wiry grass covers the dry knolls and 

 blossoms in early spring soon after Sweet Vernal 

 blooms in moister fields. This grass, so common 

 on poor soil from Canada to the Gulf States, is 

 Wild Oat-grass, a species that varies not only in 

 size but also by occasionally clothing with silky 

 hairs its lower leaves. The larger plants differ 

 little from a small growth of Flattened Oat-grass 

 {Danthonia compressa) which blooms a few weeks 



143 



W'M Oat-grass 

 Danlhonia spkata 



