196 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



BARLEY GRASS--(Hbrdettm pussHlum.) 



Spikelets one flowered, with an awl-shaped rudiment on the inner 

 side, three at each joint of the rachis, the lateral ones usually abortive 

 or imperfect, short stalked; glumes side by side in front of the spike- 

 lets, slender and bristle-form; lower pale convex, long awned; stamens, 

 three; grain long, adhering to the pales. Flint. 



Barley Grass is found usually in brackish marshes, and 

 grows from 6 to 12 inches high. It looks very much like 

 barley, and is much relished by cattle, and when full of 

 seeds, it is very nourishing. It could be sown on places 

 that would scarcely produce anything else, as in swampy 

 localities. It is not of much value in an agricultural point 

 of view, though stock will eat it. 

 TALL MEADOW OAT GRASS (Arrkenatherum avenaeeum.) 



Spikelets two flowered, and the rudi- 

 ments of a third, open ; lowest flower 

 staminate or sterile, with a long bent 

 awn below the middle of the back; 

 leaves flat, acute roughish on both 

 sides, most on the inner ; panicle 

 leaning slightly to one side; glumes; 

 very unequal ; stems from two to 

 three feet high; root perennial, fi- 

 brous, sometimes bulbous. It has two 

 florets, the lower one having a long awn 

 rising from a little above the base of the 

 outer palea, and this peculiarity distin- 

 guishes it from all other grasses It 

 Flowers from May to July. flint. 



This grass is very popular in 

 France, from whence it was in- 

 troduced, and is there known by 

 the name of "Ray Grass." 



It will grow well on any land 

 that produces clover. Its limit is 

 about 1,500 feet above the sea. 

 It grows quickly and forms a 

 very excel lent grass for early pas- 

 turage, probably earlier than any 

 other. It is mown down for hay, 



