THE PERENNIAL GRASSES 



207 



small and slender, while others grow strong stems, with 

 coarse, broad leaves. The largest forms are the varieties 

 used for hay or pasture. Redtop has a shallow root 

 system, made up of many underground root stalks, which 

 form a firm, dense sod. Be- 

 cause of the numerous stolons, 

 it is a valuable grass for bind- 

 ing soil to prevent it from wash- 

 ing. The culms vary from one 

 to four feet in height, and are 

 usually erect, though they are 

 sometimes decumbent. The 

 nodes of the culms take root 

 when they come in contact with 

 the ground. The leaves are not 

 as numerous as those of timothy. 

 The inflorescence is an open, 

 much branched panicle, and the 

 spikelets are small and contain 

 but one flower. During the 

 early stages of growth the pan- 

 icle is contracted and green in 

 color, but as the plant matures, 

 the panicle expands and takes 

 on a reddish purple color. Red- 

 top bears a resemblance to blue- 

 grass, but can be distinguished 

 from it by the smaller and more numerous spikelets 

 having only one flower, while blue-grass has 3 to 5 

 flowers per spikelet. Blue-grass is an earlier grass and 

 comes into full bloom about six weeks before redtop 

 blooms. Redtop seed varies considerably in quality; 

 as it comes from the thrasher it contains much chaff and 



FIG. 73. Redtop. 



