14 



BULLETIN 461, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



one-eighth inch wide, tapering to the tip ; creeping stems always above 

 ground, giving off clusters of shoots. 



This grass is distinguished from Kentucky bluegrass by being coarser and rough, by 

 the ligule, and by the above-ground stolons, the creeping stems of Kentucky bluegrass 



being always below ground. 



14. Italian rye-grass ( Lolium multiflorum ; 



fig. IS). 



A tufted, glabrous annual, or some- 

 times perennial ; leaves rolled in the 

 bud ; collar prominent ; auricles nar- 

 row and clawlike ; ligule membranous, 

 short, thin, obtuse; sheaths not com- 

 pressed, strongly nerved, violet pink 

 below ground ; blades three-sixteenths 

 inch wide, taper pointed, smooth on 

 the margins, prominently nerved on 

 the upper surface, glossy beneath ; 

 nerves small, separated by light-green 

 lines when viewed by transmitted 

 light. 

 -Italian rye-grass (Lolium multi- This grags is very similar to perennial rye- 

 jiorum). grass and meadow fescue. It is distin- 



guished from meadow fescue by the smooth leaf margins and the nervation of the blades 

 when held up to the light and viewed with a lens. It is distinguished from perennial rye- 

 grass by its leaf bud, Italian rye-grass being convolute and perennial rye-grass folded. 



Fig. 18.- 



Fig. 19. — Meadow fescue (Festuca elatior). Fig. 20. — Quack-grass (A gropyronrcpens). 



ir>. Meadow fesoue (Festuca elatior; fig. 19).^ 



A tufted, glabrous, dark-green perennial ; leaves rolled in the bud ; collar 

 broad, continuous; auricles none; ligule membranous, short, truncate; 



