24 



BULLETIN 461, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



42. Smooth paspalum (Paspalum clilatatum; fig. 46). 



A coarse, tufted perennial ; leaves rolled in the bud ; collar medium broad, 

 continuous, hairy ; auricles none ; ligule membranous, thin, acute, long ; 

 sheaths strongly compressed, densely hairy below, sparsely so above ; blades 

 sparsely hairy at base, one-fourth inch wide, sharp pointed, thin, narrowed 

 at base. 



Smooth paspalum is a taller growing grass than field paspalum, which it closely resem- 

 bles. The densely hairy sheaths and usually darker green color are characteristic. It is 

 often grown in the Southern States for hay. The membranous ligule distinguishes this 

 grass from false redtop and flat-stemmed panic. 



43. Bermuda grass (Capriola dactylon; fig. 47). 



A low-growing perennial, creeping by rootstocks or stolons, or both ; leaves 

 roiled in the bud ; collar narrow, with a ring of stiff hairs ; auricles none ; 

 ligule a fringe of short hairs ; sheaths strongly compressed, sparsely hairy ; 

 blades soft, rough margined, one-eighth inch wide, sharp pointed ; root- 

 stocks one-eighth inch in diameter, mostly below ground, but becoming 

 stolons on hard soil. 



Fig. 45. — Field paspalum (Paspalum 

 laeve). 



Fig. 46. — Smooth paspalum (Paspalum 

 dilatatum). 



44. False redtop (Tridens flavus; fig. 4S). 



A coarse, tufted perennial; leaves rolled in the bud (fig. 4. C) : collar 

 hairy on the back; auricles none; ligule a fringe of short hairs; sheaths 

 strongly compressed, tough, firm, smooth, glossy, slightly hairy on the upper 

 margins; blades narrowed at base, taper pointed, minutely hairy above,- 

 smooth and glossy beneath, one-half inch wide, sharp pointed. 



This grass closely resembles the field and the smooth paspalums, from which it is 

 distinguished by its ligule, and flat-stemmed panic, from which it differs in not having 

 rootstocks. The leaves are creased lengthwise from the manner in which they are rolled 

 in the bud. 



