28 Botanical Section [pt i 



Poa trivialis. 



Agrostis alba var. stolonifera. 



Alopecurus pratensis j Generall tend to increase on 

 Bromus mollis ^ annuaU mown 



Holcus lanatus J 



Phleum pratense. 

 Arrhenatherum avenaceum. 

 Anth.oxanth.um odoratum. 

 The following annuals are almost wholly confined to cultivated 

 land: 

 Avena fatua (in corn crops). 



Lolium temulentum (in corn crops and waste places). 

 Alopecurus agrestis (wet clays). 



CHAPTER IV 



COMMON BRITISH GRASSES GROUPED ACCORDING TO 

 THEIR VEGETATIVE CHARACTERS 



It is often necessary for those engaged in botanical or agricul- 

 tural work, nature study, etc., to be able to distinguish with 

 certainty our common grasses when they are not in flower. 

 A considerable amount of experience in this direction has enabled 

 the author to form a simple and yet very reliable key, which is 

 given below. It includes all the species which are likely to be 

 met with on farms in Britain. In its construction there are four 

 steps which lead up to the identification of the species. The 

 student should always examine his specimens in the following 

 order : 



1. Are the leaf-blades expanded or permanently closed? 



2. Are the young leaves rolled ox folded up in the shoot? 



3. Is the species entirely glabrous, or more or less hairy? 



4. Are auricles present or absent? 



With regard to the first point, it should be noticed whether 

 the leaves are permanently closed or only temporarily rolled or 

 folded on account of drought, etc. 



The second point can also be best determined — if there is any 



