30 



Botanical Section 



[PT I 



Key to the more Common Grasses, based mainly 

 upon their Foliage Characters. 



Group I. All the leaf-blades expanded. 



A. Shoot flattened (leaves folded in young shoot), plants entirely 



glabrous. 



(a) With small auricles. 



Lolium perenne (p. 113), basal sheaths red or piiik; 

 blade dull above, glossy below. 



(b) Without auricles. 

 'Bactylis glomerata (p. 93), sheaths very sharply 



keeled ; long acute ligule ; no stolons, generally 



distinct tufts. 



Poa trivialis (p. 129), ligule prominent and acute; 



blade glossy below; thin surface stolons if old. 



Sheaths Poa pratensis (p. 127), strong rhizomes if old ; ligule 



entire short and blunt, sometimes almost wanting; 



whilst blade dull. 



young 1 Glyceria jluitans (p. 105), aquatic; sheath striated; 



blade ribbed; sheaths with air cavities. 



Glyceria aquatica (p. 104), aquatic; blade often 



an inch wide, not ribbed; sheaths with air 



cavities. 



JPoa compressa (p. 123), sheaths very firm and acutely 



keeled. 

 Poa annua (p 122), ligule comparatively large and 

 white; blades dull, often wrinkled. 

 [ 2 Cynosurus cristatus (p. 90), dull dark-green blades; 

 short blunt ligule ; old basal sheaths yellowish. 

 Avena pratensis (p. 70) may come here.] 



B. Shoot cylindrical (leaves rolled in young shoot), plants 



glabrous, 

 (a) With auricles (or at least ledge-like projections at 

 base of blade). 

 Lolium italicum (p. 115), ligule distinct; basal 

 sheaths red; leaves broad, dull above and 

 glossy below. 



1 Later on the sheaths may be partially torn or split from above downwards. 

 " The shoot section varies as the young leaves may be folded or rolled. 



