MEADOW FESCUE 



S43 



for sowing on the stififer and damper class of soils in sheltered 

 situations. It is less hardy than smooth-stalked meadow-grass, 

 suffering more readily from frost and drought, and does not start 

 growth so soon in spring. 



Wood Meadow-Grass {Poa nemoralis L.). — A perennial grass 

 resembling the two previous species, but of more slender growth, 

 and generally confined to shady places and woods. It has very 

 narrow leaves and a very short ligule. Although it will endure a 

 certain amount of drought when grown in 

 the open meadow, its practical agricultural 

 value is small. 



Late Meadow-Grass (Pi^a serotina Ehrh.) 

 is not a native British species, but its seeds 

 are sometimes sold in place of Wood 

 Meadow-Grass. It is a somewhat coarse 

 kind of Poa which yields a good late crop 

 of grass. 



Genus Festuca. 



Panicles usually spreading; spikelets 

 with three or more flowers ; empty glumes 

 unequal, shorter than the flowering glume ^ 

 lower half of the flowering glume rounded 

 on the back, upper part often keeled, 

 awned from the tip or with a short, stiff 

 point ; styles terminal on the ovary. 



Meadow Fescue {Festucapratensis'L.). — 

 Aperennial broad, flat-leaved grass growing 

 from 2 to 3 feet high, and common in damp 

 meadows. Although somewhat tufted in 

 habit it tends to cover the ground very 

 evenly. It is among the earliest of grasses 

 to start growth in spring, often rivalling „ , „ . 



° . . f °' . ° Fig. 182.—^, Panicle of 



meadow foxtail m this respect. It yields Mc-idow Fescue (natural size). 



. , B, Spikelet (twice natural 



a large amount of nutritious fodder and size). 



grows rapidly after mowing or depasturing with stock. 



