554 COMMON GRASSES OF THE FARM 



Crested Dogstail (Cynosurus cristaltts L.). The grass is not 

 hairy; its leaves are thick and firm, generally concave or not 

 quite flat, with prominent longitudinal ribs on the upper surfaces 

 of the blades. 



The leaves are firmer than those of Perennial rye-grass, and 

 sometimes slightly rolled so that the shoot is rounder. 



t. Leaf-sheaths not yellow. 



(i) Leaves almost cylindrical or bristle-like (Fig. 183). 



Sheep's Fescne (Fesluca orvina L. ] and the allied Hard and 

 Red fescues. The latter forms have leaves which are flatter 

 or not so closely folded as those of the typical sheep's 

 fescue. 



All have strong longitudinal ribs on the upper surface, 

 (ii) Leaves flat, without prominent longitudinal ribs. 

 * Leaves narrow ; two white longitudinal lines are seen — one on 

 each side of the mid-rib — when the leaf is held up to the 

 light and examined with a lens. 

 Meadow-Grasses or Foas. 



Bough-Stalked Meadow-Grasses {Poa trivialis L.). Ligule 

 acute ; tufted habit ; generally with an acute keel to the leaf- 

 sheath. 

 Smooth-Stalked Ueadow-Grass (Poa pratensis L.). Ligule 

 short ; rhizomes below ground. The leaves are thicker and 

 a darker green colour in this species than in the previous one. 



•* Leaves broad, without the white longitudinal lines. 



Cocksfoot {Dactylis glomerata L.). Prominent keel to the 

 leaf-sheath ; the under surface of the blade is duller than that 

 of rough-stalked meadow-grass, which is sometimes confused 

 with this species. 



GROUP n. 



LEAVES ROLLED IN THE BUD (Fig. 191) : THE SHOOT IS CYLINDRICAL. 

 The following grasses are included in this group : — 



Italian Rye-Grass. Sweet Vernal-Grass. 



Meadow Fescue. Yorkshire Fog. 



Tall Oat Grass. Couch. 



Yellow Oat-Grass. Fiorin. 



Timothy or Catstail. Soft Brome-Grass. 



Foxtail. 

 I. Base of leaf with claw-Uke appendages (Fig. 189). 



