418 



WEED FLORA OP IOWA 



Wire Grass (Pooi compressa L.). 



Spikelets lanceolate, 5-9-flowered, one-sixth to one-quarter in. in 



length, flowering glumes about one-seventh in. in length, obscurely 



5-nerved ; marginal teeth of palet continue to extreme apex. Found 



with seed of Kentucky blue grass and other commercial grass seed. 



Figure 251A 



Figure 251B 



Fig. 251. A. Wire Grass (Poo compressa). a,, b, two views of seed; c, 

 natural size ; d, upper portion of palet showing marginal spines. B. Ken- 

 tuclcy Blue Grass (.Poa pratensis). a, b, two views of seed; o, natural 

 size ; d, upper part of palet showing marginal spines. 

 (Hillman, Bull. Mich. Agr. Exp. Sta.) 



Kentucky Blue Grass {Poa pratensis L.) . 



Spikelet 3-5-flowered, one-sixth in. long, on short scabrous pedi- 

 cels; empty glumes slightly unequal, lower nea,rly lanceolate, 1- 

 nerved, upper glume broader, 3-nerved; flowering glume ovate, 

 scarious towards the apex, base cobwebby, rachilla slender; palet 

 with marginal teeth disappearing short of the apex. Pound oc- 

 casionally in fescue grass seed and the commercial grass seed. 



Meadow Fescue {Festuca elatior L.). 

 Spikelet lanceolate, 5-10-flowered ; empty glume lanceolate, acute, 

 one-quarter in. long, smooth, faintly striate ; indistinctly 5-nerved ; 

 rachilla slender. Occasionally found in brome grass and rye grass 

 seeds. 



FiQ. 262. Meadow Fescue (Festuca elatior). 

 (Drawing by Ada Hayden.) 



