A SECOND OHIO WEED MANUAL. 



313 



Fig. 13. Galing-ale. 



{After Mitlspaugh.) 



Seeds, when stripped of flumes, much like rye in appearance, 1-8 inch long-. 

 Squirreltail-grass should be gathered and burned wherever it is found. If 

 this is practiced it may be prevented from becoming- a general pest. 



SEDGE FAMILY, CYPERACE^i. 

 54 Galingale | A and P) Cypous diandrus Torr., Cyperus strigosus L. There 

 are several species of this genus, Fig. 13, growing in low wet ground and in 



ditches. They have grass-like leaves and at 

 the top, clusters of flattened, chess-like fruits, 

 borne on cylindrical or triangular stems. 

 The second one has corm-1 ike tubers about the 

 base, which distinguishes it from the next. 



First of all to be rid of them, the land 

 must be underdrained and then thorough 

 tillage is required to destroy the \ lants 

 where they have become fully established. 



55 Nutgrass, Chufa (P) Cyperus escu- 

 lentus L. The nutgrass of Ohio is a species 

 of galingale, Cyperus, and is not identical 

 with that of the Atlantic and Gulf states, 

 which is Cyperus rotundus L., an introduced 

 weed. In character ours is a troublesome 

 weed, very difficult to eradicate. Unlike the 

 introduced pest, this produces few seeds and propagates itself chiefly by means 

 of underground stems, bearing small, pear-shaped tubers 1-2 in. in length, at 

 intervals of a few inches. Stems are sent up to the surface at like intervals. 

 Nutgrass is limited to lands originally suited to it, namely, those that were low 

 and quite wet. But upon draining these lands it is very difficult to eliminate 

 the plant. Some lands of this sort that have been in cultivation for many years 

 are far from rid of it. Like Canada thistle and quack-grass, the stems and 

 tubers underground must be starved out. To secure this, clean hoe cultivation 

 for two or more seasons will be required; even this may prove ineffectual if 

 infested fence rows are left uncleaned. 



56 Sedges (P) Carex spp. The sedges are numerous. Fig. 14 shows their 

 grass-like appearance. The leaves are frequently lighter colored than the 

 grasses, and the rough culms (stems) are mostly tri- 

 angular. The sedges that intrude upon the cultivator 

 are plants of wet soil which can only be disposed of 

 after drainage and by subsequent thorough culture. 

 When present they show that the ground is not in condi- 

 tion to yield right returns, without draining. 



RUSH FAMILY, JUNCACE^E. 



57 Slender Rush (P) /uncus tenuis Willd. The 

 slender rush, sometimes called poverty-grass, has round, 

 pithy, unbranched stems, 8 to 13 inches high, and seed 

 pods at the summit. . It grows in over-moist soil like 

 many of the preceding, and in trodden paths, but may 

 often be cleaned out through cultivation. More drainage 

 is the indicated need, where it occurs. The plant has 

 little or no feeding value. It is properly not a grass. 



58 Soft Rush (P) Juncus effusus L. A taller rush, 

 growing 2 to 3 ft. high, is often met with in the depres- 

 sions of pastures and in hollows. This soft rush is less frequent than the lasi 

 and should be treated in the same way. 



Fig. 11. Sedfre. 



[After Mil; span gh .) 



