IDENTIFICATION OF GRASSES. 



17 



truncate, toothed, hairy on the back; sheaths with reddish pink veins, not 

 compressed, densely hairy ; blades flat, hairy, one-fourth inch wide, sharp 

 pointed; nerves distinct, separated by dark-brown lines. 



21. Switch-grass (Panicum virgatum; fig. 25). 



A coarse perennial, creeping by rootstocks; leaves rolled in the bud; 

 collar broad, continuous, hairy ; auricles none ; ligule a fringe of short hairs, 

 in front of a tuft of fine, soft hairs at the base of the blade ; sheaths not 

 compressed, hairy along the margins near the top ; blades flat, narrowed at 

 base, one-fourth to one-half inch wide, taper pointed ; rootstocks strong, one- 

 eighth inch or more in diameter. 



Fig. 27. — Meadow foxtail (Alope- 

 curus pratensis). 



Fig. 28. 



-Reed canary grass 

 nacea). 



(Phalaris arundi- 



22. Downy* brome-grass {Bromus tectorum; fig. 26). 



A slender, tufted annual ; leaves rolled in the bud ; collar narrow, con- 

 tinuous, hairy ; auricles none ; ligule medium long, acute, hairy on the 

 margin near the apex ; sheaths not compressed, hairy, veiny, the veins 

 pinkish below ground ; blades flat, weak, hairy, one-fourth inch wide, sharp 

 pointed. 



23. Meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis; fig. 27). 



A glabrous perennial with short rootstocks; leaves rolled in the bud; 

 collar broad, glabrous; auricles none; ligule membranous, long, obtuse; 

 sheaths smooth, not compressed, dark violet to maroon below ground; 

 blades flat, one-fourth inch wide, rough on the upper surface and along the 

 margins ; rootstocks strong, branched, short, partly above ground, each ter- 

 minating in a single shoot. 



