IDENTIFICATION OF GRASSES. 



narrow and clawlike, clasping the stem more or less." As orchard 

 grass does not have clawlike auricles, pass on to the line " AA," which 

 reads "Auricles wanting, or at least not narrow and clawlike." The 

 next line after "AA," marked " B," reads " Collar hairy." Orchard 

 grass does not have a hairy collar ; so, pass over the intervening sub- 

 jects to line " BB. Collar not hairy." The next line, " C. Sheaths 

 below ground bright yellow," does not apply to this grass; so, pass 

 on to " CC. Sheaths below ground not yellow." The next line, " D. 

 Blades narrow and bristlelike, but with prominent veins on upper 

 surface," does not apply ; so, pass on to " DD. Blades flat ; nerves not 

 prominent." The next line, " E. Blades broad without white lines 

 along midnerve by transmitted light; tip of blade taper pointed," 

 applies, and here is also given the name of the grass. 



The number before the common name of the grass refers to the 

 number given this grass in the general description following the key. 

 As there are several hundred grasses and this key includes but 56, 



Fig. 4. 



-Different arrangements of leaves in the buds : A, Folded ; B and C, rolled or 

 convolute. 



it is readily apparent that some grasses not mentioned here might 

 be traced out in the key and be given wrong names. If a specimen 

 answers all the requirements of the key as a certain grass but does 

 not correspond with the detailed description, it is evidently not in- 

 cluded in this bulletin. 



While the characters which have been used are the ones that appear 

 to be the most reliable, it is not uncommon to find individual speci- 

 mens of every species which differ from the majority. For instance, 

 tall oat-grass often has a few hairs on the sheaths. Timothy and a 

 number of other grasses sometimes have pink or violet colored sheaths 

 below ground when grown under certain conditions. It is very im- 

 portant to study several specimens of a species, if possible, before 

 attempting to identify it. 



No claim is made that this ke}^ is infallible. It has been of much 

 assistance to the writer in identifying the common hay and pasture 

 grasses, and it is hoped that it may serve the same purpose for others. 



