GRASSES 73 
XVIII.— GRASSES. 
General Character of Grasses.—The wild and cul- 
tivated grasses are generally slender leafy herbs, seldom 
more than two or three feet in height, with hollow jointed 
stems, and narrow, flat or rolled, and often strap-like 
leaves. The grasses cultivated for their grains and known 
as cereals, are taller and stouter, ¢.g., Oats, Wheat, Maize. 
In our warmer districts Maize and Bamboos grow freely. 
These are among the tallest and stoutest grasses found in 
any part of the world. The flowers of grasses are very 
simple and in many ways unlike those of any other family 
of plants. 
A TuFrtr oF CocKSFOOT GRASS. 
Cocksfoot Grass (Dactylis glomerata) is very common 
in pastures and by waysides, and also in gardens and 
orchards, for it thrives in shady situations better than 
most other grasses. 
For this reason it is 
known as “Orchard 
grass” in the United 
States of America. 
Loosen and pull up 
a small tuft and 
shake off or wash 
away the soil. Notice 
the rather stout bran- 
ches creeping and 
rooting where they 
rest on the ground. 
The branches are 
short and spring 
from the bases of 
Fig. 59.—Tuft of Cocksfoot, showing 
STIOLORGONAG: the lowermost leaves 
