80 NEW ZEALAND NATURE-STUDY BOOK 
the blade. The leaf-sheaths, too, are flattened, and are 
thus less readily injured by the trampling of cattle. They 
are reddish towards the base. Compare with this the 
inflorescence of Wheat (a compound spike), Barley, and the 
native Blue Oat Grass (Agropyrum scabrum). 
From our examination of the grasses we have studied, 
we learn that grasses have two types of inflorescence, the 
panicle and the spike, and that the number of flowers 
in each spikelet, may be one, two, or more. In grasses 
with one or two flowered spikelets the number of flowers 
is generally constant. Where the number of flowers is 
greater, it is more or less variable. 
A Typical Sward or Creeping Grass. Dig upa 
small patch of Smooth Meadow Grass (Kentucky Blue Grass, 
Poa pratensis), and shake off the soil. Observe the slender 
widely creeping rootstock, producing few or several flowering 
stems and numerous underground stolons. At a shor’ 
distance from the parent planv 
Mi the stolon forms new roots on 
ey, the under side and sends up a 
A tuft of leaves on the upper. 
Next season these barren tufts 
will produce one or more flower- 
ing stems, and give off a fresh 
crop of stolons, which will form 
new rooting and leafy tufts as 
before. In this way every bit 
of unoccupied ground near the 
plant is overspread and a close 
\ | Ny 6. «= sward of grass is formed. This 
\\ Ld grass is thus a vigorous and 
a  ®, aggressive perennial, being able 
i] 
to spread rapidly when closely 
Fig. 64.—Smooth-stalked . 
Meadow Grass. cropped and even when entirely 
