57 
Botanical description. Meadow foxtail is, to a large extent, a stoloniferous grass. The branches 
are extravaginal; they run horizontally underground for a short distance, forming stolons with scale 
leaves (fig. B.). The terminal portions of the branches ascend into the air, as aerial branches with 
green foliage ; these stand separate from one another. At times, several branches may ascend directly 
into the air without forming stolons; these, being close together, appear somewhat tufted. The sheaths 
of the radical leaves are at first white ; later, they become brown, but never split up into fibres (fig. B). 
The culm is 2—3 ft. high, often bent and rooting at the basal nodes. The leaf-blades are convolute 
in the bud, very long, and somewhat rough; the ribs on the upper surface are flat and distinct (fig. 10). 
The leaf-sheaths are smooth, and usually slightly swollen on the culms. The ligule is long and obtuse 
(fig. 9). The inflorescence is apparently a cylindrical spike (fig. A). When closely examined, however, 
it is seen to be a branched inflorescence, each branch bearing % to 10 spikelets, and so in reality it is 
a spike-like panicle. As the branches and the pedicles are very minute, the resemblance to the spike 
is very strong. The spikelet is one-flowered and flat (fig. 8). Both glumes are equal, lanceolate, acutely 
keeled (fig. 8), and longer than the pale; the keel and lateral ribs have long soft hair (fig. 1). At the 
base, the glumes cohere for a third of their whole length (fig. 1). The lower pale is membranous ; at the 
base, it spreads round the flower, and the margins unite ; the awn, which is about twice as long as the pale, 
arises near the base (fig. 2). The upper pale and the lodicules are absent. The flower is composed of 
three stamens and a pistil (fig. 3). The anthers are at first yellow; later, brown or violet. The ovary is 
glabrous ; the styles are two, coherent beneath, and prolonged to form a pair of long feathery stigmas (fig. 3), 
During flowering, the glumes and the pales retain their position (fig. 4). As in Timothy, a slight 
opening at the summit allows the anthers and the stigmas to protrude there. As is usually the case 
with grasses, self-fertilization is here impossible, because the anthers are protruded and bent away from 
the stigmas before they dehisce (fig. 1), At maturity, the whole spikelet forms the false fruit: it is 
known to be in fruit by the awn, which then becomes twisted and bent as in figs. 4 and 5. (Compare 
figs. 1 and 2). Including the awn, the spikelet is 8 mm. long, without it, 5mm. The yellow CUryopsis 
is flat and ovate, 2—2'/2 mm, long (fig. 7); at its base on one of the edges lies the embryo (figs.6 and 7). 
The English name Meadow foxtail is merely a translation of the Latin. Although long ago recom- 
mended by Linneus, its cultivation has only recently commenced. 
For leys of several years, or for permanence this is one of the most valuable »top<« 
grasses ; it 1s perennial, and produces abundance of good fodder. 
Occurrence, Climate, Soil, Manure. Meadow foxtail is indigenous — to almost all Europe. 
even Lapland; to Northern Africa, to Asia, in Caucasus, Georgia, Siberia (Altai, Baikal, Dahuria). 
It frequently occurs on grass-land which is moist, rich in humus and deep, in valleys, and on 
alluvial soils. On the Alps, it occurs at a height of 5,250 ft. 
No fodder-grass withstands cold so well as this; late frosts do it no great injury. 
Consequently in an extreme season, it suffers comparatively little. It can grow well in the 
shade and is thus appropriate beneath trees. Its growth commences quite early, when the 
trees are still in bud, before the leaves are out to intercept the light. At this time, the 
light has free access and gives the grass a good start. 
Poor dry soils are not suitable. In such, it remains small, and after a short exis- 
tence disappears altogether. It succeeds best on loams and clays rich in humus, on moist 
loamy sands, and on all good soils containing humus. It is a good grass for very moist 
soils, or for irrigated lands. It cannot bear stagnant water. 
1000 lbs. of hay remove from the soil: — 
Nitrogen . . 16.6 Ibs. Magnesia . . 0.9 Ibs. 
Phosphoric acid 4.2. ,, Sulphuric acid 4.5. ,, 
Posiiet: £ ... 28.0 3: LCs erat, CATS SOU ts: 
Bites Fe oe Ve SiGe 8 
Botanical 
description. 
Name and 
History. 
Agricultural 
value. 
Geographical 
distribution. 
Habitat and 
Limits of 
altitude. 
Climate. 
Soil. 
Substances 
removed from 
the soil. 
