_Anthoxanthum_ differs in its habit, ears, scent, sheath and ligule. _Molinia_ differs in habit, ligule, sheath, and tough stringy roots, and the shape of the leaves. _Avena pratensis_ differs in its narrow leaves, less prominent ridges, and ligule; _A. flavescens_ in its much broader and coarser hairy leaves, and the ligule; and _A. pubescens_ in pubescence and flat-shoots and ligule. †† _Leaves very thin, blade tapering below. Keel prominent, but no ridges above. Ligule long and torn._ _Milium effusum_, L. (Spreading Millet-grass). Tufted perennial. Leaves linear-lanceolate, scabrid above. Sheath smooth. Bitter tasting. May be slightly hairy. Woods. It is much liked by birds, but is of no value in agriculture. +B. Leaves or sheaths, or both, distinctly hairy.+ (α) Leaf-blades eared at the base. (_a_) Ears sharply pointed. Leaves convolute, and sections of shoots round. Ligule short and inconspicuous. _Agropyrum repens_, Beauv. (Couch-grass). A troublesome weed of arable land and gardens, &c., owing to the extraordinary vitality of its underground stolons. The young shoots are readily eaten by stock. Perennial, and extensively stoloniferous; bright or glaucous green. Blade thin, dry, rough edged, hairy and rough above, glabrous or hairy below. The short ligule fringed. Ears long, or sometimes short, pointed; often obliquely crossing in front of the sheath. Ridges inconspicuous. Hairs may be absent from the sheath, and nearly so from the blade. The sea-shore varieties are stiffer and more glaucous, the leaves more ribbed, involute and pointed--e.g. _A. junceum_, Beauv. _Agropyrum caninum_, Beauv. (Bearded Wheat-grass). Tufted weed, not creeping, in woods, &c. Blade thinner and rougher beneath, but very variable. Properties similar to those of _A. repens._ _Agropyrum_ may be confused with _Lolium_ (see p. 49) and _Agrostis_ (see p. 51), but hardly with any other grass, and with these only because it is liable to be glabrous or nearly so on poor soil. _Elymus_ has much more pronounced ridges than the sea-shore varieties of _Agropyrum_. (_b_) Base of blade with inconspicuous rounded ears. Leaves convolute. Ligule conspicuous. _Anthoxanthum odoratum_, L. (Sweet Vernal-grass). Compact tuft. Common in pastures and hay, but it only forms a small proportion of the crop. One of the earliest grasses, and the principal one, which gives the scent to new-mown hay: a perfume has been extracted from it. Its value as fodder is probably overrated. Bitter tasted. Leaves more or less hairy at margins, especially at throat of sheath, flat, and slightly ridged. Sheath furrowed, often pubescent. Ligule long and blunt, with ciliate margins. Sweet scented when dried. The most shallow rooted of all meadow-grasses. Leaves often short and few.