=June Grass. Kentucky Blue Grass.= _Poa pratensis_ L. Florets
ovate-lanceolate, acute 3-4 mm. long, with three equal sides when seen
in transverse section, nearly smooth, if severely rubbed in threshing,
otherwise the floral glume is thickly webbed at the base; palea
acuminate, grain light brown, elliptical, both ends usually pointed
1.2-1.4 mm. long, in cross sections with three equal sides, one of which
has a shallow vertical groove. Compare with Poa compressa. Introduced
from Europe.
[Illustration: Fig. 22.]
=Rye.= _Secale cereale_ L. Grain light brown, 6-8 mm. long, elliptical,
base acute, apex obtuse and rounded, in cross section the back somewhat
acutely rounded, the opposite side with a narrow vertical groove,
surface more or less irregularly wrinkled. Introduced from Europe. A bad
weed in wheat fields.
[Illustration: Fig. 23.]
=Pigeon-Grass. Yellow Foxtail.= _Setaria glauca_ (L.) Beauv.
_Chaetochloa glauca_ (L.) Scrib. Spikelets light to dark brown, 2.5-3
mm. long; after threshing or much rubbing consisting of each a grain and
two firm coverings, known as a floral glume which covers the sides of
the somewhat depressed palea, oval, apex slightly 3-toothed, rounded
side strongly arched, somewhat V-shaped, roughened crosswise by
prominent fine more or less branching ridges; ridges of palea on concave
side less prominent. Introduced from Europe. Very common in hoed annual
crops.
[Illustration: Fig. 24.]
=Green Foxtail. Green Pigeon Grass.= _Setaria viridis_ (L.) Beauv.
_Chaetochloa viridis_ (L.) Nash. Spikelets, light to dark brown mottled,
2-2.3 mm. long, after threshing or much rubbing consisting of the grain
and two firm coverings, the rounded one known as a floral glume which
covers the edges of the flattened side, oval, the surface granular and
very faintly striate, lengthwise and ridged crosswise. Much resembling
Hungarian grass. Introduced from Europe. Found with yellow foxtail.
[Illustration: Fig. 25.]
=Porcupine Grass.= _Stipa spartea_ Trin. Grain inclosed in the floral
glume, light brown, 18 mm. long, clothed on the lower half with short
brown hairs slanting upward, bearing at the base a sharp, hard, curved
beak, when dry the attached awn is twisted for 6 cm. and straight and
bent at right angles about 6 cm. When moistened, the awn untwists more
or less; twisting and untwisting the beards hold what the beak pierces,
thus making it a formidable weapon to enter the skins of sheep, goats
and dogs. Fortunately it is seldom abundant. Sandy land Michigan and
westward.
SEDGE FAMILY. CYPERACEAE.
[Illustration: Fig. 26.]
=Yellow Nut-Grass.= _Cyperus esculentus_ L. This is a species of sedge,
and so far as I have examined, produces no seeds, perhaps having lost
that method of reproduction, as it acquired the habit of spreading by
tubers here illustrated. In moist soil, sometimes a troublesome weed.
[Illustration: Fig. 27.]
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