The foxtails are easily recognised by the tail-like appearance of the ears ([Figs. 104 and 105]). The meadow foxtail ([Fig. 104]) is a valuable grass with broad, long, and succulent leaves. It spreads by means of prostrate stolons. The spikelets have short stalks, as can be seen on bending the ear on itself, and each spikelet contains only one flower. The silky awns give the ear a silvery grey colour. The grass flowers in early spring. The slender foxtail ([Fig. 105]) is a most injurious weed of cornfields. It can be distinguished from the meadow foxtail by its less vigorous appearance, by the thinner and more pointed ear, and by the black patches on the ear. It is often called “black bent.”
Timothy grass or “meadow catstail” ([Fig. 106]) has a general resemblance to meadow foxtail, but its ears are rough to the touch and green in colour. It also flowers much later in the year (July) and its pales are awnless; the two grasses are therefore easily distinguished. Timothy grows abundantly in clay soils, forming fairly close tufts.
Fig. 107.—Yorkshire Fog. (× ⅙.) Fig. 108.—Wild Oat. (× ⅙.)
Yorkshire fog ([Fig. 107]) is a rank weed which is distasteful to cattle, partly because it is covered with hairs and is difficult to wet, and partly because it has a bitter flavour. It is pale in colour and soft. It spreads rapidly by means of creeping stolons.
Oat grasses are of several species; one is cultivated as a cereal, others are valued as forage for cattle, while others still are troublesome weeds. The wild oat ([Fig. 108]) is a common weed in cornfields. It is an annual, from two or three feet high, with large spikelets forming a loose panicle, the flowers having awns twice as long as the spikelets. The cultivated oat is supposed to be a variety of the wild oat. The panicle of the yellow oat grass is oblong, and has erect spikelets.
Fig. 109.—Perennial Rye Grass. (× ⅙.) Fig. 110.—Sweet-scented Vernal Grass. (× ⅙.)