H. maritimum, With. is a sea-side form, smaller and more glaucous. Sheaths hairy.
(β) Leaf-blades not eared at the base.
✲ Sheaths of radical leaves veined with red-purple.
Holcus lanatus, L. (Yorkshire Fog). A useless weed, but very common in pasture and hay; forming tussocks, greyish-green, softly hairy (tomentose). Blades with roundish ridges. Ligule short and obtuse. Sheath somewhat keeled, with trace of collar ledge. It is said to have a bitter taste (Fig. [15]).
Ligule pilose. Tufted hairs along the broad rounded ridges, and on the lower surface and prominent keel.
The much rarer H. mollis, L. is not so long-haired, except on the nodes, and is more creeping and slender in habit. It is a “twitch."
The Hordeums present several points of difficulty to beginners. The differences between the species are given above. H. maritimum has narrower and thicker leaves than the rest.
Bromes are most likely to be confounded with Hordeums, but they have entire sheaths and no ears (see p. [43]).
For distinctions between H. murinum and Lolium see p. [49]. H. sylvaticum and Bromus asper (p. [44]).
✲✲ No conspicuously red-veined sheaths.
† Ligule absent, or a tuft of hairs.
Molinia cærulea, Mœnch. (Purple Molinia). Tussocks, with tough stringy roots. Leaves narrowed below, and tapering above to a long point, ridges obsolete; very thin and dry but fairly stiff, and hairy above, especially at the base. Ligule absent, or a tuft of hairs. Sheaths smooth. Moors. Useless as forage, but used locally for brooms.
Molinia is not easily confounded with any others but Anthoxanthum (see p. [57]), Arrhenatherum (see p. [56]) or Brachypodium.
Brachypodium sylvaticum is distinguished by habitat, its broad leaves, membranous ligule, fibrous roots, &c.
Kœleria cristata, Pers. (Crested Kœleria). Very short, perennial in dry pastures, pubescent, pale green. Leaves narrow, tapering below, soon involute, ciliated. Ridges prominent, alternately high and low. Ligule obsolete, or a mere jagged yellowish line. Useless.
Triodia decumbens, Beauv. (Decumbent Heath-grass). Low perennial. Leaves narrow, obtuse, slightly ridged, tough, at length involute, with long, soft hairs, especially below and on the edges. Sheath grooved, hairy, especially at the throat. Ligule a tuft of hairs. Section of shoot flat; leaves conduplicate. Of no known use as fodder.
The rare grasses Panicum glabrum, Gaud., P. viride, L. and P. Crus-galli, L. introduced in the S.E. counties also come here.
†† Ligule membranous.