Dactylis glomerata, L.
Not easily confounded with any other grass if attention is paid to the folded coarse leaves, the tufted perennial habit, and the harsh inflorescence, the glumes on the spikelets being stiffly hairy on the keel.
(ii) Panicle contracted, more or less ovoid or cylindroid, but most of the spikelets stalked, and not aggregated into dense clusters, spikelets silvery, containing 2-3 flowers.
Kœleria cristata, Pers.
Any resemblances to forms of Aira are at once nullified by the absence of true awns in Kœleria. Festuca and Poa have more numerous flowers in the spikelet. Anthoxanthum has only one flower, with two stamens, in the spikelets. Phleum and Alopecurus present resemblances, but see pp. [101] and [102].
(b) Panicle elongated and lax—i.e. all or most of the spikelets on distinct slender stalks, longer than themselves.
(i) Panicle close: the spikelets on distinct and even long stalks, but the latter erect and keeping the spikelets near the main axis.
In some cases the stalks from the main axis bear only one spikelet each and the type of inflorescence is that of a raceme; usually, however, one or more of the lowermost stalks branch and disclose the panicle.
✲ Panicle with few simple branches, racemous, each spikelet large and containing about four flowers, palea three-toothed at the apex. A small heath-grass, with hairs at the ligule.