Crus-galli L. Florets oval, white, yellowish gray or brown, 2.4–3 mm. long, plano-convex, glume on the convex side, highly polished, three obscure longitudinal nerves. Native of this country.

Fig 14. Yard-Grass. Wire-Grass. Eleusine Indica (L.) Gaertn.

Yard-Grass. Wire-Grass. Eleusine Indica (L.) Gaertn. Florets light lead color or brown before threshing or much rubbing; grain dark, reddish brown, 1.2–1.4 mm., ovoid with the base abruptly pointed, 3 sided, the corners rounded, a vertical groove along one side; seen from the back with the groove side down and base toward the observer, starting from an oval spot near the base, 10–15 ridges on each side, extend downward and forward. Introduced from some warmer region of the Old World.

Fig 15. Stink-Grass. Eragrostis megastachya (Kœler) Link.

Stink-Grass. Eragrostis megastachya (Kœler) Link. Eragrostis major Host. Grain orange red or wine color .4-.6 mm. long. Broad oval to nearly circular, very slightly flattened, extremities slightly pointed, embryo within one edge near the base, a fine network of dark lines evident under a good lens. Introduced from Europe.

Fig 16. Squirrel-tail Grass. Hordeum jubatum L.

Squirrel-tail Grass. Hordeum jubatum L. Spikelets in clusters of three, central one only fertile, 5 mm. long, containing a grain adhering to the floral glume and palea, the other two abortive, seven awns in these three spikelets, 4–6 cm. long, four others less than 1 cm. long; awns and fragment of rachis holding the cluster of spikelets together, all barbed upward, making them troublesome for fleeces of sheep and the mouths of animals eating them. Native of this country and widely distributed.

Fig 17. Old Witch Grass. Tickle Grass. A Tumble-Weed. Panicum capillare L.

Old Witch Grass. Tickle Grass. A Tumble-Weed. Panicum capillare L. Florets flattened, elliptical, apex abruptly pointed, about 1.5 mm. long, highly polished, leaden gray, lighter at the extremities and along the edges of the glume, five slender light colored nerves join the extremities passing vertically over the glume, two light nerves on the palea. Native to this country.

Fig 18. Tall Smooth Panicum. Switch Grass. Panicum virgatum L.

Tall Smooth Panicum. Switch Grass. Panicum virgatum L. Achene surrounded by two persistent shining pieces, the floret; floral glume hard, light brown, oval or ovate-lanceolate 2.5–3.1 mm. long. Apex obtusely pointed. Seldom troublesome, widely distributed.

Fig 19. Low Spear-Grass. Poa annua L.

Low Spear-Grass. Poa annua L. Florets straw-colored, 2.8–3.1 mm. long, apex smooth, lower half of keel and the base of lateral nerves, having numerous soft hairs. A low annual grass, introduced from Europe.

Fig 20. Flat stemmed Poa. Wire Grass. Canadian Blue Grass. Poa compressa L.

Flat stemmed Poa. Wire Grass. Canadian Blue Grass. Poa compressa L. Florets lance-obovate, 2–2.5 mm. long, closely resembling those of Poa pratensis, which see.

Palea abruptly acute. If well rubbed after threshing, the floret is nearly smooth, otherwise it contains on the lower half numerous webby hairs. Grain reddish brown, both ends pointed, 1–1.4 mm. long. Seldom sown purposely. Sometimes used to adulterate Poa pratensis. In early days this grass was called blue grass by people of New England and New York State. Introduced from Europe.

Fig 21. June Grass. Kentucky Blue Grass. Poa pratensis L.

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.

Fig 22. Rye. Secale cereale L.

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.

Fig 23. Pigeon-Grass. Yellow Foxtail. Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. Chaetochloa glauca (L.) Scrib.

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.