The Identification of

2. Danthonia spicata (L.) Beauv. Poverty Grass, Wild Oat-Grass, Poverty Oat-Grass.

A short-leaved, light green, tufted perennial found on dry and poor sandy or gravelly soils, often predominating in depleted natural pastures where, although grazed by cattle when young, it soon becomes wiry, tough and unpalatable.

Leaves folded in the bud-shoot. Sheath not compressed, not keeled, usually pilose-pubescent, pale green to white, split to base. Auricles absent. Collar narrow, continuous, with long hairs on margins, lighter in colour than the blade. Ligule a fringe of hairs 0.2 to 1.2 mm. long. Blade 2 to 3 mm. wide, basal leaves 5 to 15 cm. long, not keeled, very sharply pointed, flat with margins becoming involute in dry weather, twisted and curled when dead, generally sparsely pilose but often glabrous; upper surface dull green or glaucous, ridged near midrib; under surface bright green, sometimes glossy, not ridged; margins slightly scabrous.