462 PROF. W. FREAM ON THE 
as well as Glyceria fluitans, are generally distributed. Other 
species are distinctly local, even in the limited area under notice. 
Thus, Phalaris arundinacea, Aira cespitosa, Phragmites com- 
munis, and Glyceria aquatica are practically restricted to the 
borders of th« water-courses, and are seldom, or never, to be 
seen in the open meadow. Phragmites, indeed, does not stray 
from the river-side, though its monopoly there is to some extent 
disputed by Phalaris and by Festuca elatior. Phalaris arundi- 
nacea, Aira cespitosa, and Glyceria aquatica are able, on account 
of their vigorous habit and robust growth, to smother the finer 
grasses, and, attracted by the greater moisture, they frequently 
occupy all the space immediately adjoining the water-courses. 
Three species of the water-meadow grasses exhibit interesting 
modifications, sufficiently marked in some cases to constitute 
subspecific characters. These are Lolium perenne, Festuca pra- 
tensis, and Glyceria fluitans. In the forms of Lolium perenne 
the rhachis may be found long or short, and occasionally 
branched; the spikelets large or small, crowded together or 
remote, rounded or flattish, with not infrequently a small inner 
empty glume at the base of each; the flowering glumes, usually 
awnless, are sometimes awned. Of the fescues it is not difficult, 
taking Festuca pratensis as the type, to select specimens show- 
ing a gentle series of gradations, on the one hand, into F. elatior, 
and, on the other hand, into F. loliacea. Moreover, specimens 
of the last-named may be found in which the spikelets are all 
sessile and the upper empty glume almost obsolete ; such forms 
of F. loliacea approach closely to Lolium perenne. 
NOTES on THE LEGUMINOS X. 
The leguminous herbage of the water-meadows is scanty. The 
only water-meadow species not represented in the dry meadow at 
Rothamsted is Medicago lupulina; and this is common in the dry 
meadows adjoining the water-meadows. Trifolium minus and 
T. procumbens, though not found on the water-meadows, are 
common both on the adjoining dry grass-lands and at Rot- 
hamsted. 
NOTES on THE MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES. 
Of the miscellaneous flowering-plants found upon the water- 
meadows, the following appear to be the most common and the 
most generally distributed amongst the herbage :—Caltha palus- 
