80 CHARACTERS OF BRITISH PLANTS. 
and breadth of their anthers, is much exaggerated in English 
Botany. 
Festuca loliacea (Huds.) and F. pratensis (Huds.)—Cer- 
tainly these are only forms of a single species. They pass 
into each other by the most complete gradation of interme- 
diate forms, and the spiked and panicled (branched) racemes 
may be seen on the very same root. 
Festuca elatior (Linn.)—I suspect that we have a sea-side 
plant distinct from F. pratensis and loliacea, and which is 
probably the F. arundinacea of Schreber. Tt is known by 
its large rough leaves, tall stems, and the spreading or droop- 
ing position of the peduncles when in fruit. In F. pratensis 
the branches of the panicle are nearly erect in fruit. 
Avena pratensis (Linn.) and A. alpina. (Smith).—A pparently 
these two have the same relation to each other as have 
Festuca loliacea and F. pratensis. Avena alpina is that form 
of A. pratensis in which the peduncles of the spikelets are 
more branched than usual; the spiked raceme of the latter 
being thus converted into a panicled raceme. I have seen 
various specimens from the hills of England and Scotland, 
to which either name might be given with about equal 
correctness. 
Bromus commutatus (Schrader).—In 1841 I gathered seeds 
from the wild plants in Surrey, and sowed them in my 
garden. Being absent in 1842, I did not see the plants so 
raised in flower; but their seeds falling in that summer 
produced other plants which flowered ‘in 1843. Among 
these last, several had the spikelets pubescent, like those of 
B. mollis, while others retained the glabrous spikelets of the 
wild state. There was no other appreciable difference be- 
tween the two varieties; but the fact shows how little trust 
can be given to the presence or absence of pubescence on the 
flowers in this genus. Bromus racemosus is certainly a sub- . 
glabrous form of B. mollis; while Bromus velutinus is the 
pubescent form of B. secalinus. It is to be remembered, 
however, that the name of B. racemosus is sometimes applied. 
