Class in. Order II. SI 



22. PHLEUM. 

 PHLEUM PRATENSE. L. Herds grttss or cat's tail grass. 



Spike cylindrical, very long; glumes fringed 

 at the back, longer than the awns. Sm. 



Culm upright, round, smooth. Leaves flat, pointed, rough 

 on the upper side ; sheaths long, striated ; stipules blunt. 

 Spike long, cylindrical, upright. Calyx of two glumes fringed 

 with hairs on the back, square or truncated at the end, with 

 two short awns. June, July. Perennial. 



This grass is extensively cultivated, forming a chief con 

 stituent of what is with us called English hay. It is usually 

 denominated herds grass, and sometimes improperly fox tail 

 grass. In England it is known by the name of cat's (ail, and 

 Timothy grass, the last burlesque appellation derived from 

 Mr. Timothy Hanson, one of its early propagators. It is said 

 to have fallen there into disrepute, although its reputation is 

 good in this country. Professor Martyn and Mr. Curtis speak 

 pf it as a harsh, coarse grass, in all respects inferior to the true 

 foxtail grass, (Alopccurus pratensis.) 



23. AGROSTIS. 

 AGROSTIS VULGARIS. With. Red top. Fine bent grass. 



Panicle spreading with divaricated, capillary 

 branches; calyx valves equal; inner petal obtuse, 

 half as long as the other. Sm. 



A pretty common grass in dry mowing land and pastures, 

 usually entering into the composition of our English hay. 

 Stem erect, smooth, slender, leafy. Leaves narrow, acute, 

 with long sheaths. Panicle erect, red, its branches very numer- 

 ous and fine, arranged in half whorls, flexuous and variously di- 

 vided. Flowers numerous and very small. Calyx valves lan- 

 ceolate? acute, spreading, purple at base, scarious on the jmar- 



