154 TRIANDRIA. DIGYNIA. Festuca.^ 



the calyx but | the length of the other. Bloss. inner valve al- 

 ways fringed at the edge ; outer valve sometimes so, and some- 

 times not quite smooth on the back, as in the fig. of FI. danica. 

 Awnixom ^ to \ the length of the blossom. The panicle often 

 assumes a purplish blue colour, and in that state it seems to have 

 been mistaken for the F. amethystina. 



Hard Fescue. Dry places as well as low and flat meadows. 

 [Walls of Dudley Castle* Flat pastures in Somersetshire about 



Highbridge.] 



P. June.* 



dumeto'rum. F. Panicle spike-like, pubescent ; leaves thread-shaped. 



Var. 1. Spikets straddling, some pointing upwards, some 

 slanting, some nearly horizontally. 



Fl. dan. 700. 



Root-leaves thread-shaped, 4 or 5 inches long. Panicle brown 

 green, 2 inches long, -■- inch broad, appearing distorted from the 

 different direction of the spikets. Cal. 4 to 6 -flowered, the ter- 

 minating floret imperfect. Awns 1-1 Oth the length of the blossom. 



[Restlars meadow, Blymhill, Shropsh. Mr. Dickenson.] 



Var. 2. Panicle regular, greyish green, 



H. ox. viii. 2. Jig. the last ; (but the pubescence not expressed.) 



Straw 12 or 18 inches high, thread-shaped, cylindrical, with 

 2 swollen joints. Root-leaves 1 foot long, roundish, scarcely 2- 

 cdged. Stem-leaves shorter, channelled. Panicle small, spike- 

 like. Little spikes 10 or 12, oblong, pubescent, greyish ; the up- 

 per ones sitting, solitary ; the lower ones in pairs, on fruit-stalks. 

 Husks terminating in a minute awn. Bulbs often grow within 

 the sheath of the straw* Very nearly allied to the F. duriuscula* 

 Linn. Leaves slender. Panicle 5 inches long, 1^ inch broad. 

 Cal. 8 or J) flowered, the terminating floret imperfect. Bloss. 

 outer valve very hairy. Awns \ the length of the blossom. The 

 Panicle not at all like a spike, is much larger than the preceding 

 and has nothing of its zigzag appearance. It is possible they 

 may prove distinct species. 



Festuca duriuscula dumetorum* Huds. Pubescent Fescue* 

 Woods and hedges, r P. June, July. 



a'bra. F. Panicle branched, upright, compact: spikets awl-shaped, 



V 



(Nt 



See also a description in Lightf. Fl. Scot/p. 108.5 



J 



* A very excellent grass for the agriculturists, as springing very cjrly* 

 being productive and grateful to all kinds of rattle, and is found in most 

 good meadows and pastures. Mr, Sway£&, 





