TRTAMDRIA. DIGYNIA. Festuca. 15? 



4 



sheath. Spikets cylindrical but flatted, mostly 10-flowered. 

 Bloss. awnless. Valves with strong ribs, terminating in an equal 

 number of points, these points connected together by means of a 

 transparent membrane. 



Flote Fesfue. Wet ditches and ponds,.common. P. June — Sept. 



Mr. Curtis observes, that growing on the land it becomes 

 smaller in every respect, and that the panicle is frequently 

 changed to a simple spike. 



Van 2. Salt-marsh. Leaves blunt, broader, shorter, glaucous : 

 calyx 6 or S-flowered. 



* In the Salt Marshes at Lymington* June. 



(4) Flowers in spikes. 



F. Spiked: spikets alternate, sitting, compressed, awn- lolia'ceflU 



less. Huds. 



Curt. -Park. 1 14(5. J-H. ox. viii. 2. 2, the single spike* 



Spike 8 or 10 inches lone;; sometimes a little branched at the 

 bottom. Spikets sitting nearly upright, containing from 9 to 14 

 florets. Calyx valves ribbed similar to those in F. elatior; inner 

 valve sometimes wanting. Bloss. not ribbed like that in the F. 

 fluitans. 



Moist Meadows. 



Var. 2. Spike branched at the bottom, spikets 6 or 8- 

 flowered. When this is the case the calyx has always 2 valves, 

 the deficiency of the inner valve noticed above, is therefore 

 ^probably occasioned by the spike t growing so upright and so 

 pressed to the spike stalk as to destroy it whilst yet young and 

 tender.* 



* The seeds are small, but very sweet and nourishing. They are 

 collected in several parts of Germany and Poland, under the name of 

 Manna Seeds, and are esteemed a delicacy in soups and gruels, upon account 

 °f their nutritious quality, and grateful flavour. When ground to meal, 

 they make bread very little inferior to that in common use from -wheat. 

 The bran separated in preparing the meal, is given to horses that hiveths 

 ^orms; but they must be kept from water for some hours afterwards. 

 Geese are very fond of the seeds, a»d well know where ro look for them. 

 The plant affords nourishment to the Pbalana Festuc*. Horses and swine 

 ^H run risks to get at it. 



Neither of these varieties produce perfect seeds, which has been no- 

 «**** oy Mr. Cuhtis and Mr. Swavne, but to the latter I am indebted for 

 the following curious observations respecting it, as well as for very fine 

 specimens of the plants. Mr, Swayne calls it, F. by&rid*. and a more 

 Proper name could hardly bw desired, but Mr. Hudson's name having 

 keen admitted, and being also unobjectionable, I thought not right to 

 change it. 



M Fi-stuca hybrlda. Not knowing what specific appellation has^bcem 



**<# on by Botanists for this Fescue, 1 have called it hjbriaa, from it* 



constat 



+ 







