CYNOSUEUS 573 



reeds attain a height of nine feet. Luxuriant specimens are to be seen 

 in a hedge near the Noah's Ark in the Vale. Phragmites is also to be 

 found in places rather distant from streams, as at Cumnor Hill, 

 where the feathery seeds have been blown from the Thames across 

 the country till their progress has been stopped by the hedge, so that 

 a line of Phragmites is to be seen in a hedgerow in an elevated situa- 

 tion on dry soil. 



At Cothill a specimen with leaves variegated with yellow (var. 

 pida) was noticed. The foliage of Phragmites assumes a beautiful 

 golden yellow in the autumn, when its handsome panicles are also 

 a striking feature in our river scenery. It will be remembered how 

 skilfully they are depicted in the picture of Chill October by Sir John 

 Millais. 



Var. NIGRICANS, Gren. et Godr. FI. Fr. iii. 474, has been noted, as 

 near Kennington, Cumnor, Shippon, &c., in dried-up marshes, or in 

 ditches which are dry at times. 



P. communis is found in all the bordering counties. 



CYWOSURUS, Linn. Gen. n. 81. 

 C. cristatus, Linn. Sp. PI. 72 (1753), and Herb. Crested Dog' s-tail Grass. 



Gramen cristatum, J. Bauhin, Hist. ii. 468. 

 Top. Bot. 494. Syme, E. B. xi. 133, t. 1776. Nyman, 797. Fl. Oxf. 325. 

 Native. Pascual. Dry fields, roadsides, and downs. Common and 



generally distributed. P. May-August. 

 First record. In many parts of Berkshire, Stilling fleet' s Misc. Tracts, 

 eel- 3? 39O' 1775- Sonning, Mr. S. Rudge in Herh. Brit. Mus. 1800. 

 Marlow, Mr. G. G. Mill, Ph^jt. 995, 1843. 

 In our drier roadsides and calcareous pastures the Dog's-tail forms 

 one of the principal constituents. Its spikes are frequently twisted 

 into formal bouquets by village children. A viviparous form was 

 noticed on Newbury Wash in 1895. 



Cynosuriis is found plentifully in all the bordering counties. 



KOELERIA, Pers. Syn. 1. 97 (1805). 

 K. cristata, Pers. 1. c. Crested Hair Grass. 



Aira cristata, Linn. Sp. PL 63 (1753). Airochloa cristata, Link. Parnell, 



Grasses, Scot. t. 19. Gramen spica cristata subhirsutum, C. B. Pin. 3. 



Top. Bot. 483. Syme, E. B. xi. 88, t. 1746. Nyman, 816. Fl. Oxf. 341. 



Native. Glareal. Sandy, chalky, and dry calcareous pastures and 



downs. Local, showing a decided preference for calcareous soiL 



P. June-July. 



First record. K. cristata, Mr. G. G. Mill in Phyt. i. 994, 1843. 



1. Isis. Wytham, near the summit of the hill, in small quantity. 



