«|LASS III. ORDER It.] 



83 



in lengtli from two to six inches, very densely crowded, green or pur- 

 plish. -Glumes pale, membrauous, with a strong, green, ciliated keel, 

 terminating in a soinewhat spreading, rough awn; the inner edge of 

 the outer vale hairy. Glumclles unequal, small, obtuse, often crenated, 

 ribbed with green. Stigmas feathery. Seed oblong. 



Habitat. — Meadows, pastures, and waste ground, common. 



Perennial ; flowering from June to September. 



This grass varies considerably in size, owing to the variety of situa- 

 tion in which it may have grown ; the same circumstance is also the 

 cause of the various appearances v/hich are observed to take place in 

 the roots. The utility of this grass for agricultural purposes varies 

 considerably, according to the treatment. It contains, from the ac- 

 counts of Sinclair, a greater proportion of nutritive matter than any 

 other grass he submitted to experiment. Its herbage is early proiluced 

 in the spring, but unless grazed while young, it becomes so gross as to 

 be avoided by cattle; and its being grazed at this period does not de- 

 crease the value or quaiuity of hay which it afterwards produces ; it is 

 for the latter purpose that this grass is principally esteemed, but it is 

 also of great value amongst other grasses, both for permanent pastures 

 and the alternate husbandry, " This grass is the Highland badge of 

 the clan Sutherland, whose crest is a cat." 



2. P. alpi'num, Linn. (Fig. 103.) alpine Cafs-lail-grass, Stem 

 ascending; panicle spiked, ovate-oblong ; glumes abrupt, about as 

 long as its rough awn; keel ciliated at the back ; root creeping. 



English Botany, t. 2519.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 77. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 300. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 35. 



Root with long underground stems. Stem from six to twelve inches 

 high, ascending, branched at the base, leafy, smooth, striated, tinged 

 with purple towards the top. Leaves flat, linear, with a distinct dorsal 

 midrib, which is rough, as are also the edges, with fine cartilaginous 

 teeth, pointed towards the extremity ; upper ones short, with long in- 

 flated striated smooth sheaths. Tnfiorescence spicate, short, mostly of 

 a dull purplish colour. Glumes abrupt, thin, smooth, slightly sprinkled 

 with short hairs, purplish, with a strong green ciliated keel, terminating 

 in a rough awn, about as long as the glume. Glumelles two, unequal ; 

 the external valve largest, abrupt, three-ribbed, the dorsal one rough, 

 terminating in a short rough awn, and frequently the two lateral 

 ones also ; the internal one shorter, lanceolate, with a dorsal rough rib. 

 Glumellula of two lanceolate valves. Seed ovate, dotted, closely in- 

 vested with the glumella. Style short. Anthers yellow. Stigmas 

 feathery. 



Habitat. — Rare. Clove Mountains —3/r. /. D. Hooker ; Ben Law- 

 «r3 and Garway Moor, Scotland, 



Perennial ; flowering in July^ 



