CLASS in. ORDER II.] SESLERIA. 107 



Lindley, Synopsis, p. 309. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 43. — 

 Pan'icum vi'ride, Linn. English Botany, t. 875. — English Flora, vol. i. 

 p. 98. 



This plant is generally smaller than the above species, which it 

 greatly resembles. It would appear, the only character of distinction 

 upon which reliance can be placed is the bristles of the involure having 

 the small teeth with which they are closely set with the points directed 

 upwards, while in the former they are directed dovvnwards ; the spike is 

 also more compact, less distinctly lobed, more bristly; the Jiorets are 

 the same in both species, except that in the latter the inner valve of the 

 neuter floret is more frequently wanting, and sometimes the whole floret 

 is suppressed. 



Habitat. — Rare; in sandy fields about Loudon and Norwich; 

 •' scarcely indigenous." — Hooker. 



Annual ; flowering in July and August. 



GENUS XXXII. SESLERIA. Arduin. Moor grass. 



Gen. Char. Panicle spiked. Glumes two, nearly equal, pointed or 

 awned at the apex. Gltimelles nearly equal ; the outer jagged, 

 awned at the apex ; the inner bifid. — Named from Leonard Sesler, 

 an Italian Physician and Botanist. 



1. S. cceru' lea, Scoi^. (Fig. 134.) Spike ovate, with alternate mem- 

 branous bractea at the base. 



English Botany, t. 1613.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 114.— Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 309. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 42. — Sinclair, Hort. 

 Gram. Woburn. p. 303. 



Plant forming close thick tufts, the roots numerous, long, tough, and 

 wiry. Stem from four to twelve or eighteen inches high, smooth, and 

 striated, thickly clothed at the bas^ with the remains of withered leaves, 

 naked above. Leaves numerous, linear obtuse, smooth, except the 

 edges and keel, which are frequently roughish, striated, single ribbed, 

 a glaucous green, the upper ones very short. Sheaths short, close. 

 Ligula absent. Inflorescence close, a short ovate, shining bluish-green, 

 spiked panicle, the lower spikelets having thin membranous, jagged, 

 toothed or ciliated bractea at their base. Glumes nearly equal, thin, 

 shining bluish, somewhathairy, ovate-lanceolate, keeled, pointed or awned, 

 frequently jagged, toothed, or ciliated towards the extremity, mostly 

 containing two y7ore<s longer than themselves. Glumelles nearly equal, 

 external one the largest, shining Iiliiish towards the extremity, from three 

 to five toothed, ciliated, and slightly hairy ribbed, the keel terminating 

 in the middle tooth, mostly lengthened into a short roughish awn ; 

 inner valve with two roughish ribs terminating in a bifid extremity, the 

 edges inflexed and membranous. Anthers large, yellow tipped with 

 J)urple. 



