CLASS III. ORDER II. 



115 



with purple. Glumes niembraiious on the edges ; the outer valve 

 smallest, single-ribbed ; the inner with three ribs. Florets from three 

 to seven. (?/;oHe//c5 nearly equal; the outer one acute and membra- 

 nous at the extremity, with five indistinct ribs ; the inner pointed or 

 bifid at the extremity, with two roughish lateral ribs, from which the 

 inner membranous margins are iuflexed. Glumelliiles acute. Anthers 

 yellow. Stigmas large, feathery. 



Habitat. — In sandy situations, principally near the sea — Hooker. 

 Near Dublin — Mr. W. Wilson. Nottingham Meadows, and Lenton, 

 rare — Dr. Howitt. Near Rotherham — SalCs Herb. Atteroliffe near 

 Shcfiield, Yorkshire, and road sides about Worksop, Nottinghamshire, 

 plentiful— i2. D. 



Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 



The singular deflection of the branches of the panicle arises from 

 the peculiar structure attached to their base. In a newly developed 

 panicle, the branches are erect : it may then be distinctly seen that the 

 two external angles are formed by two of the ribs or stria passing from 

 the stem along the branch, and between them is a pale compact mem- 

 brane. The inner surface is a pale yellow, scarcely swollen ; this, 

 however, is limited to a very short distance at the base, and as the plant 

 advances to maturity, this part gradually enlarges, and forms a pro- 

 jecting tubercle. The outer surface, formed as above stated, is capable 

 of resisting the pressure of the gradually swelling tubercle; conse- 

 quently, it forms, as it were, a hinge, which allows the branches to be 

 bent backwards as the tubercle is developing. A thin transverse sec- 

 tion of the tubercles, examined with a strong magnifying power, shows 

 them to be composed of cells of an hexagonal figure, much smaller and 

 more compact in the lower part and middle, gradually becoming larger 

 towards the upper and external surface. 



5. P. procum'bens, Curtis, (Fig. 14.3.) procumbent Sea Meadotv- 

 grass. Panicle rather close, ovato-lanceolate ; spikelets leaning 

 one way, linear, of about four florets, outer valves with five ribs. 



English Botany, t. 532.— Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 44.— Gig- 

 ce'ria procuni'bcns, vol. i. p. 119. — Sclero'chloa procum'bens, Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 316. 



Whole plant a glaucous green, and rigid. Root fibrous. Stems 

 procumbent at the base, from six to eight inches high, smooth, leafy, 

 and branched at the base. Leaves flat, linear, obtuse, ribbed, roughish 

 on the edges and upper surface, smooth beneath. Sheaths long, some- 

 what inflated, striated, smooth. Ligula short, obtuse, often torn, /n- 

 florescence a close, roughish branched, two-ranked panicle, about two 

 inches long, more spreading when in flower. Spikelets two-ranked, turned 

 to one side. Glumes unequal : the outer obtuse, with three strong 

 ribs; the inner acute, with a single rib. /'/orf/s about four, oblong, 



