CLASS III. ORDER n.] DIGITARIA. 169 



sessile, on an angular, somewhat I'ougli, striated, zigzag rachis, glossy, 

 mostly purplish. Glumes narrow, acUte, keeled, rough towards the 

 point, spreading, which makes the spikes appear rough and spiny. 

 Glumelles unequal, smooth^ compressed, keeled; the otiter valve much 

 the broadest, slightly hairy on the keel and inner border, enwrapping 

 the smaller fjiner valve. 67ii?ne//M/^5 two small scales. .S^y/es distinct, 

 long. Stigmas feathery. Fruit small, ovate, enclosed in the hardened 

 glumelles. 



Habitat. — Very rare ; on the sandy shore between Penzance and 

 Marazion, Cornwall. 



Perennial; flowering in July and August. 



The long, branched, and rooting underground stems of this plant are 

 admirably suited to the loose sandy situation of their growth. 



This species, according to A. B. Lambert, Esq. in the Gth vol. of the 

 *' Transactions of the Linnean Society," is identical with the famous 

 doohgrass of the Hindoos, who worship it in the most extravagant 

 manner, as the " Divinity not subject to age or death — the armour of 

 India, the preserver of regions, the destroyer of enemies, a gem that 

 gives increase to the fields," &c. — (See the Works of Sir Wm. Jones, 

 vol. ii.) 



GENUS LIV. DIGITA'RIA. Scopoli. Finger-grass. 

 Gen. Char. Inflorescence a compound spike. Spikelets arranged OQ 

 one side of the waved rachis. Glumes of one or two very unequal 

 valves ; the outer sometimes wanting. Florets two : the perfect 

 one of two cartilaginous, nearly equal valves ; the imperfect one a 

 single valve. Fruit coated with the hardened glumelles. — Named 

 from digitus, a. finger. 

 1. D. sangtiina'lis. Scop. (Fig. 207.) hairy CocVs-foot- or Finger- 

 grass. Leaves and sheaths hairy; glumes oblong, smooth, the 

 larger one rough on the margins only. 

 English Flora, vol. i. p. 96. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 299. — Hooker, 

 Britisla Flora, vol. i. p. 58. — Sinclair, Hort. Gram. Woburn. p. 294. — 

 Pan'icum sanguina'le, Linn. English Botany, t. 849. 



Root fibrous. Stems numerous, bent and branched at the base, 

 erect above, from twelve to eighteen inches high, slender, round, smooth, 

 striated, leafy. Leaves short, broad, lanceolate, the margins waved, 

 striated, smooth on the under side, roughish above, and, as well as 

 their long, somewhat inflated sheaths, scattered over with hairs, those 

 on the latter arising from small tubercles. Ligula short, mostly torn. 

 Inflorescence of from three to six or eight spreading spikes, terminating 

 the stem. Rachis waved, angular, deeply furrowed, roughish, with a 

 broad flat rib on one side. Spikelets two together, the footstalks an- 



VOL. I. Z 



