THE GKAS3 FAMILY. 437 



branched and spreading panicle, along witli broader leaves. In this state it is 

 the tall fescue, or " Feshica elatior," of Curtis, ii. 372; E. B. xxiii. 1593, a plant 

 tolerably frequent near Manchester, but by no means so plentiful as the normal 

 form. In similar situations, especially where the soil is rich, the spikelets are 

 often almost sessile, so as to convert the panicle into a large and nearly simple 

 spike. This variety has been raised to the rank of a species under the name of 

 raj'-fescue, or Festuca loliacea, (Curtis, ii. 373 ; E. B. xxvi. 1831.) hut is now 

 generally acknowledged to be only a form of the common F. pratensis, or rather, 

 all three are modifications of a single type. It grows abundantly in Ashley 

 meadows and about Northen. 



39. Road-side Fescue — (Festuca bromoides.) 



Dry waysides, as a weed, rather uncommon. Alderley Edge. 



Whalley Range. Dunham Park. Bowdon. Prestwich. Mobberley. 



(Mr. Holland.) Red Brows, near Didsbury. Eccles. (J. S.) Fl. 



June — August. Annual. 



E. B. XX. 1411. 



40. RoDGH Cock's-foot — (Ddctylis glomerdta.) 

 Everywhere in meadows and pastures and by waysides. Fl. summer 



and autumn. 



E. B. v. 335; Baxter, ii. 108. 



41. Chested Dog's-tail — [Cynosiirus cristdtus.) 

 Everywhere in meadows and pastures where tolerably dry. Fl. 



June, rather late compared with the other hay-grasses. 

 E. B. V. 31C; Baxter, iii. 216. 

 A grass of remai'kably beautiful construction, the flowers all looking one way, 

 and the spikelets reserabhng little combs. 



42. Hedgehog-ghass — [Cpiosurus echindtus.) 

 Abundant in 1847 in a field near the Dog-house Farm, Withington, 

 the same where the Crepis setosa grew so plentifully, and the seeds no 

 doubt imported from the continent along with those of the crop, pro- 

 bably from Italy. The plants were remarkably luxuriant, — much 

 handsomer than the ordinary wild ones of the continent ; and more 

 shining in their flowers. Since then it has been observed at Prest- 

 wich, among farm-crops. Fl. July. 



E. B. xix. 1333. 



43. Quaking-gkass — {Briza media.) 

 Meadows and pastures, rather rare, except in the valley of the 

 Bollin, and adjacent districts, where it is plentiful. Ashley meadows. 



