THE GRASS FAMILY. 439 



50. Water Bitten-grass — {Catabrosa aqudtica.) 

 Ditches and pondsides, rather unusual. Very abundant on Hale 

 Moss. Seaman's Moss Pits. Back Levenshulme. Plentiful near 

 Chorlton church, and generally thereabouts. Fl. May, June. 



Curtis, i. 5 ; E. B. xxii. 1557 (both as Aira aquatica) ; Baxter, iv. 252. 



51. Purple Moor-grass — [Mol'mia cceriilea.) 

 Everywhere on heaths and moors. Abundant on the borders of 

 Carriugton Moss. Fl. June, July. 



Curtis, ii. 303; E. B. xi. 750 (both as Melica ccerulea). 



52. Wood Melic — [Melica uniflora.) 

 Damp shady woods and doughs, common. Gatley Carrs. Lymm. 

 Worsley Hen-pen, Reddish. Fl. May, June. 



Curtis, ii. 302; E. B. xv. 1058. 



A remarkably pretty grass, and very attractive about Whitsuntide, when the 

 yellow dead-nettle and the rose lychnis are in bloom. The name "unifiora" 

 means not that it is "one flowei'ed," but that there is only one blossom to each 

 spikelet, most grasses having several. 



53. Triodia — {Triodia decumhens.) 

 Hedgebanks, on dry moors, and in dry woods, common, often also 

 in rough hilly pastures. Agecroft Park, on the bank by the carriage 

 way, plentiful. Hale Moss. Plentiful between Hyde and Apethome. 

 Fl. July, August. 



E. B. xi. 792 (as Poa decumhens) ; Baxter, vi. 488. 



54. Common Reeb — [Ariindo Phragmites.) 

 Ditches and pondsides, common, often growing in dense forests, and 

 obscuring the water ; also in damp hedges and in doughs and woods. 

 Abundant on the borders of Rostherne Mere. Ashley. Reddish. 

 Prestwich Dells. Fl. August, September. 



E. B. vi. 401 (too pale) ; Baxter, v. 372. 



The largest and stateliest of the English grasses, reed-hke in its stems and 

 leaves, often rising six to eight feet high, and in its immense panicles of purple 

 and downy flowers, quite of ti'opical aspect. The latter make a splendid orna- 

 ment for the hall or mantel-piece during winter. 



Taken according to their general places of growth, the principal Manchester 

 grasses may be arranged in the six following classes. Many often wander into 

 unusual places, but these are their natural anrl established habitats : — 



