GRASS TRIBE 69 
mistaken for any other grass except the following. The inner glume 
contains a small neuter floret, with a tuft of hairs at its base. By some 
botanists it is separated from Agrostis and constituted a genus under the 
name of Apera. 
6. Dense-flowered Silky Bent (4. interripta).—Panicle close, long 
slender ; glumes unequal ; flowering glumes with straight long awns. Annual. 
This grass differs from the last in its close, never-spreading panicle ; and in the 
more rounded form of its anthers ; but it resembles it in structure in other 
respects, and is apparently only a sub-species of it. It flowers in July, and 
its stem is rarely more than half a foot in height. 
15. (85) WHORL-GRASS (Catabrésa). 
Water Whorl Grass (C. aqudtica).—Panicle with half whorls of 
spreading branches; spikelets usually with two, sometimes 3—5 florets; glumes 
thin and blunt ; flowering glumes thick, white, and clear at the extremity. 
Perennial. This is an aquatic grass, sometimes floating to a great length 
in the water, at others growing on wet banks, when it becomes much smaller, 
and has a stem but a few inches high. The panicle of this Whorl-grass is 
composed of a large number of small spikelets, bluish, or often brownish- 
green, on very slender branchlets ; the stem is stout, and one or two feet long, 
bending at the base, and sending out roots. The leaves are broad, blunt, 
and bright green; and the flowers, which appear in May and June, have a 
sweet flavour, the whole plant having more or less of a sweetish taste. 
Waterfowl are fond of its young leaves and shoots, while cattle relish it so 
much, that were the grass not an aquatic, it would doubtless be cultivated 
for their pasturage. It is said to contribute to the excellence of the Cam- 
bridge butter and the Cottenham cheese. 
16. (21) Hatr-crass (Aira). 
1. Tufted Hair-grass (4. cespitdésa). — Panicle spreading, branches 
rough, flexuous; glumes sometimes rough at the mid-rib; awn inserted near the 
base of the outer flowering glume, and scarcely extending beyond its summit. 
There are several varieties of this species, but scarcely of a permanent character. 
This is a common and very pretty perennial grass ; it is found in abundance 
on field-borders, and especially on moist moory ground, where it flowers, in 
June and July, among spearworts and other marsh flowers, and thick green 
mosses. On such spots, especially if shaded by furze and brambles, it attains 
great luxuriance ; but when the land is drained it soon disappears; and 
when we see it, as we often do, growing with the different species of sedge 
(Carex), and with the roughish meadow-grass, we have sure indication that 
the land is not in good condition. It is commonly known in country places 
by the name of Hassock or Tussock Grass ; and its large matted tufts cause 
those clumps called tussocks, which the mower finds so great a hindrance to 
his scythe. It is also termed Rough-caps, from its long, narrow, rough, 
twisting leaves, which are marked with fine lines. Bullfaces and Silver-grass 
are also among its familiar names. 
This Hair-grass has a strong stiff stem, two or three feet high, and its 
light and graceful panicle is of a dull purplish hue, but when glistening in 
