8 Grasses of the Lothians. [Sess. 



14. Triodia — 10 species ; the oue British species is strictly a hill or 

 mountain grass. Sheep are very fond of it, so much so that it is some- 

 times difficult to get a perfect specimen. 



15. Koeleria — 13 species. There is only one British species, a very 

 distinct little grass, fairly common on Arthm-'s Seat. 



16. Melica — 24 species, 2 Bi'itish : one of the species, M. uniflora, is 

 fairly common, but I have only seen M. nutans at one spot on the Avon. 



17. Molinia — M. ccerulea, the only species, a northern grass. Sheep 

 and cattle eat it. It is a very tough grass ; the fishermen of Skye used to 

 make ropes of it. 



18. Catabrosa — C. aquatica, the only species. A very common aquatic 

 grass, greedily devoured by all cattle, and said to be very nourishing. 



19. Glyceria fluitans — a very common grass at the sides of lochs, in 

 ditches, and such like places. Cattle are fond of it, and the seeds are 

 collected in some parts of Germany and called manna seed. It is used 

 in soups and gruels, and said to be very nourishing. One of the largest 

 of our British grasses, plentiful by the Canal side. 



20. Schlerochloa — this is often included in Poa, and I think scaixely 

 separable from it. 



21. Poa — meadow grass ; a very large genus, over 140 species, 15 

 British. I have ten mounted. Very interesting and useful grasses, 

 most of them good pasture -grasses. Poa annua will spi-ing up, and 

 ripen seed, which will fall and germinate also in about six weeks. It is 

 a terrible pest in gardens. Poa distans, a very distinct grass, is abundant 

 in Leith Dock enclosure, but not common outside. Poa compressa is also 

 common at the Docks, but is found in many localities about the Lothians. 

 The others are all fairly common. 



22. Briza — quaking grass ; 9 species, 2 British : although I think B. 

 media is the only true native, B. minor is only an escape. B. minor and 

 B. maximus are common in gardens. 



23. Cynosurus — dogs'-tail-grass ; 8 species, 1 British : C. cristatus com- 

 mon almost everywhere, but of very little use. 



24. Dactylis— 19 species. D. glomerata is the only British species. A 

 very common and, if not allowed to run to seed, a very useful grass. 

 Though a succulent grass, neither cattle nor horses are fond of it, but eat 

 it. Sheep are fond of it. 



25. Festuca — fescue grass ; 66 species, 11 British. I have 11 species 

 and vars. mounted : nearly all of these are good jjasture and hay grasses. 



26. Bromus — brome grass : 66 sjDecies, 12 British. I have mounted 

 18 species and vars. of this genus. I think of all the genera of grasses 

 there is not one so confusing as this. A change of soil and locality makes 

 the same grass appear so different that one can scarcely make it out. 

 They are nearly all handsome and very graceful species. It is said that 

 if the seeds of B. secalinus are eaten, they have a bitter taste and the 

 same narcotic qualities as Lolium temulentum. The seeds of B. mollis 

 cause giddiness in man and quadrupeds, and are fatal to poultry. 



27. Brachypodium — 25 species, 2 British. The only species I have 

 gathered is B. sylvaticum, which is a very pretty grass, but of little use. 



