282 The Flora of Wiltshire. 



strongly marked green line along tlie keel, which is ciliated with fine 

 hairs that render the spike very soft to the touch. Soil and situation 

 affect the habit of this grass so greatly that accidental varieties have 

 been regarded as distinct species. On barren pastures and road-sides 

 it is often decumbent, and the flower-spikes less than an inch in 

 length. In some instances the lowermost joints of the stems become 

 swollen in the form of tubers constituting the Phleiim nodosum of 

 Linnaeus and later botanists, a variety of not unfrequent occurrence 

 in our dry elevated sheep pastures. In moist rich soil both of these 

 lose their peculiarities and assume the normal character of the species 

 to which they appertain. In regard to the value of this grass much 

 difference of opinion seems at all times to have prevailed among our 

 scientific agriculturists, and the question is far from being decided at 

 present. 



Alopecurus, (Linn.) Fox-tail-geass. 

 Linn. CI. iii., Ord. ii. 

 Name. From {alopex) a fox, and {oura) a tail. 



1. A. pratensis (Linn.), meadow Fox-tail-grass. Engl. Bot. t. 

 759. St. 8, 1. Parn. Gr. t. 4. 



Locality. In rich meadows and pastures. P. Fl. April, June. 

 Area, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Distributed throughout all the Districts. One 

 of the most common of our meadow grasses. Stem erect, smooth, 1 

 to 3 feet high. Leaves a little glaucous, nearly smooth, flat; upper 

 ones more rough, very short, with long, furrowed, slightly swelling 

 sheaths. The ligule very short and obtuse. Spike or spicate panicle 

 is of a light or yellowish green colour, with a tinge of grey, owing 

 to the silvery hue of the long awns ; it varies in length from 1 to 

 3 inches. Anthers prominent, yellow. An excellent grass for pas- 

 turage, being early and plentiful in produce. 



2. A. geniculatus (Linn.) knee-jointed or floating Fox-tail-grass. 

 Bngl. Bot. t. 1250. Parn. Gr. t. 5. 



Locality. In the Kennet and Avon, and Wilts and Berks Canal. 

 P. Fl. June, July. Area, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Observed in all the Districts. 

 Stems about 1 foot or 18 inches long, branching below; decumbent 

 when not floating, the flowering extremity only erect ; more or less 

 sharply bent at the joints, and especially at the uppermost, whence 



