300 The Flora of Wiltshire. 



•3. F. glgantea, (Vill.) tall-bearded Fescue-grass. Engl. Bat. t. 

 1820. Parn. Gr. t. 47. 



Localifi/. In woods and thickets that are rather moist. P. Fl. 

 Jidi/. Area, \, 2, 3, 4, 5. Recorded in all the Districts. A tall 

 grass 3 to 4 feet high, with broad leaves, having" the habit and some 

 of the characters of Bromiis. Ligule unequal, auricled. IiiJIoresence 

 often very much branched, loose and drooping towards one side, the 

 lower branches growing generally in pairs upon the rough rachis. 

 Spikelets lanceolate or inclining to ovate, pointed compressed; 

 usually consisting of 5 or 6 flowers. The outer palea 5 veined, the 

 4 lateral veins all terminating below the apex, the middle vein 

 extends below the cleft into a strong rough aion twice as long as the 

 palea a character by which this grass is at once distinguishable from 

 others belonging to this section of the genus Festuca. /3 F. trifiora 

 (Sm.) Engl. Bat. t. 1918, is an occasional form of the preceding, of 

 smaller size with a less luxuriant and nearly erect panicle, and the 

 spikelets seldom more than 2 or 3-flowered, is sometimes met with 

 in diy and barren ground. 



4. F. elatior (Linn.) tall Fescue-grass. Engl. Bot. t. 1593. 

 Parn. Gr. t. 47. 



Locality. Banks of the Ujiper and Lower Avon, Kennet and 

 Avon Canal, also in moist pastures, especially in a stiff clayey soil. 

 P. Fl. June, July. Area, \, 2, 3, 4, 5. In all the Districts but 

 much less frequent than the next. Stem about 4 feet high, reedy, 

 striated. Leaves linear, lanceolate, twice as broad as F. pratensis 

 and much longer. Sheaths very long, smooth. Panicle large, 

 spreading widely, and somewhat inclining to one side, branches of 

 the panicle, short, divaricate in flower but afterwards ascending. 

 Spikelets ovate, lanceolate, varying in the number of flowers from 5 

 or 6 upwards. Outer palea 5-veined, the middle or dorsal vein 

 terminating in a short rough awn. 



5. Y. pratensis (Huds.) meadow Fescue-grass. Engl. Bot. i, 1592. 

 Parn. Gr. t. 46. F. elatior Koch. 



Locality. In rather moist pastures and meadows, P. 11. June, 

 July. Area, 1, 2, 3, 4. 5. Frequent in all the Districts. Stems 

 1 or 2 feet high, erect, round, smooth, striated. Leaves linear 



