266 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



but from that period till the seed be perfected they gradually be 

 come dry and wiry ; nor do the root-leaves sensibly increase in 

 number or in size, but a total suspension of increase appears in 

 every part of the plant, the roots and seeds excepted. The 

 straws or culms of the Poa trivialis are, on the contrary, at the 

 time of flowering, weak and tender; but as they approach the pe- 

 riod of ripening the seed they become firm, though still succulent. 

 This economy in the growth of the Poa trivialis is nearly the same 

 as in all the early flowering grasses, as they contain more nutritive 

 matter after the time of flowering than before, or at that period of 

 growth : the latter flowering grasses, with few exceptions, afford 

 more nutritive matter just after flowering than when the seed is 

 perfected. Whatever the cause may be, it seems probable that 

 the weak influence which the sun at that early season of the year 

 has upon these grasses, compared to that at Midsummer, must 

 have a share in the cause of this difference of nutritive powers in 

 grasses at the same stage of growth. 



The Feduca glauca is a native of alpine situations, but thrives 

 better when cultivated on lower ground than most other species 

 having the same origin. Its merits, however, though they do not 

 appear sufficiently great to entitle it to the first place among the 

 superior grasses for light soils, yet its hardy nature, and property 

 of forming a thick turf, as well as being nutritive, prevent it from 

 being rejected altogether as of no value. 



Flowers in the second week of June, and the seed is ripe about 

 the first week of July. 



FESTUCA myurus. Wall-fescue, Capon's-tail Grass. 



Specific character : Panicle drooping, elongated, rather close ; 



florets tapering, shorter than their awns, rough at the top ; 



leaves awl-shaped ; stem leafy to the very summit. Sm. 



Engl. Fl. i. p. 143 ; Flo. Ger. ; E. Bot. 1412 ; Host. t. 93 ; 



Hort. Gram. Fol. 139. 

 Obs. — Root annual. The flowers have only one stamen, which 



distinguishes it from all other species of fescue. It has great 



affinity to the Festuca bromoides. The inner valve of the 



blossom is fringed towards the top ; the awns are longer than 



those of the Festuca bromoides. 

 German, Mauseschwanzartiger-Schoingel. 

 Native of Britain. 



