REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 353 



drooping when ripe. Usually tliere are o to 5 brandies at each joint of 

 the panicle; these branches are of different lengihs, from ^ inch to 2 

 inches, and each with 1 to 3 large spikeiets. The spikelots are usually 

 froLQ 5 to 10 iiowered ; the glumes unequal, nerved, shorter than the 

 tlowers ; the lower palet is convex or comiiressed, keeled on the back, 

 with an awn variable in length from below the point. In the South it 

 would perhaps be a good winter grass, like its relative Bromus unioloides, 

 but it is not as vigorous a gTass as that sjiccies and does not produce 

 Buch an abundance of foliage. (See Plate IX.) 



ElyjVIUS Canadensis — Large Wild rye, Lyme grass. 



A perennial coarse grass, growing on river banks and in rich shaded 

 •woods. Culms 2 to 4 feet high, leafy, terminated by a cylindrical loose 

 spike 4 to 8 inches long, with the spikeiets placed at intervals of about 

 half an inch on the rachis. The spikeiets are mostly in jiairs at each 

 joint, each composed of from 3 to 5 ilowera. The glumes are narrow, 

 strongly nerved, and tapering to an .awn which is rather shorter than 

 the awn of the flowers ju'oper. The lower iialet of each flower is thick 

 in texture, narrow, and extending iuto a long, somewhat curved awn or 

 beard, the palet with the awn being an inch or more in length. The 

 upper palet is thinner in texture, obtuse, and not awned, fringed with 

 short hairs on the margin. The spike is usually drooi>ing at the top, 

 and ratber graceful in appearance. The leaves are broad and rough, 

 the lower ones 9 to 12 inches long. 



In some localities this is common in low meadows, and is cut with 

 other native grasses for hay. If left until maturity it becomes too coarse 

 to be of much value. In some portions of the Southern States this grass 

 is liuown as Terrell grass, from having l>een prominently brought to 

 notice by Dr. Tei-rell, of Sparta, Ga. Mr. C. W. Howard writes concern- 

 ing it as follows : 



Tills grass will live on tliin land, but tlie, soil, to mako it valuable, must bo rich — 

 the richer the better. It lasta for years. I have known it to occupy and liouriah on 

 the same spot for twenty years. Horses, sheep, and cattle are very fond of it during 

 the winter and spring; hogs reject it. Orchard, blue, or meadow-oat grass are either 

 of them preferable to it where they Ihrive. Whatever doubt there may be of their 

 thriving in a given locality, there can be no doubt of the thrift of the Terrell grass 

 in any part of the South, however hot it may be, if the soil be made rich. The 

 I)lantor living in the flat and somewhat sandy portions of the South who says he can- 

 not get a good winter pasture has cortaiuly never tried the Terrell grass on rich land, 



(See Plate X.) 



Festuca pratensis— Meadow Fescue grass. 



This, although not a native species, has been introduced with foreign 

 seeds, and is now frequently met with in good meadows, particularly in 

 the Eastern States. It is a perennial grass, varying from 2 to 4 feet iu 

 height. The leaves are flat and rather broad, and about 1 foot long. The 

 panicle is generally branched, erect and narrow, from 6 inches to nearly 

 1 foot long. The spikeiets are lanceolate, a^bout half an inch long, and 

 consisting of from 5 to 10 flowers. The glumes are unequal, the inner 

 •me largest, and somewhat 3 nerved ; the outer one shorter, and nerveless. 

 The outer jialets are tirm in texture, scarious at the edge, 5 nerved, 

 acute, and sometimes with a short, but distinct, awn at the apex. 



This is one of the standard meadow grasses in Europe. Cattle are 

 said to bo very fond of it, both green and as hay. Itis deserving of 

 more extensive cultivation in moist meadows. By some botanists this 

 23 AG 



