148 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSI^. 



Specific character: Panicle loose at the time of flowering, 

 contracted afterwards ; florets large, numerous; calyx- 

 husks acuminate, outer serrulated from the keel up- 

 wards, inner only slightly towards the top. 

 Obs. — This variety of creeping bent-grass being confined 

 to the richest natural pastures, at least as far as my 

 observations have extended, I have introduced it in 

 this place; the specimens and details of experiments 

 made on (he other varieties which are now to be men- 

 tioned, will be found in another part of this work. 

 Var. 2. Smaller-leaved creeping bent (see agrostis stoloni- 

 fera, var. angustifolia) is distinguished from the above by its 

 panicle, which is densely crowded with florets, smaller, and 

 of a whitish colour, which distinguishes it at first sight 

 from the large spreading dingy purple panicle of the above ; 

 the leaves of which also are longer and broader, pointing- 

 more direct froa:i the stem, and the joints more distant, and 

 distinguished from those of every other variety of fiorin by 

 the dull purple or brownish colour, which seems to unite 

 them with the stem : in the angustifolia the colour is white 

 or grey. This second variety I believe to be the agrostis 

 stolonifera of the English Botany, 1532. 



Var. 3. Awned creeping bent-grass (see agrostis stoloni- 

 fera, var. aristata), is distinguished from the first variety by 

 its larger valve of the blossom having an awn twice its 

 length, while the same valve in the true fiorin (var. 1) has 

 only the rudiment of an awn fixed below the apex, and 

 which can be distinctly seen only by the aid of a glass ; the 

 panicle is also smaller ; the colour of that part of the stem 

 nearest to the joint is reddish ; the joints much less swoln. 



Var. 4. Wood creeping bent-grass (see agrostis stolonifera, 

 var. nemoralis) is more like the first variety than any of the 

 others ; but the panicle is more wide-spreading, the branches 

 rougher, the florets more pointed, smoother, the leaves nar- 

 rower, and lying more flat on the ground ; the creeping- 

 stems or runners are more slender, and lie quite flat on the 

 ground, joints smaller and nearly colourless. 



The marsh creeping bent-grass may be justly considered 

 var. 5 (see agrostis palustris); it approaches nearest to var. 2 



