HORTUs GRAMIiNEUS WOE U RN EN SIS. 155 



autumn. It cannot be recommended as a constituent of 

 permanent pasture ; but as a grass to cultivate by itself, to 

 a certain extent, for green food, or for hay, it offers advan- 

 tages, in the superior produce and nutritive powers above 

 stated. It grows stronger and attains to a greater height 

 than the next species, but owing to the roots spreading wide, 

 being large, and requiring a consequent greater supply of 

 nourishment from the soil, the produce stands thinner, and 

 proves less weighty, than the crops afforded by the alope- 

 curus Tauntoniensis. 



It flowers in April or early in May, and continues to pro- 

 duce flowering culms until the autumn. 



ALOPECURUS Tauntoniensis. Taunton's Meadow Fox- 

 tail-grass. 



Specific character : Spike much panicled ; florets oblong ; 

 calyx ciliate on the back, on the edges nearly naked ; 

 culm upright, ribbed 5 root slightly creeping. 



Obs. — This holds a middle station between the alopeciirus 

 pratensis and alopecurus arundinaceus. The lanceolate, 

 strong, reed-like leaves, and powerful creeping root, of 

 the alopecurus arundinaceus, at first sight, when grow- 

 ing, distinguish it from every other species of alopecurus. 

 The strongly-ribbed lower leaves of the alopecurus 

 Tauntoniensis, with its slightly, though evidently creep- 

 ing roots, in hke manner, when growing, distinguish 

 it from the alopecurus pratensis and a. arundinaceus. 

 The more minute though certain proper botanical 

 characters of distinction, are less obvious. The florets 

 of the alopecurus pratensis are more dilated or are sub- 

 ovate, those of the a. arundinaceus and a. Tauntoniensis 

 are sub-linear ; but the florets of the latter are shorter. 

 The edges of the calyx of the a. Tauntoniensis are 

 nearly naked and smooth, while in the a. arundinaceus 

 the edges of the calyx are largely ciliate, and the side- 

 ribs so prominent, as to give an angular form to the 

 valves. The a. Tauntoniensis is distinguished from 

 a. pratensis and a. arundinaceus by deep purple tints 

 on the calyx and awns. The anthers of the a. pratensis 



