HORTLS GRAMINF.US WOB U RNENSl S. 179 



the larger grasses, whose nutritive powers are shown to be 

 greater. Hence, on situations where it naturally grows, and 

 as pasture for sheep, it may possibly be inferior to none on 

 the same soil in the like state of nature. It flowers in the 

 third week of June, and the seed is ripe about the last of 

 July. 



FESTUCA vivipam. Viviparous Fescue-grass. 



Specific character : Panicle unilateral, rather close ; florets 

 compressed, keeled, awnless, somewhat downy, as well 

 as the edges of their inner valve and the calyx ; stem 

 square ; leaves folded, bristle-shaped, smooth. 



Obs. — I have cultivated this grass on a variety of soils, 

 and it has always continued to produce plants instead 

 of seeds on them all. I never could obtain a floret with 

 either stamen or pistil. The gemma, or rudiment of the 

 future plant (which here occupies the place of the 

 germen of a perfect flower), in its first stage appears 

 like a minute globule of water, visible only with the 

 microscope ; after the spike is developed it gradually 

 assumes an oblong figure, becomes pointed, and at last 

 puts forth a single leaf, after the manner of the perfect 

 seed of grasses ; other leaves succeed to this, till the 

 weight of these, now a perfect plant of grass, except the 

 root, forces it to fall from the spike on the ground, 

 where it soon strikes root. This is a curious exception 

 to the general law of nature, in the propagation of 

 plants by their seed. Here is a plant, which has every 

 part of a flower except the two essential parts, stamens 

 and pistils, for its propagation, and for its admission into 

 this class of the system of Linnaeus. Yet from this 

 imperfect flower it produces perfect plants. A great 

 number of other grasses are viviparous, as alopecurus 

 pratensis, cynosurus cristatus, poa alpina, phleum pratense, 

 anthoxanthum odorahim, &c. &c. ; but in these the seed 

 is first perfected, and merely vegetates in the husk 

 from accidental circumstances, as growing in shaded 



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