HORTIJS GRAMINEUS W O B URN ENSIS. 181 



FESTUCA dumetoruni. Pubescent Wood-fescue. 



Specific character: Panicle branches pointing in many 

 directions ; spikelets pubescent ; leaves thread-shaped. 



06s.— Spikelets straddling, some pointing upwards, some 

 slanting, some nearly horizontal. The whole plant is 

 of a light glaucous colour, the spikelets nearly white 

 with the numerous fine hairs that clothe them. Native 

 of Britain. Root perennial, slightly creeping. 



Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from 

 a rich black, sandy soil, incumbent on clay, is 10,890 lbs. 

 per acre. 



The produce of latter-math is 4,083 lbs. per acre. 



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

 ripe about the second and third week of July. 



FESTUCA glauca. Glaucous Fescue-grass. 



Specific character: Panicle rather spreading; spikelets 

 spear-shaped, awned ; culms and leaves smooth. 

 Whole plant glaucous. 



Obs. — Mr. Curtis, in his enumeration of British grasses, 

 mentions this as indigenous ; and on this authority it is 

 here entered, as I never could find it in its natural 

 state. There is a variety of this species with subulate 

 leaves, which grow in dense tufts ; every part of the 

 plant is smaller than the first variety, and from a dif- 

 ference in the shade of colour, may be called var. 

 glaucescens. Native of Britain. Root perennial, 

 fibrous. 



Experimeiils. — At the time of flowering, the produce from 

 a brown loam is 9,528 lbs. per acre. 



The produce of the latter-math is 4,764 lbs. per acre. 



The J'estuca 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 



