44 STIPA PENNATA. 
Stem upright, circular, smooth, carrying’ four or five long, 
splendid, hirsute, rigid, and setaceous leaves, with rather rough 
sheaths, the uppermost one being longer than its leaf. Joints 
three or four in number, hid by the sheaths. Ligule of upper- 
most sheath hirsute, long and pointed. Inflorescence racemed, 
rising out of the highest sheath. Spikelets consisting of two 
nearly equal-sized, long, slender, hirsute glumes; and one floret 
of only half the length of the glumes, consisting of two palee, 
the exterior one sharp-pointed at the base, hirsute, five-ribbed, 
and ending in a considerable feather-like awn. The awn com- 
mences at the apex of the exterior palea, and usually twenty 
times its length; with the exception of that portion immediately 
about the base, it is feathery to the apex. Styles prominent, 
two. Stigmas feathery. Filaments capillary, three in number. 
Anthers notched at either extremity. Scales acute. Length about 
two feet. Root perennial and fibrous. 
This species does not flower till August, and its seeds become 
ripe about the middle of September. 
When gathered to decorate a room, this should be done at 
the commencement of September, before the seeds are ripe. _ 
The illustration is from a specimen gathered near Hebden 
Bridge, Yorkshire, by the late S. Gibson, and forwarded by 
Mr. Joseph Sidebotham, of Manchester. 
