210 LEPTURUS INCURVATUS. 
Abroad it is met with along the shores of the Mediterranean. 
Stem circular, polished, striated, base decumbent, and bent 
at the joints, bearing six or seven narrow, acute, involute 
leaves, with smooth, striated, inflated sheaths, having a very 
brief blunt ligule at the apex. Inflorescence spiked. Spike 
lengthy and cylindrical. Spikelets alternate on the rachis. 
Calyx of two glumes, which are four-ribbed, lanceolate, acute, 
compact, and only spreading whilst in flower. Florets of two 
palee, somewhat shorter than the glumes, linear, membranous, 
and ribless. Filaments capillary. Anthers cloven at either 
extremity, and pendulous. Styles brief. Stigmas plumose. 
Length from three to six inches. Root annual and fibrous. 
Flowers towards the close of July, and ripens its seeds in 
the middle of August. 
There is a slender erect-growing variety found near Aber- 
lady, which is known as var. Filiformis. 
I am indebted to Mr. Joseph Sidebotham, of Manchester, 
and to Dr. Wilson, of Nottingham, for specimens. 
The illustration is from a specimen gathered at Southsea, 
by Mr. T. Coward. 
