GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 33 



each glume furnislied with a long, sleuder. rongh awn, arising im- 

 mediately beneath the summit Floret of two paleae, ( Fig. 2 ), the 

 outer palea about half the length of the caly^, of an ovate form, with- 

 out lateral ribs ; tipped with a small awn about half the length of the 

 palea. Inner palea rather shorter than the outer palea, thin and 

 pellucid, with the margins entire, 



Obs. — This species is readily distinguished from every other Bri- 

 tish srass by the sreat lensrth of the awns of the elumes. 



This grass has been applied to no agricidtural use. It is rare in 

 Scotland, found only on the Fifeshire coast. In England it occurs 

 along the coasts of Durham, Gloucester, Norfolk, Esses, Kent, and 

 Hants. It has not been discovered either in Ireland or America. It 

 is frequent along the Mediterranean, but does not exist further north 

 than latitude 55°. 



Flowers early in July, and ripens its seed in the second week of 

 August. 



20. AgROSTIS yULG-VRIS.* 



Fine Bent-Gra.-'s. 



Specijic Characters. — Floret of two paleae. Ligule short and ub- 

 tuse. Sheaths smooth. (Plate XII. ) 



Description. — The usiial height about fifteen inches. The root is 

 perennial, tufted, somewhat creeping. Stem erect, round, smootli, 

 and polished : bearing five or six leaves with smooth striated sheaths : 

 the upper sheatli rather longer than its leaf, crowned with a short ob- 

 tuse membranous ligule. Joints smooth. Leaves rather short, flat, 

 narrow, acute, rough on both surfaces, the edges minutely toothed. 

 Inflorescence compound panicled. Panicle erect, of a brownish piu-- 

 ple, sometimes pale green, the branches very delicate, slender, rough, 

 spreading zig zag, arismg from the rachis in three or fours at equal 

 distances. Spikelets small, numerous, glossy, of one small awnless 

 floret, shorter than the calyx. Calyx of two narrow acute glumes, 

 ( Fig. 1 \ nearly of equal size, without lateral ribs, the larger glume 

 the lowermost, minutely toothed on the upper half of the keel. Floret 



' AgTostU vulgarit, Withering, Smith, Ilockcr, Lindiey. Greville, Koch. 



C 



