106 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



roughish on the inner surface, smooth behind. Inflorescence simple 

 panicled ; the first four or five uppermost spikelets arising immediate- 

 ly from the rachis ; the lowermost from the lateral branches. Panicle 

 leaning slightly to one side ; rachis roughish, with branches arising 

 alternately on each side. Spikelets of an ovate-lanceolate form, of 

 five or six florets. Calyx of two acute unequal smooth glumes 

 (Fig. 1), three-ribbed, the lateral ribs of the smaller glume rather in- 

 distinct Florets of two palea (Fig. 2), the outer palea of lowermost 

 floret rather longer than the calyx ; five-ribbed ; membranous and 

 often bifid at the summit ; sometimes furnished with a very short 

 rough awn, arising immediately behirid the membranous extremity. 

 Inner palea about equal in length to the outer palea, membranous, 

 acute, often bifid, with two green marginal ribs minutely fringed. 



Ohs. — This and the two following species I have deemed advisable 

 to place in a new genus, since they differ widely in their characters 

 from the genus in which they were formerly placed (Festuca.) They 

 are now, however, distinguished from the genus Festuca, in the radi- 

 cal leaves being broader than those of the stem ; aivn (when present) 

 arising from behind the summit of the outer palea ; — whereas in Fes- 

 tuca the radical leaves are generally narrower than those of the stem, 

 and the awn always arises from the extreme summit of the outer palea, 

 (See Fig. 2.) 



Bucetum pratense is very probably only a variety of Bucetum ela- 

 tior, as the only difference between them is, that the panicle of the 

 former is simple while that of the latter is compound. Bucetum loli- 

 acea appears also gradually to pass into Bucetum pratense. 



The cultivation of this grass deserves the attention of farmers, as 

 it will thrive well on most soils, and is much liked by all descriptions of 

 cattle. Mr Sinclair states that " the meadow fescue constitutes a 

 very considerable portion of the herbage of all rich natural pastures 

 and irrigated meadows ; it makes excellent hay, and though a large 

 plant, the leaves of the herbage are succulent and tender, and appa- 

 rently much liked by cattle, as they never form rank tufts, which is 

 the case with the larger grasses. It does not appear to arrive at its 

 full productive powers from seed so soon as either the cock's-foot or 



fox-tail grass ; and, though essential for permanent pasture, is not by 



4 



