GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 129 



especially the lower ones : the upper sheath much longer than its leaf, 

 crowned with a short bi-lohed ligule, with one lobe more prominent 

 than the other. Joints two or three, near the base. Leaves short, 

 rigid, involute, of a rounded appearance, roughish on the outer 

 surface ; three-ribbed and hairy \vithin : the radical leaves numerous, 

 tufted, and much curved. Inflorescence simple panicled. Panicle 

 short, close, erect, unilateral, leaving the rachis naked behind : 

 branches angular and rough, very seldom in pairs, the lowermost the 

 longest, and rather remote, Spikelets erect, of six tlorets, with verv 

 short awns ; the six or seven uppermost spikelets arising immediately 

 from the rachis on short footstalks; the lower ones from lateral 

 branches : the summit of the lowermost floret extending beyond the 

 large glume of the cal%*s. Calyx of two unequal acute glumes (Fig. 

 1,) the uppermost three-ribbed, the lower one without lateral ribs. 

 Florets of two paleae (Fig. 2), the outer palea of lowermost floret five- 

 ribbed, rather indistinctly seen, (unle^ the palea be held between the 

 lens and the light,) terminating in a short rough awn about one-sixth 

 the length of the palea. Inner palea bifid, furnished with two green 

 marginal ribs minutely fringed on the upper half. 



The following are some of the more striking varieties : — 



hirsuta. The same as the one described, but with the 



glumes and florets hain. . Frequent in rocky localities. Festuca hir- 

 suta of Host. 



vivipara. A variety" with the inner palea metamor-. 



phosed into a kind of leaf, which is generally three times the length 

 of the outer palea, (Plate L\TL » Common in alpine districts, Fes- 

 tuca vivipara of Smith. 



angHstifolia. A delicate and slender variety, with long 



narrow leaves, (Plate L\TI. ) Verv- common in the Highlands, where 

 it forms a great part of the herbage. Festuca tenuifolia of Schra- 

 der. 



c<2siu. A striking variety, taller and stouter than those 



described ; the spikelets larger and of a yellowish hue ; outer palea 

 mucronate and frequently hairy, (Plate L\TI.) The whole plant is 

 more or less glaucous. Xot common, but occasionally met with. 

 Festuca ccBsia of Smith. 



Obs. — Festuca ovina and its varieties differ from Festuca duriuscula 



I 



