132 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



throwing out lateral shoots, (Plate LX.) It is found growing In 

 sandy places along the sea-shore. Festuca rubra of Koch, Hooker. 

 As all these grasses vary exceedingly from change of soil and 

 situation, it is difficult to determine what may be considered as 

 species and what varieties, the structure of the spikelets being pre- 

 cisely the same in all, differing only in size and length of the awns, 

 which are very uncertain characters. The creeping root has been 

 considered by some authors to form a good mark of specific distinc- 

 tion ; but when the plant cannot otherwise be distinguished except by 

 reference to the root, I have considered it advisable to place it under 

 the head of a variety. 



Among the grasses which are of the most importance for agricul- 

 tural purposes, the Festuca duriuscula ranks as one of the first. It 

 is very productive for its size, of early growth, and thrives well in a 

 great variety of soils and situations. It withstands the effects of 

 severe dry weather in rich natural pastures, better than many 

 other grasses, and retains its verdure during winter in a re- 

 markable degree. Sheep and hares are remarkably fond of this 

 grass. If cultivated for the pui'pose of hay it ought to be mown at 

 the time of flowering, as it then contains more nutritive matter than 

 at the time the seed is ripe. It is a common grass throughout Scot- 

 land, England, and Ireland ; also a native of Lapland, Norway, Swe- 

 den, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Iceland, and North 

 America. Rare in the United States, supposed to have been intro- 

 duced. Its limit of altitude is about 3000 feet above the sea. 



Flowers in the second week of June, and ripens its seed in the mid- 

 dle of July. 



87. Triticum sylvaticum. * 

 Sle7ider Wheat- Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Spikelets long and cylindi'ical. Awn more 

 than half the length of the palea. Stem smooth. Leaves hairy on 

 the inner surface. (Plate LXI.) 



• Bracliypodium sylvaticum, Hooker, Lindley, Koch, Bcauv. Festuca sylvatica, Smith 



