J 68 GRASSES OF BRITAIN. 



Knappia agrostidea. 



Early Knappia. 



Plate LXXIII. 



Specific Characters. — Florets hairy, shorter than the glumes. 



Description. — Root annual, fibrous, producing many stems, from 

 two to four inches in length. Stems smooth, slender, roundish, hol- 

 low, swelling upwards, bearing two or three leaves with smooth com- 

 pressed sheaths ; upper sheath longer than its leaf. Ligitle of upper 

 sheath prominent, obtuse, crenate, embracing the stem, decurrent, 

 the length about equal to its breadth. Leaves narrow, blunt, channel- 

 led, smooth. Inflorescence racemed, unilateral; rachis smooth. Spike- 

 lets on short though very distinct footstalks, composed of two glumes, 

 and one floret. Glumes equal, smooth, obtuse, green down the back, 

 the sides tinged with purple, without lateral ribs; outer glume 

 (" gibbous at the base, especially when recent," — Professor Graham.) 

 Floret of only one palea, (two palese according to some authors,) 

 shorter than the glumes, white, very hairy, obtuse, and ragged at the 

 summit. Styles two, short, distinct. Stigmas very long, slender, 

 and feathery. Stamens three. Ovarium beautifully reticulated, or 

 marked in longitudinal dots. 



Obs. — This grass is a native of England, France, and central parts 

 of Europe, found growing in sandy maritime pastures. It is frequent 

 along the south-west coast of Anglesea, and Professor Graham has 

 found it growing in abundance at St Clements, Jersey, on a sandy 

 common near the shore, as well as in several other places in the 

 same island. 



Flowers in March and April, and ripens its seed in about the end 

 of May. Of no agricultural use. 



The accompanying figure was taken from specimens gathered in 

 Jersey. 



ICnappia agrostidea, Smith. Hooker, With.. Bab. Agrostis minima, Linn. CJiama- 

 grostis minima, Sehrader, Lind. Mibora vcrna, Beauv, Shirmia minima, Hoppe. 



