174 GRASSES OF BRITAIN. 



Alopecurus BULBOSUS. 



Bulbous Foxtail Grass. 



Plate LXXVI. 



Specific Characters. — Root bulbous. Floret abrupt at the sum- 

 mit. Awn extending half its length beyond the floret. 



Description.- — Root perennial, tuberous. Stem ascending, bent at 

 the joints, smooth, hollow, slender, and striated, from four to fifteen 

 inches in length, bearing three or four leaves, with smooth, striated 

 sheaths ; the upper sheath rather longer than its leaf. Ligule of the 

 upper sheath long and pointed, its length about equal to twice its 

 breadth. Joints four, wide apart, the upper one situated rather be- 

 low the centre of the stem, and not covered by the second sheath. 

 Leaves rather narrow, flat, acute, rough on the inner surface and 

 edges, smooth behind. Inflorescence racemed, or approaching to 

 simple panicled, usually from an inch to an inch and a half in length, 

 compact, with very short footstalks arranged on all sides of the rachis. 

 Spihelets numerous, crowded, compressed, composed of two glumes 

 and one floret. Glumes of equal length, pointed, obliquely truncated 

 on the inner margin, separated the whole length to the base, hairy 

 on the keels and lateral ribs. Floret one-fifth shorter than the glumes, 

 of one palea, truncated, wath two green ribs on each side ; when the 

 palea is opened the central ribs terminate in two conical points. Awn 

 arising from a little above the base of the palea and extending half 

 its length beyond the summit, rough on the upper part, smooth and 

 twisted below. Filaments three, slender. Anthers protruding. 

 Sti/les combined. Stic/mas long and feathery. 



Ohs. — Alopecurus bulbosiis is distinguished from Alopecurus agres- 

 tis in the stem and sheaths being smooth. Floret truncated at the 

 summit. Aicn extending half its length beyond the summit of the 

 palea ; — whereas in Alopecurus agrestis the stem and sheaths are 

 rough to the touch. Floret conical at the summit. Awn extending 

 more than half its length beyond the summit. 



Alopecurus bulbosus is distinguished from Alopecurus pratensis in 

 the floret being about the one-fifth shorter than the glumes, and trun- 



Alopecurm hulhosus, Linn., Eng. Bot., Knapp, Smith, Hooker, Bab., Lind., Kunth. 



