GRASSES OF BRITAIN'. 181 



glumes being wedge-shaped, swelling upwards, abrupt at the inner 

 margins. Keels rough, not haii*y. Floret about one-third shorter 

 than the glumes and entire at the summit, (see Fig. 3.) ; — whereas in 

 Phleum arenarium the glumes are lanceolate, acute. Keels haii-y on 

 the upper half. Floret about one-third the length of the glumes, and 

 jagged at the summit, 



Phleum asperum is distinguished from Phleum Boehmeri, in the 

 glumes being wedge-shaped, swelling upwards. Keels rough, not 

 hairy, Ligule lanceolate ; — whereas in Phleum Boehmeri the glumes 

 are of a linear form. Keels on the upper half fringed with a few con- 

 spicuous bristly hairs. Ligule obtuse, short 



This gi"ass is of so htde profit to the farmer that it would not pay 

 him to cultivate, the produce being much inferior to that of most other 

 grasses. The culms are numerous, and the foliage in the spring is 

 comparatively nothing. It is a rare gi*ass in Britain, having been 

 found but few times in the counties of Oxford, Cambridge, Glouces- 

 ter, and Bedford. It is also a native of France, Prussia, Holland, 

 Belgium. Switzerland, and Italy. It grows naturally in dr\- sandy 

 places, but thrives best on a sandy loam. Its limit of altitude is 

 about 1000 feet above the level of the sea- 

 Flowers in July, and ripens its seed early in September, 

 The accompau}-ing figure was taken from a foreign specimen. 



Explanation of Plate LXXIX. Phleum asperum, natural size. 



Fig. 1. Rachis and spikeiets Datural size. 



2. Spikelet a 



3. Spikelet showing the two glumes and floret. "g 



4. Floret showiKg the tvo jialc.*?, j. -^ 



5. Ligule of upper shewth. W 



6. Ovarium, pistils, and stamens. 



