152 WILD FLO WEES OF SUMMEB 



The Green Beard Grasses (Pofypogon) are maritime 

 plants, haunting the sea- shore and the salt marsh. 

 There is a perennial and an annual variety. They 

 bloom in August, and have their florets arranged in 

 close panicles. The annual species may be known by 

 having awns thrice the length of the glumes. 



Over the brushwood the Feathery Millet Grass 

 (Milium, effusum) spreads its green feathery panicles 

 like a cloud, and the spreading Millet may be found in 

 woods, rising to the height of four or five feet ; the 

 florets have two close glumes enclosing the two paleaB, 

 and several stems arise from the same root. 



The silky panicles of the elegant Bentgrass family 

 (Agrostis) hang over the foot-path alike of the way- 

 side, the fields, and the woodland. Two unequal 

 glumes enclosing a single floret, with transparent 

 palese, distinguish this family. The Pine Bentgrass 

 (A. vulgaris) is common in meadows, and has a 

 shining purple-tinted panicle. The Silky Bentgrass 

 frequents sandy fields, and has its panicle waving on 

 one side. The Brown-hued variety haunts the way- 

 side path, and the Marsh Bentgrass (A. alba) fre- 

 quents the Irish bogs, where it grows luxuriantly. It 



