86 TRIANDRIA DIGYNIA. [CL. III. 



Perennial : flowers in July : prows on sandy ground, in the south of 

 England, and Jersey : rare. Eng. Bot. vol. xix. pi. 1333. Eng. Fl. 

 vol. i. p. 138. 171. 



36. FESTU'CA. FESCUE. 



Calyx of two very unequal, lance-shaped, pointed chaff-scales, 

 containing an oblong, compressed, imbricated spikelet, of many 

 two-rowed, more or less awned, perfect flowers. Corolla of two 

 unequal husks; the outer commonly nearly cylindrical, entire, 

 pointed or awned, keeled, more or less ribbed, a little inflected at 

 the edges ; the inner more narrow, elliptical, two-ribbed, cleft or 

 abrupt, with membranous margins, folded in at the rib. Nectary 

 of one deeply divided, or of two separate acute scales. Filaments 

 hair-like, shorter than the husks ; anther linear, pendulous, 

 notched at both ends. Germen round. Styles short, distant. 

 Stigmas feathery ; seed oblong, acute, loose, enveloped in the 

 unaltered husks. Named from fest, food. 52. 



1. F. ovina. Sheep's Fescue. Panicle unilateral, rather close ; spike- 

 lets of four or five flowers with short awns ; straw square ; leaves invo- 

 lute, bristle-shaped. Leaves short, tufted ; straws about eight inches 



high : the whole plant glaucous, frequently tinged with red. This grass 

 forms excellent pasturage for sheep. Perennial : flowers in June and 

 July : grows in dry pastures abundantly. Eng. Bot. vol. ix. pi. 585. 

 Eng. Fl. vol. i. p. 139. A variety which is viviparous grows abundantly 

 on the higher mountains. F. vivipara. Eng. Bot. vol. xiv. pi. 1355. Eng. 

 Ff.vol.i. p. 140. 172. 



2. F. duriusmla. Hard Fescue. Panicle unilateral, spreading ; 

 spikelets oblong, of about six flowers with short awns ; stem-leaves nearly 



flat ; root-leaves involute, bristle-shaped. Straws from one to two feet 



high : leaves roughish on the keel and edges. Perennial : flowers in 

 June and July : grows in pastures and waste ground : common. Enq. 

 Bot. vol. vii. pi. 470. Eng. Fl.vol. i. p. 141. 173. 



3. F. rubra. Creeping Fescue. Panicle unilateral, spreading ; spike- 

 lets oblong, of about six flowers, with short awns; leaves downy above, 



more or less involute ; root extensively creeping. The long, creeping 



root furnishes the principal distinctive character of this species; which, 

 however, is probably a mere variety of the former. Perennial : flowers 

 in June and July: grows in dry pastures: common. Eng. Bot. vol. 

 xxix. pi. 2056. Eng. Fl. vol. i. p. 142. 174. 



4. F. bromoides. Barren Fescue. Panicle unilateral, nearly erect, 

 simple ; spikelets oblong, smooth ; flowers shorter than their awns ; leaves 



tapering, shorter than their sheath. Straws from four to ten inches 



high : panicle of a few long-stalked spikelets : outer chaff-scale extreme- 

 ly narrow, acute. Annual : flowers in June : grows on walls and sandy 

 ground: common. Eng. Bot. vol. xx. pi. 1411. Eng. Fl. vol. i. 

 p. 143. 175. 



5. F. Myurvs. Wall Fescue. Panicle drooping, elongated, rather 

 close; flowers tapering, shorter than their awns, rough at the top; leaves 



awl-shaped. About sixteen inches high, with a panicle five or six 



inches long. Annual: flowers in June and July: grows on walls and 

 dry sandy ground : frequent in England ; rare in Scotland. Eng. Bot. 

 vol. xx. pi. 1412. Eng. Fl. vol. i. p. 143. 176. 



