328 GEAMINACE.E. 



floret to each pair of glumes, and the flowers are arranged in a 

 spike. It grows from two to three feet high; it is a rigid plant 

 with bluish rolled-up leaves. It is a most useful Grass, 

 piercing the sandbanks on the seashore with its roots, and 

 converting them into natural barriers against the encroach- 

 ments of the waters. On this subject Dr. Murray writes, 

 "The very existence of a kingdom depends on Sea Reeds, 

 Sedges, and kindred plants. These form the defence of the 

 dykes of Holland, and prevent not only the invasion of the sea, 

 but the advance of the drift sand on the fertile soil. When in 

 a solitary walk by the seaside, we have heard in a still night 

 the sentinel from the rampart repeat the watchword, 'All's 

 well,' we have turned instinctively to the ' Sea Mat-weed ' on 

 the shore mantling the beech the sentinel of Providence that 

 forbids the approach of the waves, as if commissioned to say to 

 them, ' Hitherto and no farther,' and ' Here shall thy proud 

 waves be stayed,' and have then responded 'All's well.' " 



The Sea Hard-grass (Rottbollia incurvata), is a curious plant, 

 with Rush-like branched stems, from the sides of which the 

 little florets emerge. It only grows a few inches high, and 

 inhabits salt marshes. 



The Lyme-grass family have two glumes enclosing two or 

 more florets. The flowers are arranged in spikes. 



The Sea Lyme-grass (ISlymus arenareus), performs the same 

 useful office as the Sea Reed, binding together the loose sand 

 of the seashore. The large leaves are sharp-pointed. 



The Pendulous Lyme-grass (E. geniculatus), is a very elegant 

 plant ; its spike is loose and bent downwards, and it is very 

 tall and slender. 



The Wood Lyme-grass (E. europEeus), has two rough florets 

 between each pair of glumes, and its leaves are soft. Our 

 specimens were sent from Lincolnshire and Norfolk. 



We have now gone through the British members of the 

 Grass tribe, with the exception of those that bear close affinity 

 to the Cereals or corn Grasses ; they are a humble race com- 



