266 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBU&NENS1S. 



but from that period till the seed be perfected they gradually be- 

 come dry and wiry; nor do the root-leaves sensibly increase in 

 number or in size, but a total supension of increase appears 

 in every fart of the plant, the roots and seeds excepted. The 

 straws or culms of the Poa trivialis are, on the contrary, at the 

 time of flowering, weak and tender ; but as they approach the pe- 

 riod of ripening the seed they become firm, though still succulent. 

 This economy in the growth of the Poa trivialis is nearly the same 

 as in all the early flowering grasses, as they contain more nutritive 

 matter after the time of flowering than before, or at that period of 

 growth : the latter flowering grasses, with few exceptions, afford 

 more nutritive matter just after flowering than when the seed 

 is perfected. Whatever the cause may be, it seems probable that 

 the weak influence which the sun at that early season of the year 

 has upon these grasses, compared to that at Midsummer, must have 

 a share in the cause of this difference of nutritive powers in grasses 

 at the same stage of growth. 



The Festuca glauca is a native of alpine situations, but thrives 

 better when cultivated on lower ground than most other species 

 having the same origin. Its merits, however, though they do not 

 appear sufficiently great to entitle it to the first place among the 

 superior grasses for light soils, yet its hardy nature, and property 

 of forming a thick turf, as well as being nutritive, prevent it from 

 being rejected altogether as of no value. 



Flowers in the second week of June, and the seed is ripe about 

 the first week of July. 



Festuca myurus. Wall-fescue, Capon's-tail Grass. 



Specific character: Panicle drooping, elongated, rather close; 

 florets tapering, shorter than their awns, rough at the top ,* 

 leaves awl-shaped ; stem leafy to the very summit. Sm. 

 Engl. Fl. i. p. 143; Flo. Ger.; E. Bot. 1412; Host. t. 93; 

 Hort. Gram. Fol. 139. 



Obs. Root annual. The flowers have only one stamen, which 

 distinguishes it from all other species of fescue. It has great 

 affinity to the Festuca bromoides. The inner valve of the 

 blossom is fringed towards the top ; the awns are longer than 

 those of the Festuca bromoides. 



German, Mausesc hivanzar tiger- Schwingel. 



Native of Britain. 



