QUAKE OR TOTTER-GRASS. 40 



Quake or Totter-grass (Briza media}, and 

 Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis). 



The Totter-grass differs so strongly in appearance from other 

 grasses that minute description is unnecessary except as an aid 

 in making out the structure. Every child that plays in the 

 meadow singles this out as the most desirable acquisition 

 among grasses, because of its constant tremblings. The inflor- 

 escence is a very loose pyramidal panicle, due to the extremely 

 long and hair-like stalks upon which the shining purple 

 spikelets are swung. The empty glumes are two ; flowering 

 glumes six to eight. The stem creeps below the surface, and 

 the leaves are flat. The plant is perennial ; but there is 

 another species, the Small Quake-grass (B. minor), that is 

 annual. This is not so common a plant, and is found chiefly 

 between Cornwall and Hampshire. It is much smaller than 

 B. media, and has tufted stems ; it flowers in July, media a 

 month earlier. The name Briza is Greek, and was anciently 

 applied to some kind of corn. 



The Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurns pratensis) bears a general 

 resemblance to Timothy (page 25), to which it is not distantly 

 allied ; but from which it differs in having no pale or scales. 

 Its cylindrical panicle is yellowish-green, with silvery hairs, the 

 branches bearing three to six spikelets. It is a perennial plant, 

 and produces runners. It forms a valuable portion of all good 

 pastures, the herbage being exceedingly nutritive. It flowers 

 in May and June. The name is Greek, signifying Foxtail. 

 There are three other native species in the genus : 



I. Slender Foxtail (A. agrestis). Annual. Panicle slender, often purplish, 

 branches hairy, with two spikelets. A wayside weed. May to October. 



II. Alpine Foxtail (A. alpinus). Perennial. Panicle ovate, short, f inch, 

 branches with four to six spikelets. Anthers yellow. Rare, near alpine streams, 

 from 2,100 to 3,600 feet. Scotland. July and August. 



III. Floating Foxtail (A. genicnlatus). Perennial. Stems, procumbent and 

 rooting. Panicle dense, slender. Branches with one spikelet. Anthers purplish. 

 Pools and wet places. May to August. 



