FESTUCA. 



FESTUCA. 



grass differs from the common variety of tall 

 fescue in having the panicle somewhat droop- 

 ing; spikelets six-flowered, more ovate and 

 flat; the larger husks of the calyx often un- 

 covered, and the awn is fixed on the apex more 

 in the manner of a bromus than of a fescue. 

 Leaves smoother, and of a less dark-green 

 colour. For damp soils, that cannot conve- 

 niently be thoroughly drained, this would be a 

 most valuable plant, either to be cut for soil- 

 ing, or made into hay, and reduced to chaff as 

 it might be wanted. This grass (which is 

 nearly allied to the common F. elatior next to 

 be il. >cribed) perfects an abundance of seed 

 (though not entirelv free from diseased por- 

 tions), and is therefore not liable to the objec- 

 tion which takes so much from the value of 

 that variety. It is equally early in the produce 

 of foliage, and the nutritive properties are 

 about the same. It flowers early in July, and 

 the seed is ripe in the first week in August. 



A species is described under the name of 

 floating fescue (Festuca fluitans) in London's 

 Ency. ofJlgt; and there said to be found in rich 

 swamps, especially in Cambridgeshire, Eng- 

 land, where it is thought to give the peculiar 

 flavour to Cheddar and Cottenham cheese. It 

 is also found in the ditches and ponds in most 

 parts of England. PI. 5, 1 



Festuca elatior, var. sterilis. PI. 5, e. Barren- 

 seeded tall fescue. This species greatly re- 

 sembles the F. prcUensis, but is larger in every 

 respect, and flowers eight or ten days later. 

 This is a grass admirably adapted for tena- 

 cious clay soils, and might be cultivated with 

 advantage by the farmer combined with some 

 of the other highly productive grasses, in such 

 moist spots of the soil as are peculiarly suited 

 to the growth of this species, although less 

 fitted for the growth of proper pasture grasses. 

 It is nutritive and very productive, and one of 

 the first grasses in the production of foliage 

 early in spring. The produce, like that of all 

 grasses which yield a great weight of crop, 

 may be considered coarse when compared 

 with the F.pratensis and Alopccuris pratensis ; 

 but this objection may be overcome by reduc- 

 ing the hay to chaff, and mixing it with clover- 

 hay. The nutritive matter contains but little 

 bitter extractive or saline matter, while the 

 clover contains an excess. In England it 

 flowers in the second week in July ; the seed 

 is universally affected with the disease termed 

 cltti'ii*, and consequently unfertile ; it can only, 

 therefore, be propagated by parting and plant- 

 ing the roots. 



Festuca giganten. Tall fescue grass. This 

 species is confined to woods in its natural state; 

 but it continues in the soil, and appears to 

 thrive equally well when cultivated in open 

 situations. It is a coarse grass, and but little 

 nutritive, although greatly superior to the 

 spiked and wood fescue grasses. 



Festuca glabra, var. Smooth fescue. PI. 6, h. 

 Panicle branched, upright, compact; spikelets 

 spear-shaped, 4-6-flowered, smooth, awned; 

 root fibrous; perennial. This grass is nearly 

 allied to the F. duriuscula and F. rubra. Ac- 

 cording to Sir J. Smith, it is a variety of the 

 last-named. From the trials made with this 

 grass, it seems to be inferior both in produce 

 470 



and nutritive matter to the JP. duriuscula, but is 

 superior in regard to early produce, and the 

 herbage is uncommonly fine and succulent. 

 These merits, however, appear hardly suffi- 

 cient to compensate for the deficiency of pro- 

 duce. If it be compared with some of the 

 early grasses, JLnthoxantwm adoratum, for in- 

 stance, it will be found superior in nutritive 

 matter in the proportion of about one-third. 

 While this grass cannot be recommended in 

 preference to the F. duriuscula, yet, among the 

 fine-leaved fescues, it will be found the best 

 substitute for that species when wanting. 



Festuca glauca. Glaucus fescue grass. This 

 is a native of alpine situations, but thrives 

 better when cultivated on lower ground than 

 most other species having the same origin. 

 Although its merits do not appear sufficiently 

 great to entitle it to a prominent place among 

 the superior grasses for light soils, yet its 

 hardy and nutritive nature, and property of 

 forming a thick turf, prevent it from being 

 altogether rejected as of no value. It flowers 

 in the second week of June, and the seed is 

 ripe about the first week of July. 



Festuca loliacea. Darnel-like fescue grass. 

 PI. 5, /. Spike two-ranked, drooping; florets 

 cylindrical, awnless, pointed with fine slight 

 ribs at the top. Root fibrous, perennial. At a 

 casual glance this grass bears a near resem- 

 blance to the Lolium perenne (rye-grass), and 

 affects the same kind of soil ; but, on a more 

 minute inspection, the calyx or outer husk so 

 conspicuous in the spikelets of the rye-grass, 

 in this grass will be found almost wanting. 

 Another mark of difference is, that in the rye- 

 grass the spikelets are arranged so as to stand 

 facing the spike-stalk ; while in the darnel-like 

 fescue they stand with their back towards 

 it. This grass possesses all the valuable pro- 

 perties of rye-grass, and few of its defects. 

 Its produce is larger; it springs earlier and im- 

 proves by age, which is not the case with com- 

 mon rye-grass. It would, doubtless, be the best 

 substitute for that species in alternate cropping; 

 but, unfortunately, it does not perfect a suffi- 

 ciency of seed, the flowers generally proving 

 abortive, which renders its propagation incon- 

 venient and expensive. In rich meadows this 

 grass is very common, particularly where the 

 land is periodically overflown. 



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

 grass. Panicle drooping, elongated, rather 

 close; florets tapering, shorter than their awns, 

 rough at the top ; leaves awl-shaped ; stem 

 leafy to the very summit. It is, perhaps, the 

 " trembling rye-grass" of poets. Root annual. 

 The flowers have only one stamen, which dis- 

 tinguishes it from all other species of fescue. 

 This grass has great affinity to the barren fes- 

 cue (F. brornoides), but the whole plant is larger 

 and stouter, the stem clothed with leaves to the 

 top, and the panicle four times as long. The 

 inner valve of the blossom is fringed towards 

 the top ; the awns are longer than those of the 

 F. bromoides. This grass is found on walls, 

 and dry, barren, sandy places. As soon as the 

 seeds are ripe, they fall out of the husks, and 

 vegetate quickly after, without any covering of 

 earth. The plants are of the finest green co- 

 lour, and retain their verdure during the winter. 



