307 



17. DACTYLIS. Linn. Cock's-foot-grass. 



Panicle with the secondary branches short and very dense, 

 subsecund. Calyx of two unequal valves, the larger one 

 keeled. Corolla of two lanceolate, scarcely awned valves, 

 enclosing the fruit. Named from d<ncrv\ps t a finger. 



Triandria. Digynia. 



1. D. glomerata, Linn. Rough Cock's-foot-grass. Panicle 

 crowded, secund ; corolla acuminate, somewhat awned. Br. Fl. 

 ed. 3. p. 48. E. Fl. v. i. p. 134. E. Bot. t. 335. 



Way-sides, meadows and woods, abundant. Fl. July. !. One to 

 two feet high. Leaves rather broadly linear, acuminate, scabrous. 

 Panicles secund. Spikelets of three to four florets, thickly clustered 

 on the branches ; clusters ovate. Valves of the calyx membranous, 

 smaller than the corolla, lanceolate, acuminate, unequal, glabrous, 

 scrabrous at the back of the valves, which are more or less obliquely 

 keeled. Ext. valve of the corolla subcartilaginous, lanceolate, 

 much compressed, scabrous, ribbed, ciliated at the keel, with a short 

 awn at the point ; int. valve bifid at the extremity. An excellent grass 

 for cattle in dry open pastures. The late Duke of Bedford considered 

 it one of the best for a sheep-walk. Mr. Moore finds it sometimes vi- 

 viparous in the County of Deny. 



18. CYNOSURUS. Linn. Dog's-tail-grass. 



Panicle spiked. Calyx 2-valved, equal, awned, having a pec- 

 tinated involucre. Corolla 2-valved; valves linear-lanceo- 

 late ; interior awned below the extremity or awnless. 

 Named from KVWV, a dog, and ovpa, a taz7, from the shape of 

 its spike. Triandria. Digynia. 



1. C. cristatus. Linn. Crested Dog's-tail-grass. Raceme 

 spiked, linear ; florets with a very short awn. Br. Fl. ed. 3. 

 p. 48. E. Fl. v. i. p. 157. E. Bot. t. 316. 



Dry pastures, frequent. Fl. July. % . One to one and a half foot 

 high, slender. Leaves narrow, linear, acuminate. Raceme secund. 

 Involucres beautifully pectinated, one at the base of each spikelet, 

 their divisions linear, acute, greenish, subglumaceous, a little curved, 

 rough. Spikelets three to five-flowered. Calyx-valves lanceolate, 

 nearly equal, membranous, rough at the keel, as long as the floret. 

 Ext. valve of the corolla lanceolate, obscurely nerved, green, sca- 

 brous, especially at the keel, terminating in a short rough awn ; in- 

 terior white, bifid, pubescent at the angles of the fold. A good grass 

 for sheep, and the culms are used advantageously for the manufacture 

 of fine straw bonnets. 



19. FESTUCA. Linn. Fescue-grass. 



Panicle lax, or coarctate, or spiked. Calyx of two unequal 

 valves. Corolla of two lanceolate valves; ext&t'ior aeuini- 



