22 TRIANDRIA DIGYNIA. 



Ifab* Hedges and shady places ; occasionally amongst 

 corn. Redpath Fields, Dodd's Well, &c. Thomp. Julv. 

 Aug. I/. 



3. H. avenaceus, root knotty ; stem 3 feet high ; leaves rather 

 harsh ; calyx smooth ; barren floret lowest, with a sharply bent 

 prominent awn ; fertile one slightly elevated, scarcely awned, 

 Oat-like Soft-grass. 



Hob. Sides of ditches, and in moist corn-fields : a trouble- 

 some weed in manv farms in this neighbourhood. July. 



V 



28. MELICA. 



1. M. uniflora^ petals beardless ; panicles branched, drooping 

 toward one side ; flowers erect ; spikelet with only one perfect 

 floret. Stem 18 inches high. Wood Melic-grass. 



Hab. u Ash-wood, Belford." Thomp. June. 7/ 



2. M. ccerulea, petals beardless, acute ; panicle close, erect, 

 compound ; flowers upright, cylindrical. Purple Melic-grass. 



Hab. Bogs, and on moors, common. Aug. 7/ 



A hard coarse reedy grass, 1 to 2 feet high, remarkable from 

 its purple panicle. In some parts of England brooms are 

 made of the stems ; and the fishermen in Skye make ropes 

 of them, which they find, by experience, will bear the wa- 

 ter well, without rotting. 



29. GLYCERIA. 



1. G. Jlwtans, panicle oblong, branched, divaricating; spikelets 

 close-pressed ; florets numerous, obtuse, seven -ribbed, with short 

 intermediate ribs at the base ; nectary obtuse, tumid. Floating 

 Sweet-grass. 



Hab. Ditches and stagnant waters, common. July, Aug. 



v 



A large thick and succulent grass, with long leaves ; when 

 not in flower, floating on the surface of the water, but the 

 flowering stems are erect. The seeds, under the name of 

 Manna croup, are sold in our shops, and employed occa- 

 sionally as a nourishing mild diet. They are said to be 

 very sweet, especially before arriving at maturity. 



