26 TRIANDRIA-DIGYNIA, 



Considered by many a mere variety of the preceding, and, 

 if so, it affords a good example of the provident economy 

 of Nature in modifying her productions, so as to fit them 

 to their peculiarities of situation. For when the Sheep's 

 Fescue-grass grows in a vale, or upon a plain, its seeds 

 ripen, fall and vegetate in the manner of other plants ; 

 but when it grows upon the tops of mountains, where it 

 finds a difficulty in ripening its seeds, it becomes a vivi- 

 parous plant. The germ shoots into blade in the cup, falls 

 to the ground, takes root, and becomes the mother of 

 others, having the same remarkable property. 



3. F. duriuscula, root fibrous ; stem round, 1 to 2 feet high : 

 upper leaves flat ; panicle unilateral, spreading ; florets longer 

 than their awns. Hard Fescue-grass. 



Hab. Common in waste grounds, in pastures and dry mea- 

 dows, where it yields a good and early crop, acceptable to 

 all kinds of cattle. June, July. I/. 



4. F. rubrcti root extensively creeping; leaves downy on the 

 upper side, more or less involute ; panicle unilateral, spreading 

 (compact when in flower) ; florets longer than their awns. (Whole 

 plant glaucous green, and more or less tinged with brown.) 



Hab. On the coasts of Holy Island, Winch. Spittal Sands, 

 Thomp. July, If. 



5. F bromoides, panicle nearly erect, racemose ; florets taper- 

 ing, shorter than their awns, rough at the top ; leaves tapering, 

 shorter than their sheaths ; upper half of the stem naked, 4 to 8 

 inches high. Barren Fescue-grass* 



Hab. Walls and dry pastures, not uncommon. On the dike 

 near Ramsay's ba^rn ; about Ord Moor, and in many other 

 similar places. June. Q 



6. F. loliacea, spike 2-ranked, drooping ; spikelets nearly ses- 

 sile, linear-oblong ; florets cylindrical, awnless, pointed, with five 

 slight ribs at the top ; stem 2 feet high. Spiked Fescue-grass. 



Hab. Moist meadows, rare. Side of the Tweed a little above 

 Yarrowhaugh. June, July. If. 



Bears a great resemblance to the Rye-grass; but it has ex- 

 cellencies, says Mr SINCLAIR, which make it greatly su- 

 perior to that grass for the purposes of either hay or per- 

 manent pasture. It seems to improve in produce in pro- 



