Mr. T. Moore on Glyceria fluitans and G. plicata. 231 
about of equal size im the two kinds, but in the broad-leaved one 
there are a greater number, about one-third more, of flowers. 
From the first, I had formed an opinion that the plants were 
abundantly distinct either as species or varieties; and with this 
impression I took an early opportunity of sending them to Mr. 
Babington, who, not having time to give them the requisite 
careful examination, forwarded them to Dr. Parnell, and also 
subsequently communicated to me Dr. Parnell’s opinion, that 
“he could find no character to distinguish them.” I could not 
however believe that two grasses, as different in their foliation as 
grasses well could be, were really identical ; and accordingly I 
procured some seeds of the broad-leaved plant, which I conceived 
to be the least common, and from them I have this season raised 
a plant or two, which though not old enough to flower, retain 
precisely the same character in their foliage, and thus furnish 
collateral evidence that the plant im question is permanently dif- 
ferent. 
Mr. Babington has subsequently given both plants a most 
rigid and careful examination, and has detected the following 
specific distinctions :— 
Narrow-leaved (G. fluitans). Broad-leaved (G. plicata). 
Outer pale oblong, nearly three times Outer pale oval, twice as long as 
as long as broad; apex rounded, or broad ; apex obtuse-angled, with 
with a large triangular point, and three nearly equal teeth. 
a minute tooth on each side. 
Anthers about five times as long as Anthers three times as long as broad, 
broad, pale yellow when dry. fuscous when dry. 
Panicle nearly simple, with few Panicle with numerous branches from 
(1—3) branches from the lower the lower joints. 
joints. 
To which the following may be added :— 
Leaves tapering, acute. Leaves broad, less acute. 
Ligule twice as long as broad; apex Ligule about as long as broad; apex 
rounded, ending in a fine point. with a long central tooth and two 
smaller toothlets. 
Another summer acquaintance with the plants, both in a wild 
and cultivated state, tends only to confirm the conviction of their 
being decidedly distmet. Mr. Babington has also several times 
during the present summer examined fresh specimens; and the 
result is, that he considers the narrow-leaved plant to be un- 
doubtedly the G. fluitans, and the broad-leaved one the G. pli- 
cata of Fries. 
The figure given m ‘English Botany, t. 1520, most nearly 
agrees with the latter plant. 
Having directed attention to these plants, I shall leave for more 
competent hands the task of pointing out the details of the dif- 
ferences between them. I may mention, that I have since met 
