86 TEIANBKIA BIGYNIA. [cL. Ill, 



36. FESTU'CA. FESCUE. 



Calyx of two very unequal, lance-shaped, pointed chaff- 

 scales, containing an oblong, compressed, imbricated spikelet, 

 of many two-rowed, more or less awned, perfect flowers. Co- 

 rolla of two unequal husks ; the outer commonly nearly cylin- 

 drical, entire, pointed or awned, keeled, more or less ribbed, a 

 little inflected at the edges ; the inner more narrow, elliptical, 

 two-ribbed, cleft or abrupt, with membranous margins, folded 

 in at the rib. Nectary of one deeply divided, or of two separate 

 acute scales. Filaments hair-like, shorter than the husks ; an- 

 ther linear, pendulous, notched at both ends. Germen round. 

 Styles short, distant. Stigmas feathery ; seed oblong, acute, 

 loose, enveloped in the unaltered husks. Named from fest, 

 food. 52. 



1. F.omna. Sheep's Fescue. Panicle unilateral, rather close; 

 spikelets of four or five flowers with short awns ; straw square ; 



leaves involute, bristle-shaped, Leaves short, tufted; straws 



about eight inches high, the whole plant glaucous, frequently 

 tinged with red. This grass forms excellent pasturage for sheep. 

 Perennial : flowers in June and July : grows in dry pastures 

 abundantly. Eng. Bot. vol. ix. pi. 5&5. Eng. Fl. vol. i. p. 139. 

 A variety which is viviparous grows abundantly on the higher 

 mountains. F. vivipara. Eng. Bot. vol. xiv. pi. 1355. Eng. Fl. 

 vol. i. p. 140. 172. 



2. F, duriiiscula. Hard Fescue. Panicle unilateral, spreading ; 

 spikelets oblong, of about six flowers with short awns ; stem-leaves 



nearly flat ; root-leaves involute, bristle-shaped. Straws from 



one to two feet high : leaves roughish on the keel and edges. Pe- 

 rennial : flowers in June and July : grows in pastures and waste 

 ground : common. Enq. Bot. vol. vii. pi. 470. Eng. Fl. vol. i. p. 

 141. 173. 



3. F. rubra. Creeping Fescue. Panicle unilateral, spreading ; 

 spikelets oblong, of about six flowers, with short awns ; leaves 

 downy above, more or less involute ; root extensively creeping, 



The long, creeping root furnishes the principal distinctive 



character of this species ; which, however, is probably a mere va- 

 riety of the former. Perennial : flowers in June and July : grows 

 in dry pastures : common. Eng. Bot. vol. xxix. pi. 2056. Eng. 

 Fl. vol. i. p. 142. 174, 



4. F. bromoides. Barren Fescue. Panicle unilateral, nearly 

 erect, simple ; spikelets oblong, smooth ; flowers shorter than 



their awns ; leaves tapering, shorter than their sheath. Straws 



from four to ten inches high : panicle of a few long-stalked spike- 

 lets : outer chaff -scale extremely narrow, acute. Annual: flowers 

 in June : grows on walls and sandy ground : common. Eng. Bot. 

 vol. xx. pi. 1411. Eng. Fl vol. i. p. 143. 175. 



5. F. Myurus. Wall Fescue. Panicle drooping, elongated, rather 

 close ; flowers tapering, shorter than their awns, rough at the top ; 



leaves awl-shaped. About sixteen inches high, with a panicle 



five or six inches long. Annual : flowers in June and July : grows 

 on walls and dry sandy ground : frequent in England ; rare in 

 Scotland. Eng. Bot. vol. xx. pi. 1412. Eng. Fl. vol. i. p. 143. 176. 



6. F. unigliimis. Single-husked Fescue. Panicle erect, nearly 

 simple ; flowers tapering, compressed, awned ; one of the chaff- 



