Order 

 Genus, Fes tu ai; Sub- Order, Fcstucacece. 



GENUS XXIII. FESTUCA, Linmeus. 



Spikelcts pedicelled, several flowered, racemose, panicled, or spiked. 

 Empty glumes, 2 unequal, rounded at the back, bifid, awnless or awncd 

 between the lobes. Palea 2-nerved, nerves ciliate. Scales 2, notched. 

 Stamens 3. Grain glabrous, free or adherent to the palea. DISTRIBU- 

 TION OF GENUS : TEMPERATE AND MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS 

 OF BOTH HEMISPHERES. Etymology: A Latin name of doubt- 

 ful derivation. 



1. FESTUCA LITTORALJS, VAH. TRITICOIDES. 



SAND HILL FESCUE GRASS. 

 (Plate LIV.) 



ARUNDO TRIODIOIDES, Trinius, Spec. Gram., t. 51. POA LITTORALIS, 

 Labill, PL Nov. Holl, I., 22, t. 27. SCHENODORUS LITTORALIS, Beauv, 

 Agrost, 99. SCHENODORUS LITTORALIS, Beauv (var. triticoides,) 

 Bentham, Fl. Austral., VII., 655. FESTUCA LITTORALIS, R. Brown, 

 Hook. fil. Handb., Fl. N.Z., I., 341. 



A TALL densely tufted littoral grass. Flowers December February. 

 Culms i 3 feet high, leafy, smooth and shining. Leaves erect, rigid, 

 involute, terete, pungent, longer or shorter than the culm ; sheaths 

 striated; ligule very short. Panicle narrow, 3 10 inches long, branches 

 short alternate, erect. Spikelets flat, ovate, \ f inch long, 4 8 

 flowered, straw-coloured. Empty glumes acuminate, 5-nerved. Flower- 

 ing glumes ovate, acuminate, bifid at top, with a very short intermediate 

 awn, y-nerved. Palea bifid, 2-nerved. Scales deep and acutely 2-fid. 

 Grain ovate, smooth, grooved in front. DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES : 

 AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, NEW ZEALAND. 



Varieties of the present species are abundant on the coasts of New Zealand. 

 where they are of great value in assisting to bind drifting sand. The plant 

 figured here is evidently the var. ir'd'n:o'nl< >, Dcntiium, <>t' \\\-:4rrn An tr.ilia. 



