Order GRAMINIE/E. 



Genus, Festuca ; Sub -Order, Festucaceie. 



2. FESTUCA SCOPARIA. 



POA-LIKB FESCUE. 



(Plate L y., A.) 



FESTUCA SCOPARIA. Hook, fil., Fl. Antarct, I., 98. FESTUCA SCOPARIA, 

 Hook, fil., Fl. N.Z., I., 308. FESTUCA SCOPARIA, Hook. fil. Handb., 

 F1.N.Z, I, 341. 



A DENSELY tufted, fine-leaved, littoral grass. Flowers December 

 February. Perennial. Culms 6 20 inches high, leafy, glabrous. 

 Leaves filiform, rigid, longer or shorter than the culm, sheathing leaves 

 narrow ; ligule very short. Panicle \ 3 inches long, ovoid or narrow, 

 elongate, branches short, erect, alternate, or the lower pair sometimes 

 opposite. Spikelets green, flattened, \ \ inch long. Empty glumes 

 very unequal, i and 3-nerved. Flowering glume acuminate, 5-nerved. 

 Palea nearly as long as the glume, bifid at the top, and 2-nerved. 

 Scale acutely, 2-fid. Grain broad, concave in front. DISTRIBUTION OF 

 SPECIES : AUCKLAND ISLANDS, CAMPBELL ISLAND, NEW 

 ZEALAND. 



A small Poa-like grass, growing generally on precipitous rocks ; its abundance, 

 more or less, depending on the presence of such habitats. The large sea-green 

 cushions, of filiform leaves of this species, are very conspicious objects, and 

 readily attract the attention. From the difficulty of reaching this grass, it is very 

 improbable that it can be much grazed by other stock than sheep, for whom the 

 fine foliage is well adapted. Under these circumstances it will chiefly possess a 

 botanical interest. DISTRIBUTION IN NEW ZEALAND : NOT UNCOMMON ON 

 ROCKY PARTS OF THE COAST OF BOTH ISLANDS. 



Reference to Plate LV., A. : Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4, 4'. 

 Nervation of empty glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Nervation of 

 Palea. 7. Scale. 8,8'. Grain, front and side views. 



