26 PHLEUM PBATENSE. 



varying from two to five inches. Spikelets diminutive, abundant, 

 arranged in pairs all round the rachis on brief foot-stalks, having one 

 slightly-awned floret considerably shorter than the calyx. Calyx con- 

 sisting of two equal-sized glumes, having a broad membranous margin, 

 keels furnished with short stout white hairs. Palea, outer one five- 

 ribbed, egg-shaped, apex jagged, keel hairy. Floret consisting of 

 two palese, which are membranous. Stem circular, smooth, upright, 

 bearing four or five leaves. Sheaths smooth, the uppermost one 

 longer than its leaf, having a membranous ligule. Joints smooth. 

 Leaves rough, flat, broadish, acute. Inflorescence simple, panicled. 

 Length eighteen to twenty-four inches. Eoot creeping, somewhat 

 bulbous, perennial. 



Flowers in the third week in June, and ripens seed at the end of 

 July. 



In A. alpinus the glumes are a third longer than their awns, in 

 P. pratense about twice the length. 



In P. arenarium glumes acute and not awned, in P. pratense blunt 

 and awned. In P. arenarium floret one third of the length of the 

 calyx, whilst in P. pratense about half the length of the calyx. 



P. michelii has longer spikelets, acute glumes, and not awned. P. 

 pratense, var. longiaristatum, Parnell, (The Long-awned Timothy Grass,) 

 found in a damp wood near Edinburgh, differs from the normal form 

 by the awns of the glumes being almost as long as the glumes, and 

 the root being bulbous. It does not flower till August. 



P. pratense, var. longiciliatum, Parnell, (The Bulbous Timothy Grass.) 

 Stem near base prostrate, joints bent, awns of glumes short, root bul- 

 bous. Found in sandy situations. Flowering in the end of July. 



Fine specimens have been forwarded both by Dr. Wilson, of Not- 

 tingham, and Mr. Sidebotham, of Manchester. 



The illustration is from Dr. Wilson's specimen. 



