PHLEUM ALPINUM. 27 



PHLEUM ALPINUM. 



LINNAEUS. WILLDENOW. J. E. SMITH. DICKSON. DON. HOOKER. 

 SCHRADER. OEDER. WITHERING. KOCH. PARNELL. 



PLATE IX. A. 



Phleum commutatum, GAUDICHAUD. 



The Alpine Cat* s-tail Grass. 

 PkleumReed Mace. Alpinum Alpine. 



IpXCLUSIVELY a mountain Grass, flourishing in damp situations, 

 I ^ at elevations varying from two thousand five hundred to three 

 thousand five hundred feet. It is by no means a common species, 

 being unknown either in England or Ireland. Mr. Dickson, the dis- 

 coverer, first recognised Phleum alpinum near Garway Moor, whilst 

 other explorers have found it on Craigneulict, above Killin, Ben 

 Lawers, Clova Mountains, Breadalbane Mountains, Feula Burn, Can- 

 lochen Glen, Glashieburn, Glen Fiadh, and Loch Brandy. 



Abroad it is plentiful in Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Switzerland, 

 Germany, and North America. 



As an agricultural Grass it is useless. 



Root slightly creeping, perennial, and somewhat tuberous. Stem 

 upright, except near the base, where it is usually decumbent, smooth, 

 circular in form, with four or five leaves, which are provided with 

 polished striated sheaths. Uppermost sheath slightly inflated, and being 

 longer than its leaf; capped with a short obtuse ligule. Joints smooth. 

 Leaves broad, sharp pointed, smooth both above and below, except 

 along the edges, where rough. Inflorescence simple, panicled. Panicle 

 oval, tinged green and white with dull purple, varying in length from 

 half an inch to an inch and a half. Spikelets close together, diminutive 

 and numerous. Calyx of two equal-length glumes, with wide mem- 



