82 MELIOA NUTANS. 



acute, flaccid, pale green leaves, with rough striated sheaths, the upper 

 one shorter than its leaf, and having at the apex a brief obtuse ligule. 

 Inflorescence racemed. Raceme long, mostly of ten spikelets, placed 

 on short rough footstalks. Spikelets large, ovate, pendulous, and 

 consisting of two perfect and one imperfect floret. Calyx of two 

 broad, reddish brown, smooth, five-ribbed glumes. Florets of two palese. 

 Length from twelve to twenty-four inches. Some specimens gathered 

 near Ambleside were above three feet in length. Root perennial and 

 creeping. 



Flowers at the end of May, and becomes ripe in July. 



This Grass is known from Melica uniflora in the inflorescence being 

 racemed instead of simple panicled, and in the calyx containing two 

 perfect florets. The most unaccustomed eye can at once recognise 

 the difference between these two species. 



My thanks are due to Mr. Joseph Sidebotham for specimens gathered 

 near Halifax, and from which the illustration is taken. 



