FESTUCA ELATIOR. 145 



FESTUCA ELATIOR. 



LINN^US. HOOKER AND ARNOTT. SMITH. GREVILLE. CURTIS. 



SINCLAIR. DEAKIN. KUNTH. SCHRADER. HULL. 

 HUDSON. WITHERING. RELHAN. SIBTHORP. ABBOT. RALFS. MACREIGHT- 



PLATE XL VI. 



Festuca arundinacea, SCHREBER. EHRHART. VILLARS. 



" BABINGTON. 



Bucetum elatius, PARNELL. 



Schedonorus elatior, LINDLEY. 



Bromus littoreus, WILLDENOW. HOST. SINCLAIR. 



The Tall Fescue Grass. 

 Festuca ? Elatior Lofty, tall. 



A VALUABLE agricultural Grass for moist or damp situations, 

 -L\. being nutritive and very productive. 



Common in England, Scotland, and Ireland; found in France, Italy, 

 Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Lapland, and North America. 



Stem erect, circular, smooth, and striated, bearing five to six flattish, 

 linear, acute leaves, with striated sheaths; upper sheath extending 

 beyond its leaf, and having a short ligule at the apex. Inflorescence 

 compound-panicled, the first four or five spikelets arising immediately 

 from the rachis on brief stalks, the remainder on simple and com- 

 pound branches. Panicle large and spreading, leaning to one side. 

 Rachis and branches rough. Spikelets ovate-lanceolate, consisting of 

 five or six slightly awned florets. Calyx of two unequal acute glumes, 

 the exterior one destitute of lateral ribs, the interior one three-ribbed. 

 Florets of two equal palese; exterior one of basal floret longer than 

 the glumes, five-ribbed, the dorsal rib ending in a brief rough awn. 

 Length from three to five feet. Root perennial, forming large tufts. 



u 



