44 STIPA PEN N ATA. 



Stem upright, circular, smooth, carrying four or five long, 

 splendid, hirsute, rigid, and setaceous leaves, with rather rough 

 sheaths, the uppermost one being longer than its leaf. Joints 

 three or four in number, hid by the sheaths. Ligule of upper- 

 most sheath hirsute, long and pointed. Inflorescence racemed, 

 rising out of the highest sheath. Spikelets consisting of two 

 nearly equal-sized, long, slender, hirsute glumes ; and one floret 

 of only half the length of the glumes, consisting of two paleae, 

 the exterior one sharp-pointed at the base, hirsute, five-ribbed, 

 and ending in a considerable feather-like awn. The awn com- 

 mences at the apex of the exterior palea, and usually twenty 

 times its length; with the exception of that portion immediately 

 about the base, it is feathery to the apex. Styles prominent, 

 two. Stigmas feathery. Filaments capillary, three in number. 

 Anthers notched at either extremity. Scales acute. Length about 

 two feet. Root perennial and fibrous. 



This species does not flower till August, and its seeds become 

 ripe about the middle of September. 



When gathered to decorate a room, this should be done at 

 the commencement of September, before the seeds are ripe. 



The illustration is from a specimen gathered near Hebden 

 Bridge, Yorkshire, by the late S. Gibson, and forwarded by 

 Mr. Joseph Sidebotham, of Manchester. 



