60 AGROSTIS ALBA. 



numerous, consisting of one small awnless floret. Calyx con- 

 sisting of two nearly equal-sized, narrow, acute glumes, destitute 

 of lateral ribs. Floret of two unequal-sized palese, exterior 

 one ovate, , hairy at the base, and notched at the apex; inner 

 one only half the length, with cloven apex, entire margins, and 

 semitransparent. 



Length from eighteen to twenty-four inches. 



Flowers in the third week of July, and seeds ripen at the 

 end of August. 



This species is subject to variety. 



Dr. Parnell describes two varieties, namely: 



1st. Stolonifera. Growing on damp heavy ground near the 

 sea, and by the side of ditches and other wet situations. It 

 has the branches of the panicles densely tufted. 



8nd. Palustris. With larger spikelets, growing in damp, 

 shady, stagnant, situations. 



Sir "W. Hooker remarks, "In some there is a short awn at 

 the base of the outer glumella; this constitutes the Agrostis 

 compressa of Willdenow, and occasionally the flowers are vivi- 

 parous, when it is the A. sylvatica of Linneeus." 



The illustration is from a specimen forwarded by Mr. J. 

 Sidebotham, of Manchester. 



