HALF-HOURS IN THE GllEEN LANES. 



Fig. 200. 



Slen-ler 



pecurus agrestis). 



native species, of which the rarest 

 perhaps is the slender Fox-tail 

 grass (Alopecurus agrestis, Fig. 200). 

 It is a tall, straggling grass, with 

 few pretensions to beauty, and is 

 generally found growing about a 

 foot high. The culm, or stem, 

 usually squats on the ground, and 

 at the joints it is bent. The flower 

 spike is long and very slender, and 

 is of a purplish colour. Its florets 

 are less closely packed together 

 than those of other species of fox- 

 tail. Fig. 201 represents one of the 

 florets as seen under a strong mag- 

 nifying glass. The Marsh Foxtail 

 (A. geniculatus, Fig. 202) is a very 

 ornamental grass, especially when 

 in full flower. It is usually to be 

 found in very moist places, or even 

 in the waters of a pond, if the latter 

 be situated in a shady place. Its 

 broadish leaves cause the plant to 

 appear as if floating. If you should 

 come upon such a shaded tarn, or 

 pool, in June or July (and we 

 have many such fringing our 

 English lanes), you will be almost 

 certain to find this grass. Its rich 

 white and flesh-coloured heads 



