30 CLASS III. ORDER III. 



32. AGROSTIS. 

 Agrostis vulgaris. Wiih. Red top. Fine Bent grass. 

 Panicle spreading with divaricated, capillary branch- 

 es; calyx valves equal; inner petal obtuse, half as 

 long as the other. Sm. 



A pretty common grass in dry mowing land and pastures, 

 usually entering into the composition of our English hay. Stem 

 erect, smooth, slender, leafy. Leaves narrow, acute, with long 

 sheaths. Panicle erect, red, its branches very numerous and fine, 

 arranged in half whorls, fiexuous and variously divided. Flow- 

 ers numerous and very small. Calyx valves lanceolate, acute, 

 spreading, purple at base, scarious on the margin. Inner valves 

 of the corolla half as long as the outer. — June, July. — Perennial. 



Agrostis alba. L. White Bent grass. 



Panicle loose ; culm creeping; calyx valves equal, 

 lanceolate, polished, rough on the keel. Sm. 



Stems spreading, ascending, rooting at the lower joints. 

 Leaves rough, their sheaths smooth. Panicle loose, consisting 

 of somewhat distant half whorls, its branches much subdivided 

 and roughish. Flowers lanceolate, shining, white or purplish 

 brown. Valves of the calyx equal, acute, rough on the back 

 only. — Meadows. — June, July. — Perennial. 



Agrostis canina. L. Dogs Bent grass. 



Calyx elongated; corolla with a dorsal, crooked 

 awn ; cttlms procumbent, somewhat branched. 



In mowing lands and about the borders of fields, probably 

 from Europe. — July. 



Agrostis clandestina. 3Iulil. Hidden Bent grass. 



Panicle spiked, partly concealed ; corolla much 

 longer than the calyx, hairy, slightly awned ; leaves 

 rigid, very long. 



A long, hard grass with concealed spikes. — Found by road 

 sides and on dry soils. — September. 



