118 



[class III. ORDEIl II. 



The florets, instead of being as above described, are frequently found 

 iu a viviparous state. 



Habitat. — Frequent on the lofty Scotch and Welsh mountains, and 

 not unfrequent in Ireland. — /3. Banks of the Esk,— D. Don. (Hook.) 



Perennial; flowering in July and August. 



9. P. lax'a, Haek. (Fig. 147.) wavy Meadow-grass. Panicle loosely 

 spreading, drooping ; glumes nearly equal ; florets about three, 

 hairy, and connected by a web at the base ; leaves narrow, linear, 

 acute; ligules all lanceolate. 



English Flora, vol. i. p. 123. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 316. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 45. — Po'aflexuo'sa, English Botany, t. 1123. 



Root fibrous, often arising from the lower joints of the stem. Stem 

 ascending, more or less bent at the joints, about a foot high, very 

 slender, especially in the upper part, which droops with the weight of 

 the panicle; roughish above. Zeaws narrow, linear, lanceolate, more 

 numerous than in the last species, roughish on the edges and upper 

 side. Sheaths long, close, striated, slightly compressed, and smooth. 

 Ligula lanceolate, acute, hiflorescence a loosely spreading panicle. 

 G/M»7ie5 nearly equal, downy on the keel: the outer smallest, single- 

 ribbed ; the inner with three ribs. Florets mostly three, tinged with 

 purple. Glumelles acute, obscurely ribbed; the otiter downy on the 

 rib and keel, and connected at the base with a complicated web; the 

 margin thin and membranous. Anthers small, yellow. 



The whole plant has somewhat of a glaucous hue, and much smaller 

 and slenderer than the last species; the flowers, like it, are frequently 

 found in a viviparous state. 



Habitat. — On Ben Nevis, Scotland; first found by Mr. T. Mackay. 



Perennial ; flowering in July. 



10. P. bulbo'sa, Linn. (Fig. 148 ) bulbous Meadoiv-grass. Panicle 

 close ; glumes nearly equal ; florets about four, downy at the keel, 

 and connected by a web at the base; leaves short, finely serrated 

 on the margins ; stems swollen into bulbs at the base. 



English Botany, t. 1071. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 123. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 317. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 46. 



Root of numerous, long, branched fibres. Stem from four to six 

 inches high, mostly bent in the lower part, erect above, smooth, the 

 base formed into an oblong bulb by the swelling of the base of the 

 leaves, and surrounded with dry and withered sheaths. Leaves nume- 

 rous, linear, short, keeled and striated, the edges w ith a narrow, serrated, 

 pale, cartilaginous margin. Sheaths smooth, striated, loose, mostly 

 purplish, the upper ones long, the lower short. Ligula lanceolate, 

 embracing the stem, and dccurrent on the margins of the sheath. 

 Inflorescence an erect, simple, scarcely branched panicle. Glumes 

 nearly equal, lanceolate, smooth, except the upper part of the keel. 



