124 TESTUCA. [class hi. order ii. 



like the glumes, but larger and more concave; the inner much smaller, 

 plane, with two lateral roughish ribs, the apex bifid. Stigiyias long^ 

 feathery. Fruit triangular, closely invested with the glumelles. 



Habitat. — Pastures; very common. 



Perennial ; flowering in May and June. 



The appearance and size of this grass varies considerably: it is not 

 uncommon to find it in some situations two, or even three, feet high, 

 and in others not more than four or six inches. The elegant and 

 gi'aceful panicles, supporting their ovate spikelets upon slender, silk- 

 like stalks, are put into a tremulous motion by the slightest passing 

 treeze; hence its popular name of Quaking, or Trembling Grass: and 

 the various shades of colour which they are found, (often in the same 

 locality.) from a dark shining purple to a pale yellowish-green, have 

 rendered them a favourite winter decoration and ornament. It is a 

 grass containing a considerable proportion of nutritive matter, is eaten 

 l)y most cattle, and is cultivated with the greatest advantage in poor 

 sandy or strong tenacious soils ; but in rich pasture or meadow lands, 

 it is not cultivated with the same advantage or profit, but is injured by 

 a too great supply of manure. 



2. B. mi'nor, Linn. (Fig. 156.) small Quaking-grass. Spikelets tri- 

 angular, of about seven florets; glumes longer than the florets ; 

 ligula elongated, acute. 



British Flora, vol. i. p. 133. — English Botany, t. 1316. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 315. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 47. 



Moot fibrous, downy. Stem from three to six inches high, smooth, 

 often branched at the base. Leaves linear, roughish on the edges. 

 Sheaths close, smooth. Ligula elongated, acute, more or less decur- 

 lent. Inflorescence similar to the last, but smaller, as is the whole 

 plant. Spikelets triangular, smooth, green or white, shining, some- 

 times purplish. Glumes longer than the florets, which are generally 

 seven in number. Glumelles unequal : the outer valve very concave, 

 and swollen at the base; the inner much smaller, and flat, w^ith two 

 marginal ribs, and bifid at the apex. Stigmas long, feathery. Fruit 

 closely invested by the glumelles. 



Habitat. — Fields in the South of England ; very rare. About Bath; 

 in Cornwall, Jersey, and Guernsey. 



Annual ; flowering in Julv. 



GENUS XXXIX. FESTU'CA. Linn. Fescue-grass. 



Gen. Char. Panicle loose or contracted. Spikelets many-flowered. 

 Glumes two, unequal. Glumelles two, the outer valve acuminate 

 or awned at the apex. — The derivation of the name is doubtful : 



