CLASS III. ORDER II.] FESTUCA. 127 



3. F. ru'bra, Linn. (Fig. 160.) creeping Fescue-grass. Panicle 

 spreading; spikelels turned to one side, oblong; florets longer 

 than their awns ; leaves downy on their upper side, more or less 

 involute; root with extensively creeping, underground stems. 



English Botany, t. 2056. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 142. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 314. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 49. — Sinclair, Hort. 

 Gram. Woburn. p. 261. 



Root with extensive creeping, underground stems, — the only cha- 

 racter by which this can be distinguished from the above species; 

 " and may not this," Sir \V. J. Hooker observes, " be owing to a pecu- 

 liarity in soil and other accidental circumstances ?" According to the 

 opinions of Smith, Schrader, and Sinclair, this character is sufficient 

 to distinguish it as a species. 



Habitat. — Sandy pastures near the sea, plentiful ; and " in moun- 

 tainous pastures and alpine precipices." 



Perennial ; flowering in July. 



This, Mr. Sinclair says, " has no superior merit over those species it 

 resembles in habit, to compensate for the impoverishing efl'ects of its 

 creeping roots to the soil." 



** Glumes very xvnequal ; glumelles ivith a long awn. 



4. F. Miju'rus, Linn. (Fig. 161.) Wall Fescue-grass. Panicle elon- 

 gated, rather close, somewhat drooping ; spikelets leaning one way; 

 florets shorter than the awn, containing only one stamen ; stem 

 leafy in its upper part. 



English Botany, t. 1412. — English Flora, vol. i. j). 143.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 49. — Sinclair, Hort. Gram. Woburu. p. 266. — 

 Vul'pia Myu'rus, Gmelin. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 314. 



Root small, fibrous. Stem from twelve to eighteen inches high, 

 erect, smooth, striated, leafy nearly to the top. Leaves short, awl- 

 shaped, striated, and smooth. Sheaths close, smooth, striated. Ligula, 

 short, obtuse. Inflorescence a slightly drooping, angular, rough- 

 branched, lax panicle, from two to live inches long. Glumes pointed 

 or awned : the outer smallest, keeled ; the inner keeled and ribbed. 

 Florets narrow, tapering, cylindrical. Glumelles nearly equal: the 

 outer valve ribbed, roughish towards the apex, terminating in a fine 

 rough awn, longer than itself; the inner valve thin, with two lateral 

 greenish ribs, roughish and bifid at the apex. Stigmas very small, 

 feathery. Stamen only one. Anther yellow. Fruit long, narrow, 

 deeply channelled on one side, downy towards the apex. 



Habitat. — Walls, and barren sandy grounds; not uncommon in 

 England, — less frequent in Scotland and Ireland. 



Annual ; flowering in June and July. 



