TRIANDRIA— DIGYNIA. Stipa. IGl 



Whether more than one species be really confounded under the 

 above synonyms, there being a vast difference of size in different 

 specimens, even in the respective parts, few botanists are as yet 

 perhaps competent to determine. I cannot question that my ac- 

 curate friend Schrader has found, as he says, in some instances, 

 3 stamens. This only increases the uncertainty. Content with 

 describing English specimens, as I have seen them. I prefer the 

 excellent name given by a supereminent English botanist j 

 though not the less aware of the impropriety of rejecting an es- 

 tablished appellation, however faulty, provided it be not altoge- 

 ther false or absurd. 



53. STIPA. Feather-grass. 



Linn Gen. 37. Juss. 30. Fl. Br. 133. Lam. t. 41. 



Cal. of 2 nearly equal, lanceolate, concave, lax, pointed 

 valves, containing a solitary Jloret. Cor. of 2 valves, 

 nearly equal in length ; the outer elliptic-lanceolate, in- 

 volute, slightly keeled, with a very long, terminal, twist- 

 ing awn, jointed, and finally separable, at the base ; inner 

 much narrower, linear, awnless, inflexed at the edges, 

 smooth. Nect. of 2 linear-lanceolate, membranous, pointed 

 scales. Filam. shorter than the corolla. Aiith. linear, 

 erect. Germ, oblong. Styles short, distinct. Stigmas cy- 

 lindrical, feathery. Seed cylindrical, pointed, loose, closely 

 enveloped in the hardened outer valve of the corolla, 

 which is very sharp, and barbed with bristles, at the base, 

 so as to penetrate and fix itself in the earth. 



Roots fibrous, generally tufted and perennial. Leaves slen- 

 der, flat. Stems round, jointed, smooth, upright, leafy. 

 Panicle simple or branched. Flowers erect, slender, with 

 long awns, bent just above the twisting part; then straight; 

 either feathery or naked. 



t 1 . S. pennata. Common Feather-grass. 



Awns feathery. 



S. pennata. Linn. Sp. Pl.Wb. Willd. v. 1. 440. Fl. Br. \38. Engl. 



Bot. V. 19. t. 1356. Knapp t. 88. Smd. 163. Schrad. Germ. 



« 1.229. 

 S. n. 1514. Hall. Hist. V. 2. 239. 

 Gramen sparteum pennatum. Bauh.Theatr.70. f.7l. Dill, in 



Rail Syn. 393. 

 G. sparteum pennatum majus. Barrel. Ic. t. 46. 

 G. spicatum, aristis pennatis. Scheuchz. Jgr. 153. t. 3.f. 13, B. 

 Spartum austriacum. Ger. Em. 42. f. 

 Avena perennis austriaca capillacea, aristis longissimis pennatis. 



Moris. V. 3. 210. sect. 8. t. If. 9. 



VOL. I. M 



