5841 THE GBASS FAMILY. 



straight awn on the back below the middle. Palea much smaller or alto- 

 gether wanting. The axis of the spikelet within the outer glumes glabrous 

 or very shortly hairy. 



A considerable genus, widely distributed over the surface of the globe, 

 and (if made to include the exotic Tllfa and Sporobolus) a well marked one. 

 Some species are commonly called Bents in some parts of the country, a 

 name given by others more especially to the crested Dog' s-tail. 



Awn 3 to 4 times as long as the spikelets. Second glume longer than 



the lowest 4. SWey A. 



Awn none, or not twice as long as the spikelet. Outer glumes equal 

 or the lowest the longest. 

 Leaves flat (broad or narrow). 

 Flowering glume awnless or with a very short awn at its base. 



Palea about half its length 1. Common A. 



Flowei-ing glume with a short awn below the middle. Palea mi- 

 nute or none 2. Brown A. 



Leaves very fine and subulate 3. Bristle A. 



1. Common Ag^ostis. A^ostis alba, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1189, A. stolonifera, t. 1532, and A. vulffaris, t. 1671.) 

 An elegant but most variable j)erennial grass ; in dry mountain pastm-es 

 often densely tufted, and not above 2 or 3 inches high ; in rich moist soils 

 creeping and rooting at the base, often to a considerable extent ; the flower- 

 ing stems erect, 1 to 2 feet high, with a slender panicle usually very spread- 

 ing when in fuU flower, especially in fine weatlier, sometimes contracted 

 both before and after flowering. Leaves flat, rather sliort, but narrow. 

 Spikelets scarcely a Une long. Outer glumes nearly equal or the lowest 

 rather tlie largest. Flowering glume very thin, awnless or rarely with a 

 minute awn arising from its base. Palea usually a little less than half its 

 length. 



In pastures and waste places, wet or dry, throughout Europe, Hussian 

 and central Asia, and northern America, penetrating far into the Arctic 

 regions, and ascending high upon alpine summits, and reappearing in the 

 southern hemisphere. Abundant in Britain. Ft. ttie xohote summer. Be- 

 sides the great difierences in size and stature, it varies in the more or less 

 spreading panicle of a light-green or purpUsh colour, in the lengtli of the 

 ligula of the leaves, in the degree of prominence of the nerves of the glumes 

 and the roughness of their keel, and in other minute particulars; but all 

 attempts to combine these characters so as to show distinct species, or even 

 to separate marked and permanent varieties, have hitherto failed. 



2. Bro^m Agrostis. Agrostis canina, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1856.) 



Very near the common A., but the panicle is less spreading, the outer 

 glumes longer and more pointed ; the flowering one bears on its back below 

 the middle a fine awn, which slightly protrudes beyond the outer glumes, 

 and the palea is very minute or wholly wanting. 



With the common J., of which it may be a mere variety, and has appa- 

 rently the same geographical range, but not generally common except 

 perhaps in some mountain districts. Spread over the whole of Britain. 

 Fl. summer. 



3. Bristle Agrostis. A^ostis setacea. Curt. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1188.) 

 A perennial, with densely tufted leaves, mostly radical, and very finely 



