^44 



Alopecurus geniculatus. Knee-jointed Foxtail-grass. 



Specie character: Culms ascending; panicle spike-like, cylindrical, obtuse- husks of tL 

 calyx united at the base, obtuse, somewhat woolly ; apex of the corolla minutely notched 



is by far 



Obs. — There 



the most common, is distinguished from the other by its fibrous root and greater size • th 

 less common variety has a bulbous root. The Alopecurus Bulbosus may be distinguished 

 from the bulbous-rooted variety of the knee-jointed species, by its upright culms, which 

 Want the knee-jointed form so conspicuous in the culms of the former. The anthers are at 



With 



first of a purple colour,, but afterwards become ferruginous. 



p. 120; Flo. Rust. t. 97; Host. t. 32; Curt. Lend. t. 57. 

 Native of Britain. Root perennial. 

 Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from a rich moist alluvial soil, is 



- 34 

 68 



Grass, 10 oz. The produce per acre 

 80 dr. of grass weigh when dry 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



L 



1 



The weight lost by the produce of one acre in drying 

 64 dr. of grass afford of nutritive matter 

 The produce of the space, ditto 



dr. qr, 



oz. 



108900 



lbs. 



6806 4 





46282 8 



2892 10 



3915 10 



2 3 

 6 SI 



4679 4 



292 r 



This produce may be considered the greatest that this grass is capable of affording under 

 ordinary circumstances ; for the produce from clayey, sandy, and peaty soils was, in each in- 

 stance, mferior to the above. In an open drain, in a rich water-meadow, where this grass ap- 

 peared to have attained the highest degree of luxuriance, some of the shoots measuring two feet 

 and a half in length, the weight of produce was but 14 oz. ; on drier ground in the same mea- 

 dow, it weighed only 5 oz. It grows common in surface-drains, and at the entrance of cattle- 

 ponds, particularly where the soil is clayey. It does not appear to be eaten with much relish 

 by either cows, horses, or sheep. Its nutritive powers are not considerable, and its subaquatic 

 natural place of growth, excludes any recommendation of it for cultivatio». 



Flowers in the first week of June, and during the summer. 



I*' 



* . ■ 



