130 



BRITISH GRASSES. 



agriculturist, for it produces so little foliage that it could 

 never be an important meadow grass ; its numerous 



culms would not atone for 

 the absence of leaves. 



The most remarkable fea- 

 ture in the Rough CatVtail 

 is the roughness of the pa- 

 nicle, which in former days 

 procured for the plant the 

 name of File CatVtail, and 

 which is very perceptible to 

 the touch ; the long fila- 

 ments are very ornamental, 

 relieving the solid and harsh 

 appearance of the cylindri- 

 cal panicle. They come out 

 in abundance, feathering all the lower part of the spike 

 at once, and trembling incessantly under the weight 

 of their short pale anthers. 



Dr. Parnell notes carefully the distinctive features of 

 the different species; the wedge-shaped glumes of P. 

 asperum distinguish it from P. pratense and P. Michelii 

 and P. arenaria and P. Bcehmeri, while the lanceolate 

 ligule and rough keel form extra points of distinction 

 from the last-named species. It flowers in July, and 

 seeds in September. 



5. Phleum arenarium, Linn. Sand Cat's-tail-grass. 



(Phalaris, Eng. Bot.) 



Root annual, fibrous ; stem erect, branched, smooth, 

 glossy, from six to eight inches high ; leaves broadish, lan- 

 ceolate, short, roughish ; sheaths long, ribbed, smooth, and 



