AGROSTIS. 



149 



not ribbed, and having a small tuft of hairs at the base, 

 awnless, or with a very minute awn ; palea half the length 

 of the flowering glume, cloven at the summit, and trans- 

 parent. 



The normal form of this grass has a light spreading 

 panicle; the branches compound, slender, rough, and 

 purplish ; the cloud of mi- 

 nute florets are of a green 



tint, and as the branches are |f|i ^w^ \\Vm Y/H I 



arranged in groups of five, 

 the clusters of florets do not 

 mingle in an equal mass, 

 but stand in groups at dif- 

 ferent stages of the rachis. 

 It is a very variable grass, 

 assuming a tufted form in 

 dry situations, and a creep- 

 ing habit in moist ground. 

 The latter is its favourite 

 habitat, as it flourishes best 

 in marshes, ditches, and moist meadows, where it grows 

 from one to two feet high, and with plentiful foliage. 

 While in bud the branches of the panicle approach 

 closely to the rachis, but when the spikelets open, the 

 branches spread widely and allow abundant space to the 

 numerous florets. 



Dr. Parnell gives descriptions of several varieties of 

 this grass, and Sir J. E. Smith describes some as dis- 

 cerned by himself or by Dr. Withering ; Mr. Bentham 

 doubts the permanency of the varieties, but they are 

 interesting as easily recognizable forms whether perma- 

 nent or changing. 



Var. stolomfera. The branches of the panicle densely 



