156 



BRITISH GRASSES. 



England, and in some of the midland ones. It flowers 

 in June and July, and is readily distinguished from 



others of the family by the 

 great length of the awns, and 

 also by the inequality of the 

 outer glumes. These grasses 

 are generally known in Eng- 

 lish as Bent-grasses, but Mr. 

 Bentham prefers retaining 

 the botanical name, and as 

 we follow his arrangement 

 we accept his nomenclature. 

 Sir J. E. Smith tells us 

 that this grass is liable to 

 fungus disease, called smut ; 

 it is a favourite herbage with 

 horses and goats, but not 

 liked by sheep. There is a 

 variety, called interrupta, 

 common in France, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany, 

 with an attenuated and contracted panicle, r the branches 

 being erect, and the anthers shorter ; but the permanence 

 of the distinctions is dubious. 



Genus XIV. GASTBIDIUM. 



Gen. Char. Outer glumes unequal, acute, base swollen, 

 smooth, and shining. 



Gastridinm lendigerum 5 Beauv. Awned Nitgrass. 



(Milium, Eng. Bot.) 



Boot annual, tufted, fibrous ; stems numerous, erect, 

 round, smooth, glossy ; joints three, enveloped by the 



