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BRITISH GRASSES. 



1. Briza media 5 Linn. Common Quake-grass. 



Root perennial, fibrous, elongated; stems erect, round, 

 leafy, very smooth, slender, from twelve to eighteen inches 

 high ; leaves acute, flat, striated, a little rough, few in num- 

 ber ; sheaths very long, striated, smooth ; ligules extremely 

 short ; panicle widely spreading, of many spikelets, branches 

 long and slender, lower ones in twos ; spikelets pendulous, 

 trembling, ovate or a little heart-shaped, smooth, shining, 

 variegated with white and brown; outer glumes nearly 

 equal, concave, blunt, scale-like at the margins ; flowering 

 glume broad, blunt, compressed, membranaceous at the 

 margins, without lateral ribs; palea membranaceous, with 

 two lateral ribs delicately fringed on the upper part. 



This elegant perennial grass is a familiar favourite 

 with all lovers of nature, from earlv childhood to extreme 



old age. Eagerly do chil- 

 dren repair to the hill-side 

 pastures in June to gatherthe 

 " Trembling-grass/' " Quak- 

 ing-grass/' " Cow-quakes," 

 " Shakers," " Ladies' -hair," 

 or Ci Bird's-eye," accordingly 

 as the grass is named in the 

 particular district where they 

 live. Alike in cottage and 

 hall, we see bunches of the 

 Quake- grass as a winter or- 

 nament, only the cottager 

 frequently suspends it in 

 bunches from the ceiling, 

 while the Squire's lady mingles it with Everlasting 

 flowers in the elegant cornucopia. 



As an agricultural grass it is not very valuable, but 





