280 BRITISH GRASSES. 



land, but scarce in Scotland. Tt is found in Lapland, 

 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, Germany, Prance, 

 Spain, Italy, North Asia, Iceland, and the United States. 



It flowers the last week in June, and ripens its seed at 

 the end of July. 



P. nemoralis, var. ccesia, lacks even the slight web- 

 bing to the florets present in the normal form, has fewer 

 branches in the panicle, longer spikelets, shorter stem, 

 with the last joint nearer to the base, and the upper 

 sheath the same length as its leaf. The whole plant is 

 very glaucous, instead of having the fresh green tint of 

 the normal form. It is a native of the Highlands of 

 Scotland, especially of Ben Lawers and the Clova Moun- 

 tains. The spikelets are variegated with purple, white, 

 and green. It is not recorded as an inhabitant of many 

 European countries, only of Switzerland and Arctic loca- 

 lities. It grows from six to twelve inches high. 



P. nemoraliSy var. angustifolia, has an erect panicle, 

 and very long narrow leaves. The highest joint of the 

 stem is near the panicle, the spikelets are small, only 

 containing two florets. This is a common variety, fa- 

 miliarly known as the " Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass." 

 Mr. Sole gives it a very good character as an agricul- 

 tural grass, " A very sweet grass, especially for hay, but 

 like the trivialis, liable to go off after mowing." 



P. nemoralis, var. glauca, Slender Glaucous Meadow- 

 grass, is another mountain variety, with a slender, erect, 

 glaucous panicle; outer glumes bluntish, silky-edged, 

 webless, and spikelets of three flowers more ovate and 

 close than in the normal form. It is perennial, flowers 

 in June, and is found on the mountains of Wales and 

 Scotland. 



P. nemoralis, var. Parnellii, Babington's Meadow- 



