288 BRITISH GRASSES. 



and the smaller growth are the distinctive features of the 

 variety. 



Its stems, leaves, and flowers contain the same pro- 

 portion of saccharine matter as the normal type, and 

 like it are agreeable and nutritious to cattle, but, owing 

 to the necessity of superabundant moisture for its well- 

 being, it is not adapted for cultivation. 



Genus XXXVII. MOLINIA. 



Gen. Char. Spikelets small, flattened ; outer glumes 

 pointed ; palea with a small bristle at the base. 



1. M olinia cserulea, Mcench. Purple Molinia. 



Root perennial, fibrous, fibres very strong; stems stiff, 

 reed-like, one to two feet high, smooth, cylindrical, rather 

 bulbous at the base ; one small joint situated near the base ; 

 leaves long, linear-acute, tapering, rough toward the ends 

 on both surfaces, smooth on lower part, pungent, involute 

 in drying, glaucous, tufted ; sheaths smooth, striated, upper 

 one shorter than its leaf; ligule very small ; panicle narrow 

 but loose, erect, six inches to a foot long ; rachis smooth, 

 angular-ribbed ; branches numerous, short, compound, 

 roughish, wavy, arising in clusters on alternate sides of the 

 rachis; spikelets small, numerous, erect, narrow, and pointed, 

 containing about three florets, generally purple, but pale in 

 shade ; outer glumes acute, smooth, ovate, three-ribbed, 

 much shorter than the florets, unequal; flowering glumes 

 acute, three-ribbed, smooth ; palea of the same length and 

 form, with a green rib along the margin. Only two out of 

 the three florets are perfect, the second is place d on a foot- 

 stalk. The anthers are of a very dark violet colour, which 

 gives a deep shade to the purple panicle. 



This grass is a frequent inhabitant of exposed moors, 

 growing in great abundance, and along with the Heath- 



