294 



BRITISH GRASSES. 



glumes nearly equal, acute, smooth, three-ribbed, of a firm 

 consistence, scale-like towards the edges, glabrous ; flower- 

 ing glumes ovate, five-ribbed, deeply concave, with three 

 minute teeth at the summit, the central one the most pro- 

 minent ; palea broad, blunt, with green ribs on the margin, 

 fringed. 



Grows abundantly on dry mountain pastures, espe- 

 cially those bordering moors, also in wet, barren grounds. 



It is commonly called Heath- 

 grass, and often grows along 

 with the Purple Molinia. 

 Its only beauty consists in 

 a rosy tint'upon the glumes, 

 the blending of which with 

 the green is very pretty. 



It is common throughout 

 Britain, also in Norway, 

 Sweden, Prussia, Germany, 

 France, Spain, Portugal, 

 Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, 

 and Greece. 



It flowers the last week in July, and ripens its seed 

 in August. 



Genus XL. KCELERIA. 



Spikelets few-flowered in dense clusters, nearly sessile; 

 panicle spike-like ; outer glumes keeled, pointed, and scale- 

 like at the edges. 



Koeleria cristata, Pers. Crested Kceleria. 



Root perennial, with long downy fibres ; stems numerous, 

 erect, round, downy, from three inches to a foot in height ; 

 joints smooth, all near the base of the stem ; leaves narrow, 



