﻿10 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



the Irish coast, and also on the shores of the Mediterranean, but has 

 not been discovered in America. 



Flowers in the third week of July, and ripens its seed in the second 

 week of August. 



3. Alopecurus agrestis. * 

 Slender Foxtail- Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Stem and sheaths rough. Awn projecting 

 more than half its length beyond the palea. (Plate III.) 



Description. — It grows from one to two feet high. The root is 

 annual, small and fibrous. Stem erect, round, slender, roughish to 

 the touch, (from below upwards), bearing three or four leaves with 

 roughish, striated, slightly swollen sheaths ; the upper sheath longer 

 than its leaf, crowned with a prominent, obtuse, downy ligule. Joints 

 smooth. Leaves flat, acute, striated, roughish on both surfaces, as 

 well as on the margins. Inflorescence simple panicled. Panicle erect, 

 slender, compact, tapering at each end ; of two to three inches in 

 length, with short branches, arranged on all sides of the rachis. Spike- 

 lets numerous, compressed, of an oval form, of one awned floret, equal 

 in lengt'i to the calyx. Calyx of two membranous acute glumes 

 (Fig. 1.), of equal lengths, united at the lower part, fringed on the 

 keels with short hairs, and furnished with two green smooth ribs on 

 each side. Floret of one palea, (Fig. 2.) of an ovate-oblong form, fur- 

 nished with two green ribs on each side towards the upper part. Awn 

 long and slender, smooth on the lower half, arising from a little above 

 the base of the palea, and extending more than half its length beyond 

 the palea. Filaments three, slender. Anthers protruding, notched at 

 each extremity. Styles short, united. Stigmas two, long and downy. 



Ohs. — This grass is easily recognized by the long narrow panicle 

 tapering at each extremity ; the long dorsal awn which projects more 

 than half its length beyond the palea ; the keels of the glumes with 

 very short hairs ; and the rough stem and sheaths. 



It is distinguished from Alopecurus pratensis in the panicle being 

 more slender ; spikelets larger ; ligule much longer ; keels of the calyx 

 but slightly hairy, and the stem and sheaths rough to the touch ; 



* Alopecurus agrestis, Koch, Smith, Hooker, Lindley, Leers. 



