﻿GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 15 



Description. — It grows from twelve to fifteen inches in length. 

 The root is perennial, fibrous, «(" owing to a dry barren situation, be- 

 comes oval and fleshy as in Phleum pratense" Smith.) Stem ascend- 

 ing, bent at the joints, smooth and striated, bearing branches from the 

 lower joints. Sheaths smooth and strongly striated, the upper sheath 

 inflated, about equal in length to its leaf, crowned with an oblong, 

 membranous ligule. Joints smooth, long and narrow, of a darkish 

 purple. Leaves flat, acute, roughish on both surfaces, serrated on 

 the edges. Inflorescence simple panicled. Panicle erect, from one to 

 two inches long, cylindrical, compact, with short branches, arranged 

 on all sides of the rachis. Spikelets numerous, compressed, of an 

 ovate form, erect, of one awned floret as long as the calyx. Calyx of 

 two membranous glumes of equal lengths (Fig. 1), obtuse, united at 

 the base, often tinged at the summit with purple, fringed on the keels 

 and hairy on the lateral ribs, which are of a light green, and more 

 prominent on the one side than on the other. Floret of one palea, 

 (Fig. 2), with two rather indistinct green ribs on each side ; of a pur- 

 plish tinge on the upper part, which can be best seen by opening the 

 palea, when the summit will be found to be obtuse with a small notch 

 in the centre (Fig. 4.) Awn slender, arising from a little above the 

 base of the palea, and extending half its length beyond the palea. Fila- 

 ment slender. Anthers linear, protruding, yellowish. Styles short, 

 mostly combined. Stigmas distinct, long and feathery. 



Obs. — Alopecurus geniculatus is distinguished from Alopecurus ful- 

 vus, in the awn arising from a little above the base and projecting 

 half its length beyond the palea ; anthers long and linear, of a dull 

 orange colour ; — whereas in A. fulvus the awn arises from a little 

 below the centre, and does not project beyond the palea; anthers 

 short and roundish, of a deep bright orange colour. 



From Alopecurus agrestis in the stem and sheaths being perfectly 

 smooth ; — whereas in A. agrestis they are distinctly rough to the 

 touch, from below upwards. (Plate III.) 



From Alopecurus alpinus in the panicle being long and linear ; awn 

 arising from a little above the base and projecting half its length be- 

 yond the palea ; — whereas in Alopecurus alpinus the panicle does not 

 exceed an inch in length, of an oval form ; awn (when present) aris- 



