﻿GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 23 



f>f the glume. Outer palea toothed at the summit, and tipped with 

 a minute point or awn. 



From Phleum arenarium in the keels of the glumes being hairy the 

 whole length ; floret one- third shorter than the calyx, and entire at 

 the summit ; — whereas in P. arenarium, the keels of the glumes are 

 without hairs on the lower half; floret one-third the length of the 

 calyx, and notched at the summit. 



This very rare grass was discovered several years ago by the late 

 Mr Don on the rocky parts of the high mountains of Clova in An- 

 gus-shire, but has not since been found in Britain by any other bo- 

 tanist. It is a native of the south of Europe. It has not been dis- 

 covered in America, or farther north than latitude 57°. Flowers in 

 July and August. 



12. Anthoxanthum odoratum.* 

 Sweet-scented Vernal grass. 



Specific Character. — Base of leaves hairy. (Plate VIII.) 

 Description. — It grows fro^i twelve to eighteen inches high. The 

 root is perennial, fibrous. Stem slender, round, striated, polished, 

 smooth, occasionally roughish ; bearing two or three leaves with 

 roughish (when felt from below upwards) striated, frequently hairy 

 sheaths ; the upper sheath longer than its leaf, crowned with a long 

 membranous ligule, furnished with hairs at the base. Joints long, 

 situated wide apart. Leaves flat, acute, light green, ribbed, more or 

 less hairy on both surfaces, and rough at the margins. Inflorescence 

 simple panicled, close, appearing as if spiked. Panicle erect, about 

 an inch and a-half in length, of an ovate-oblong form, with short, 

 hairy, wavy, branches, arranged alternately on the smooth straight 

 rachis. Spikelets rather large, erect, of an ovate-lanceolate form, 

 about four or five together, turning yellowish with age ; of one awn- 

 ed floret. Calyx of two very unequal acute glumes, (Fig 1), more 

 or less hairy, especially on the keels; the large glume three-ribbed ; 

 the outer or smaller glume without lateral ribs. Floret of two palea? 

 (Fig. 2), of equal size, about half the length of the large glume, of 

 an oblong form, of a brownish colour, more or less hairy, furnished 



* Anthoxanthum odor alum y Linn. Koch, Smith, Hooker, Greville, Lindley. 



