﻿38 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



not reaching beyond the summit of the floret. Aicn arising from a lit- 

 tle below the centre of the outer palea, and not projecting beyond the 

 summit of the palea. Inner palea thin and pellucid, much shorter 

 than the outer palea. 



Obs. — Calamagrostis stricta is distinguished from Calamagrostis 

 Epigegos in being a much more delicate plant ; florets about half the 

 size ; hairs from the base of the floret not extending beyond the 

 floret ; awn arising from rather below the centre of the outer palea 

 and scarcely extending beyond the palea ; — whereas in C. Epigegos, 

 the hairs extend considerably beyond the floret. Awn arising from 

 rather above the centre of the outer palea, and projecting nearly half 

 its length beyond the palea. 



This very rare plant is now extinct in Britain. It was found se- 

 veral years ago by the late Mr Gr. Don in White Mire Marsh, one 

 mile from Forfar. It is a native of the most northern parts of Europe 

 and North America. 



Flowers in the third week in June and ripens its seed in the end of 

 July. 



24. Calamagrostis Epigegos.* 

 Wood Reed. 



Specific Characters. — Awn arising from a little above the centre of 

 the outer palea. Hairs much longer than the floret. (Plate XVI.) 



Description. — It grows from three to five feet high. The root is 

 perennial, creeping. Stem round, erect, rough (when felt from above 

 downwards) ; bearing four leaves with smooth striated sheaths ; the 

 upper sheath longer than its leaf ; crowned with a long lanceolate di- 

 vided ligule. Joints smooth. Leaves narrow, acute, taper-pointed, 

 rough on the inner surface and edges ; smooth on the back. Inflo- 

 rescence compound panicled, of a brownish tinge. Panicle erect, close 

 both before and after flowering, about a span in length ; branches 

 rough, arising in alternate clusters at certain distances along the 

 round rough rachis. Calyx of two equal narrow acute glumes, 



* Calamagrostis Epigegos, Lindley, Koch, Hooker. Arundo Epigegos, Smith. 

 Arundo calamagrostis, Hooker, Fl. Scot. Lightfoot. 



