﻿124 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



dical leaves harsh, rough, not hairy ; — whereas in T. pubescens the 

 radical leaves are soft, flaccid, and hairy. (See Plate LUX) 



From Trisetumflavescens, in the spikelets being much larger and 

 fewer ; ligule long and pointed ; — whereas in T.fiavescens the spike- 

 lets are small and numerous ; ligule very short. 



Trisetum pratense does not appear to be confined to any particular 

 place or soil, as it is found growing on rocks, dry heaths, as well as in 

 moist meadows, but it gives a preference to chalky soils. Its produce 

 and nutritive properties are not sufficiently great to be recommend- 

 ed to the notice of farmers. It bears a greater value during the time 

 of flowering than when the seeds are ripe as nine to four. Sheep 

 and cows are fond of the early leaves, but when allowed to grow too 

 coarse, cattle seldom eat it. This grass is frequent in Scotland, 

 England, and Ireland ; also a native of Lapland, Norway, Sweden, 

 Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Not found in America. 

 Its limit of altitude is 2500 feet above the sea. 



Flowers in the first week of June, and ripens its seed in the middle 

 of July. 



82. Trisetum pubescens.* 

 Downy Oat- Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Radical leaves and sheaths hairy. Ligule 

 acute and prominent. (Plate LIII.) 



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

 rennial, somewhat creeping. Stem erect, round, smooth, and finely 

 striated ; bearing usually five leaves ; upper sheath long, more than 

 thrice the length of the leaf, smooth, crowned with a prominent, acute, 

 membranous ligule ; lower sheaths^generally shorter than their leaves, 

 covered with long soft hairs. Joints three or four, the two lowermost 

 situated at the base. Leaves flat, broadish, flaccid, soft, hairy on both 

 surfaces, especially those from the root. Inflorescence compound ra- 

 cemed, or simple panicled ; the three or four uppermost spikelets 

 arising immediately from the rachis on short footstalks ; the lower 

 spikelets from lateral branches or on long peduncles. Panicle erect, 

 rachis nearly smooth, the branches rough. Spikelets not so large as 



* Trisetum pubescens. Lindlev. Avenct pubescens, Koch, Smith, Hooker, Greville. 



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