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GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 129 



especially the lower ones ; the upper sheath much longer than its leaf, 

 crowned with a short bi-lobed ligule, with one lobe more prominent 

 than the other. Joints two or three, near the base. Leaves short, 

 rigid, involute, of a rounded appearance, roughish on the outer 

 surface ; three-ribbed and hairy within ; the radical leaves numerous, 

 tufted, and much curved. Inflorescence simple panicled. Panicle 

 short, close, erect, unilateral, leaving the rachis naked behind ; 

 branches angular and rough, very seldom in pairs, the lowermost the 

 longest, and rather remote. Spikelets erect, of six florets, with very 

 short awns ; the six or seven uppermost spikelets arising immediately 

 from the rachis on short footstalks ; the lower ones from lateral 

 branches ; the summit of the lowermost floret extending beyond the 

 large glume of the calyx. Calyx of two unequal acute glumes (Fig. 

 1,) the uppermost three-ribbed, the lower one without lateral ribs. 

 Florets of two palese (Fig. 2), the outer palea of lowermost floret five- 

 ribbed, rather indistinctly seen, (unless the palea be held between the 

 lens and the light,) terminating in a short rough awn about one-sixth 

 the length of the palea. Inner palea bifid, furnished with two green 

 marginal ribs minutely fringed on the upper half. 



The following are some of the more striking varieties : — 



hirsuta. The same as the one described, but with the 



glumes and florets hairy. Frequent in rocky localities. Festuca hir- 

 suta of Host. 



vivipara. A variety with the inner palea metamor- 

 phosed into a kind of leaf, which is generally three times the length 

 of the outer palea, (Plate LVL) Common in alpine districts. Fes- 

 tuca vivipara of Smith. 



angustifolia. A delicate and slender variety, with long 



narrow leaves, (Plate LVLT.) Very common in the Highlands, where 

 it forms a great part of the herbage. Festuca tenuifolia of Schra- 

 der. 



ccesia. A striking variety, taller and stouter than those 



described ; the spikelets larger and of a yellowish hue ; outer palea 

 mucronate and frequently hairy, (Plate LVII.) The whole plant is 

 more or less glaucous. Not common, but occasionally met with. 

 Festuca ccesia of Smith. 



Obs. — Festuca ovina and its varieties differ from Festuca duriuscula 



i 



