138 



THE GENERA AND THEIR SPECIES. 



Triodia. Plate xxxih FESTUCE&. 



98. decumbens 12 in* Heath Grass. Glumes rosy. 



Heaths and mountain pastures, ranging through Europe and 

 Western Asia. July and August. Root perennial, creeping, 



tufted, fibres numerous. Stem 

 decumbent, then ascending, 

 rather fiat, smooth, and leafy. 

 Leaves narrow, flat at base, 

 channelled at outer end, pointed, 

 rough edged, keeled, ribless with 

 median lines, glaucous above, 

 dark green below. Sheaths with 

 white throat hairs, grooved, 

 uppermost sheath shorter than 

 leaf ; ligule a tuft of hairs. 

 Panicle contracted, branches 

 rough. Spikelets large, erect, 

 oval, few, florets two to five, generally four, awnless. Glumes 

 nearly equal, enclosing florets, long, ovate, pointed, ribs three, 

 keel straight and pointed. Outer palea concave, ovate, ribs 

 five, hairy at base, apex with three teeth, of which the middle 

 one is generally conspicuous ; inner palea flat, membranous, 

 edges involute and thickened at base. 



Triodia decumbens. 

 Spike let. For Floret see p. 52. 



