ALOPECUKUS PRATENSIS. 



LiNN^tJS. Paenell. Scheebbe. Hookbe and Abnott. Koch. Leees. 



Geevillb. Cttetis. Sinclaie. Lindlet. Smith. Ehapp. 



Hudson. Scheadbe. Withbeing. Willdenow. Maettn. Geaves. 



PLATE HI. A. 



Crramen alopecuroides majus, Moeison. Gebaede. 



The Meadow Fox-tail Grass. 



Alopecurus — Fox- tail, (from the Greek.) Pratensis — Meadow. 



Alopecueits. Lirmmm. — Inflorescence a thick, close-set panicle,, which 

 is spiked. The spikelets are laterally compressed. Two almost equal 

 glumes, their base mostly connate; membranaceous, and of the same 

 length as the floret. A solitary glumella, having a dorsal awn above 

 the base. 



One of the most valuable agricultural Grasses; cattle are 

 exceedingly fond of it, and being good in quality, and an early 

 species. It flourishes best in meadows which have been drained, 

 on a rich clayey soil. 



Exceedingly common in Great Britain, and is found also in 

 Russia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Lapland, Holland, France, 

 Germany, Italy, and America. In the latter country it is how- 

 ever supposed to have been introduced. 



Panicle upright, varying from an inch to two inches long, 

 nearly cylindrical in form, having small branches arranged all 

 round the rachis. Spikelets ovate in form, erect, imbricated, 

 numerous. Calyx consisting of two equal-length glumes, acute 

 and jointed at the base, pale green lateral ribs and keels, which 

 are fringed. Floret consisting of a solitary ovate-oblong palea. 



