59 



AGKOSTIS ALBA. 



LlNN^US. HOOKBE AND AenOTT. PaENBLL. SmiTH. 



WiTHEEiNG. Htjil. Eelhan. Sibthoej. Abbot. Willdenow. 



CULLUM. SCHEADEE. GeBVILLE. LiNDLEY. 



The Marsh Bent Grass. 



Agrostis — A Field. Alba — White. 



Abundast in pastures and on wood sides, preferring a dry- 

 sandy soil, sometimes found two thousand feet above sea level. 



Of no use to the agriculturist. 



Root perennial, tufted, and creeping. Stem circular, polished, 

 and upright, bearing four or five short, narrow, flat, very rough 

 leaves, with somewhat rough, striated sheaths, the upper one 

 extending beyond its leaf, having at its apex a long, ragged, 

 acute, ribbed ligule. Joints smooth. Inflorescence compound 

 panicled. Panicle upright, somewhat purple, with pale green 

 florets. Branches rough, slender, and spreading when in flower, 

 proceeding from the rachis, generally in fives, placed at equal 

 distances, but unequal in length. Spikelets small, upright. 



