60 AGROSTIS ALBA. 



numerous, consisting of one small awnless floret. Calyx con- 

 sisting of two nearly equal-sized, narrow, acute glumes, destitute 

 of lateral ribs. Floret of two unequal-sized palese, exterior 

 one ovate, hairy at the base, and notched at the apex; inner 

 one only half the length, with cloven apex, entire margins, and 

 semitransparent. 



Length from eighteen to twenty-four inches. 



Flowers in the third week of July, and seeds ripen at the 

 end of August. 



This species is subject to variety. 



Dr. Parnell describes two varieties, namely: — 



1st. — Stolonifera. Growing on damp heavy ground near the 

 sea, and by the side of ditches and other wet situations. It 

 has the branches of the panicles densely tufted. 



2nd. — Palustris. With larger spikelets, growing in damp, 

 shady, stagnant, situations. 



Sir W. Hooker remarks, "In some there is a short awn at 

 the base of the outer glumella; this constitutes the Agrostis 

 compressa of Willdenow, and occasionally the flowers are vivi- 

 parous, when it is the A. sylvatica of Linnaeus." 



The illustration is from a specimen forwarded by Mr. J. 

 Sidebotham, of Manchester. 



