83 MELICA NUTANS. 



The wood seemed as if meant for Fairyland, each raceme of 

 bloom bearing a number of bells, all hanging in one direction. 



Stem upright, slender, roughish, bearing four or five long, 

 narrow, acute, flaccid, pale green leaves, with rough striated sheaths, 

 the upper one shorter than its leaf, and having at the apex a 

 brief obtuse ligule. Inflorescence racemed. Raceme long, mostly 

 of ten spikelets placed on short rough footstalks. Spikelets large, 

 ovate, pendulous, and consisting of two perfect and one imper- 

 fect floret. Calyx of two broad, reddish brown, smooth, five- 

 ribbed glumes. Florets of two . palese. Length from twelve to 

 twenty-four inches. Some specimen^ gathered near Ambleside 

 were above three feet in length. Root perennial and creeping. 



Flowers at the end of May, and becomes ripe in July. 



This Grass is known from Melica unijlora in the inflorescence 

 being racemed instead of simple-panicled, and in the calyx 

 containing two perfect florets. The most unaccustomed eye can 

 at once recognise the difference between these two species. 



My thanks are due to Mr. Joseph Sidebotham for specimens 

 gathered near Halifax, and from which the illustration is taken. 



