GRASS FAMILY 



389 



solid above ; fenve^ involute, firm, with numerous thick ribs, each 

 with a row of sharp points aliovc ; spikclcis 5 — i2-flo\vered. — 

 Sandy sea-shores ; rare. — hi. July. Perennial. 



5. T. ati'iliiii: (Acute Couch). — I.oosely tufted : stems solid, 

 bent below : Iraves much as in the preceding : ipike long, lax. 

 arching; spikiicis ^ — S-flowered j raclus very broad between the 

 spikelets — Sandv sea- 

 shores. — Fl. July, August. 

 Perennial. 



6. 2'. /;/;;<■(■;/;;; (Rush-like 

 Couch). — A prostrate, stilY 

 plant, creeping extensively 

 so as to form large patches, 

 often glaucous ; steins 

 ascending, smooth ; leaves 

 leathery, involute, downy 

 a.bove : spike 2 — 4 in. long, 

 curved, rather lax, with a 

 brittle rachis ; spikelets 

 large, shining, pale, 4— -S- 

 flowered : glumes often 

 obtuse. — Sandy sea-shores ; 

 local. — Fl. July, August. 

 Perennial. 



46. Lepturus, of which 

 L. filiform is (Sea Hard- 

 grass) is the only British 

 species, is a genus of 

 slender grasses differing 

 from Tri.il nil! in having 

 I -flowered spikelets. These 

 are, as in that genus, soli- 

 tary and sessile in the 

 notches of the rachis, dis- 

 tichous, and placed with 



their broad sides towards the rachis, and are awnless. Our British 

 species is a little glabrous, decumbent grass, '4 — S in. high : leaves 

 short, leathery, rough ; spike 2 — 6 in. long, Cj'lindric, slender, 

 with a stift", grooved rachis : spikelets ^ in. long, green.— Waste 

 places near the sea : uncommon. (Name from the Greek leptos, 

 slender, oitra, tail, from its slender spikes. )-^Fl. July — September. 

 Annual. 



47. Xardus (^lat-grass"), of which A', strieta is the only species, 

 is a densely tufted, erect, wiry, glabrous plant, 4—10 in. Ingh, 



\RDUS STRICT 



