Alopecurm.] geamine^e. 579 



B. Stamens 3. Styles 1 . 



II. Nakdus, Linn. Mat-grass. 



" Spike simple, unilateral. Spikelets 1-flowered. Glumes 0. 

 Glumellas 2 ; the outer one keeled with a long subulate point. 

 Stigma elongated, filiform, papillose." — Br. Fl. 



1. N. stricta, L. Mat-grass. E. B. t. 290. Br. Fl. p. 515. 

 Host. Gram. Aust. ii. 4, t. 4. 



On hilly, heathy and mooiy ground. Fl. June. 2(.. 



E.Med. — In moist pastures close to the Wilderness, 1844. Pastures near 

 Rookley farm, 1842. Pointed out to me at the foot of Bleak down by W. Wilson 

 Saunders, Esq. 



W. Med. — Plentifully on the northern side of Headon hill, overlooking Totland 

 bay, 1841. 



Root of many short, thick, downy fibres. Stems numerous, forming with the 

 leaves dense, rigid, bristly tufts, from 3 or 4 to 6 or 10 inches in height, erect, 

 round, striated with green lines, (rough with appressed bristles, Leighton), in my 

 specimens smooth, jointed and grooved alternately above to receive the florets, 

 tlieir bases invested by the long, close, smooth and shining leaf-sheaths. Leaves 

 setaceous by the involution of their edges, erect or partly spreading, very straight, 

 stiff and pointed, dark green, furrowed and rough with rows of minute erect 

 spines, ending beneath in long pale or pinkish sheaths, that are mostly enlarged 

 and sometimes a little bulb-shaped at the base, each exterior sheath including two 

 or more leaves, of which the innermost is erect, the outer diverging at nearly right 

 angles from their sheaths. Ligule oblong, pointed, deeply bifid on the stem-leaves ; 

 that of the radical barren leaves short, truncate and entire. Spike very slender, 

 straight or slightly recurved, of several linear, erect, distichous, alternate and uni- 

 lateral florets, closely applied to grooves or cavities in the rachis for their recep- 

 tion. Palece unequal, outer one linear-lanceolate, greenish purple, ribbed, covered 

 with rough points, tapering into a long awned extremity, bordered, like the mar- 

 gin of the valve itself, with a row of erect spines ; inner paleffi very thin and mem- 

 branous, closely embraced by the overlapping edges of the outer, ribless, truncate 

 and spinulose at the summit. Anthers pale yellow. Style very long, simple and 

 slender, much protruded. 



C. Stamens 3. Styles 2. 

 * Inflorescence panicled. 



f Glumes single-flowered. 

 a. Panicle close, compact, spike-like. 



III. AioPECUEUS, Linn. Foxtail-grass. 



" Panicle spiked. Spikelets compressed laterally. Glumes 2, 

 nearly equal, usually connate at the base, membranaceous, about 

 as long as the floret. Glumella sohtary, with a dorsal awn above 

 the base. Neuter florets 0." — Br. Fl. 



1. A. pratensis, L. Meadow Foxtail-grass. "Culm erect 

 smooth, panicle spiked cylindrical obtuse, glumes lanceolate acute 

 hairy connate at the base, awn twice the length of the glumella." 

 —Br. Fl. p. 5ie. E. B. t. 759. 



Common everywhere in meadows, pastures, and by roadsides. Fl. May, June. 



