Lepturus.] geamine^. 023 



the rachis and covering the floret, cartilaginous, several-nerved. 

 Gluviellas of the fertile floret 2, scarious, awnless." — Br. Fl. 



1. L. incurvatus, Trin. Sea Hard-grass. " Spike subulate, 

 glumes 2." — Br. Fl. p. 560. a. Spike curved. Eottbcellia, L. : 

 E. B. t. 760. Host. Gram. Aust. i. 18, t. 23. 



|8. Spikes very slender and filiform, nearly straight. Rotlboellia filiforniis, 

 Roth. 



In sail-marsh meadows and pastures, and along the grassy borders of creeks 

 and inlets of the sea and tide-rivers; not unfrequent. J"/. July, August. 0. 



W. Med.— Most abundantly and very fine in salt-marshes by Newtown, 1842. 

 In cultivated fields above Freshwater bay, a short distance from the hotel on the 

 ascent of the down towards the Needles, in great plenty, where it was pointed out 

 to me by the Rev. G. E. Smith, who supposes it may have been conveyed with 

 sea-weed as manure to the odd situation. Thorness bay, Rei>. Wm, Coleman, 

 1842. 



&. In the meadow between Quarr abbey and the sea, 1843. At Springfield, on 

 the waste fjround in front of the houses, near what was until lately the Vernon 

 hotel; also in salt-marsh meadows between Springfield and Sea View, 1843. 

 On the embankment by Yarmouth mill, abundantly; also common along the Yar 

 generally. Amongst short grass near the shore at Norton, just opposite to where 

 the road leading to Freshwater goes off from the beach. Newtown marshes, and 

 between Yarmouth and Freshwater, 1842. By the Medina near Dallinjore's farm, 

 in plenty (a stouter form). Miss G. Kilderbee ! ! ! Along the shore between W. 

 Cowes and Egypt, idein. [Around Brading harbour, in many places, A. G. 

 More, Esq., Edrs.] 



A singular grass, bearing some resemblance when in flower to Lolium perenne, 

 delij;hting to grow amongst the herbage skirting the little creeks or inlets of salt- 

 water rivers, where its unopened spikes are not readily distinguished from the 

 leaves or barren scapes of some of the smaller Junci, even after the white anthers 

 have begun to protrude, looking as if accidentally blown on and adhering to the 

 supposed rushes. In these situations the plant has a very slender habit, the^stems 

 being quite filiform, when it is the E. filiformis of Roth and others, but in more 

 exposed places this grass assumes a stouter, shorter and more rigid habii ; the 

 spikes are then remarkably incurved, and thus we find it in open fields near Fresh- 

 water. The following description is drawn up from specimens of the stouter form 

 of variety /3., gathered amongst other grasses by the Medina, which, from its great 

 frequency in such situations, appears the most natural and congenial to this 

 grass. 



Moot a tuft of brownish fibres. Culms numerous, from 3 or 4 inches to 

 a foot in height, erect or ascending, round, slender, hollow, very smooth and 

 polished, with several tumid geniculate joints towards the base, leafy on their 

 lower half, leafless above. leaves linear, very narrow, bright green, taper- 

 pointed, rough along their more or less involute edges with minute prickles, 

 and like the rest of the plant quite glabrous. Sheaths long, close. Ligule 

 very short, abrupt and jagged. Spike terminal, 2—4 inches long, either 

 straight or making with the upper leafless portion of the culm a curve like 

 Spartina stricta, to which genus this grass has been erroneously referred by some 

 authors. Florets alternate, closely applied to the rachis, which is flattened and 

 grooved on opposite portions of its entire length to receive them, and jointed at 

 the base of each floret, which fits into its place so exactly before blossoming as to 

 appear an integrant portion of the spike, which then represents a miniature bam- 

 boo. Glumes a little unequal, very thick, stiff and pointed, the edge of the smaller 

 slightly overlapping that of the larger, which is therefore analogous to the inner 

 valve of other grasses, the borders and tip of each glume white and membranous, 

 lioth marked on the back with strong green ribs ; sometimes the two are united 

 into one piece. Palece lanceolate, unequal, as long as the calyx, of a delicate, 

 thin, membranous texture, the larger and outer with a single green rib down the 



