Il] HABITATS 27 



Grasses as a rule are devoid of strong scents^ or tastes, 

 but Anthoxanthum has a faint but distinct sweet odour, 

 especially as it dries— it is one of the grasses which give the 

 scent to new-mown hay — and a bitter flavour, and Milium,, 

 Hierochloe and Holcus are also more or less bitter. Spar- 

 tina stricta emits a strong unpleasant odour. 



The habitat of grasses is of great importance as an aid 

 to determination. No one would expect to find a sea-shore 

 grass growing in a beech-forest, or an aquatic grass on a 

 dry chalk-down ; but they are even more true to their 

 habitats than this, and I append the following lists of 

 habitats of British grasses as of use in determining 

 them, though it is not pretended that the limits are 

 absolute. 



In the following list " pasture-grass " (P) means useful 

 for grazing, and "jneadow-grass" (M) one that is especially 

 valuable for mowing — i.e. for hay. A " weed " ( W) is used 

 in its agricultural sense for a grass not useful and not 

 wanted on cultivated land, though often found there. 



Meadow- and Pasture-grasses. 



(P and M) Dactylis glomerata (fields, &c.). 



(P and M) Poa trivialis (meadow and pasture). 



(W) Bromus arvends (cultivated and waste places, meadow and 



pasture). 

 (W) B. sterilis (ruderal). 



(P and M) Poa pratensis (meadow and pasture). 

 (W) Briza media (meadow and pasture). 

 (P) Avena pratensis (meadow and pasture, especially hilly). 

 (P) A. pubescens (var.) — dry. 



^ The most marked exceptions are the lemon-scented grasses (especi- 

 ally Andropogon) of India and Ceylon. 



