34 



the naturalization of Erica vagans, E. ciliaris, Reseda fruticuhsa, 

 and other continental plants in Cornwall and the south of Ireland. 

 The grass before us seems to be extending itself eastward in Eng- 

 land, as I found specimens of it among two small collections made 

 by my pupils this summer, 1857, on the line of the south downs of 

 Kent and Sussex. It grows in tufts among heath and furze. The 

 flowering stems, rising to the height of a foot or more, are very 

 slender and rigid ; the leaves short, narrow, and rolled inward so as 

 to be almost hair-like. When in flower, the panicle spreads, but it 

 collapses on being gathered; and, in its earlier and later stages of 

 development, the branches, which in our native specimens are always 

 very short, lie so close to the rachis as to render the appearance of 

 the inflorescence spicate. The outer palea is pale and membrana- 

 ceous, with four strongly marked green veins, the two lateral of 

 which are prolonged beyond the truncated erose summit : its long, 

 twisted and jointed awn is attached only at the base. The inner 

 palea is either so small, that it may be termed minute, or is absent 

 or only rudimentary; a small tuft of white hairs arises on each side 

 of the base. 



Perennial. Flowers in June and Jidy. 



Sheep avoid this grass generally, unless in default of the more 

 grateful and nutritive species. 



Agrostis vulgaris. Fine Bent Grass. Plate XXX. 



Panicle loose; its branches and branchlets spreading, nearly 

 smooth. Glumes nearly equal; the outer one toothed on the 

 upper part of the keel. Outer palea sometimes awned, three- 

 veined; inner bifid at the apex, two-veined. Ligule very short, 

 truncate. 



Agrostis vulgaris. Withering. E. B. 1671 ; ed. 2. 98. Generally 

 adopted. 



One of our most common grasses, though preferring rather dry 

 soils and situations. It creeps at the base, sending out long pro- 

 strate shoots which root at every joint, producing stems the follow- 

 ing year. The flowering stems are decumbent and rooting at the 

 lower part, ascending and erect above, having the ordinary height of 

 a foot or a foot and a half, and terminating in a very loose, spreading, 

 purplish panicle, three to six inches long. The flowers are small and 

 pedicellate ; the pedicels rough, though the rachis and its branches 

 are nearly smooth. Glumes lanceolate, acute, nearly equal in 

 length, very smooth and glossy ; the outer one strongly serrulated 

 at the upper part on the keel. Outer palea very little shorter than 

 the glumes, three-toothed at the apex, and with three veins, mem- 



