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Genus 25. SESLERIA. Moor Grass. 



Gen. Chae. Inflorescence compact, spike-like. Spikelets nearly 

 sessile, laterally compressed, with two or more perfect flowers. 

 Glumes two, nearly equal, pointed, as long as tte flowers. 

 Palese two, naked at the base, membranaceous, nearly equal ; 

 the lower one keeled, jagged at the end with three or five 

 points, the central one of which, an extension of the keel-vein, 

 is longest. Styles united to about the middle. Stigmas 

 long, filiform, papillose. Fruit free. 



A small genus of perennial European Grasses. They were 

 originally referred to Cynosums, but appear to have little affinity 

 with that or any other genus. The presence of a glume-like bract 

 at the base of the spikelets is characteristic of most of the species. 



The name was bestowed by Scopoli in commemoration of Leo- 

 nard Sesler, an Italian physician and botanist of the eighteenth 

 century. 



Seslema c^kulea. Blue Moor Grass. Plate L. 



Inflorescence spicate, ovate or oblong, slightly unilateral, brac- 

 teate at the base. Bractese alternate. Spikelets imbricated. Lower 

 palea ending in four teeth; its mid-vein rough, and extending 

 beyond it as a short macro or bristle. Leaves abrupt, terminating 

 in a minute rough point. 



Sesleria cserulea, Scopoli. jE. 5. 1613; ed. 2. 118. Generally 

 adopted. Cynosums cseruleus, IAutkbus. 



Not uncommon and often abundant on the mountain moors and 

 pastures of the north of England, and in Scotland and Ireland ; 

 especially in limestone districts, where it is one of the most fre- 

 quent species that vegetate in the clefts of the rocks. The roots 

 descend very deeply into the soil, ramifying into every crevice of 

 the stone on which it rests, and thus secure the widely spreading 

 but compact tufts of the Grass from being washed or blown away 

 from their exposed habitats. Stems six inches to a foot high, 

 scarcely exceeding the fohage; sometimes described as being 

 without joints, though one or two of the latter will generally be 

 found near the base on close inspection. Leaves comparatively 

 broad, linear, obtuse, but with a minute rough point at the apex, 

 pale glaucous green. Spike from half an inch to an inch in 

 length, bluish grey or silvery. Spikelets in pairs, one sessile, 

 the other shortly stalked, oblong ; the lower ones especially have 

 an ovate or ovate-lanceolate, ciliated and toothed bractea at the 

 base, as exhibited in one of our magnified figures. Glumes 

 broadly lanceolate, three-toothedj the middle one lengthened into 



