92 



perhaps, to warrant their separation as species, but certainly not in 

 association with the latter, numerous and varied as they are. For the 

 discrimination of the species at large, the 'figure in Plate LXXV. will 

 be found sufl&cient : for the satisfaction of the more fastidious student 

 the leading characteristics of its most marked varieties are subjoined. 



„. — Q, fluitans, E. Brown. Leaf-sheaths nearly smooth, striate. 

 Flowers more or less acute. Anthers long (about five times 

 longer than broad). 



&. — O. plicata, Fries. Leaf-sheaths rough, furrowed. Flowers rather 

 obtuse. Anthers short (from two to four times longer than broad). 



To the latter of the two the HI. B. figures above quoted are usually 

 referred. 



In allusion to these and other slight differences observable among 

 specimens of the grass before us, the authors of the ' British Flora ' 

 remark that " to those who rely on such points, and on the form and 

 colour of the anthers, for characters, there must be at least six or eight 

 varieties or species in this country, and as many, though not quite the 

 same, in North America." Their estimation is certainly moderate so 

 far as our own islands are concerned. 



Certain states of 0. fluitans and of Festuca loUacea nearly approach 

 each other in general aspect, and, when the latter grows in wet situa- 

 tions, a cursory observer is liable to mistake one for the other ; but 

 the single-veined glume and seven-veined outer palea, generic distinc- 

 tions of the former, serve at once to distinguish it from the latter, the 

 only British Grass which at all resembles it in habit. 



The Floating Sweet Grass is very generally distributed over Europe 

 and northern Asia, the extreme colder parts excepted ; is likewise a 

 native of North America, and, either it or a kindred species, is found in 

 Australia. 



Though naturally confined to watery situations, it is said to prove 

 productive when cultivated in comparatively dry ones, and to be thus 

 valuable for permanent pasture in some cases. The only instances-in 

 which it would be found to flourish so as to add greatly to the quantity 

 of the crop, are fens, marshes, or river-meadows liable to occasional in- 

 undation, and even in such lands it is doubtful whether its introduction 

 is desirable, on account of the creeping habit that tends to exclude 

 other grasses from the soU. Agricultural writers and experimentalists 

 differ in their accounts of the estimation of this grass by cattle : we 

 find it stated by one, perhaps, that it is a favourite with horses, cows, 

 and swine ; while another observes that cattle will eat it, but there 

 are many grasses they like better — a discrepancy probably arising 

 from the varied times and circimistances under which their information 

 on this point has been obtained ; one fact may be admitted, all herbi- 

 varous animals are fond of the seeds as they approach ripeness. 

 The seeds are large, compared with those of most of our common 

 grasses, are easily collected, and having a sweetish flavour, have 

 received the name of manna seeds. Under this title they are occasion- 



