99 



Cynosures oristatus, Linnceus. E. B. 316 ; ed. 2. 139. Generally 

 adopted. 



Usually abundant on gravelly, chalky, and rocky pastures and 

 meadows, but chiefly in a dry soil, growing in tufts. Stems from a 

 foot to eighteen inches high, smooth, slender. Leaves narrow, acu- 

 minated, roughish on the upper side. Ligule short, obtuse. Inflo- 

 rescence from one to three inches long, erect, linear, interrupted or 

 compact, usually of a light green colour ; the lateral branches so 

 short that the spitelets appear sessile. Spiielets generally from three- 

 to five-flowered, arranged in two series, both inclining to one side of 

 the rachis : each accompanied by a beautiful doubly pectinated appen- 

 dage at the base, which, though denominated by some botanical writers 

 a hract, and by others, with even less propriety, an involucrum, is 

 generally admitted to be an abortive spikelet, as described under the 

 above notice of the genus. The divisions, comb-like teeth, or abortive 

 palese of the appendage in question are in this species linear, acute, but 

 not long-pointed, and a little curved inward at the apex. Glumes 

 narrow-lanceolate, acute, rough at the keel. Outer palea linear-lan- 

 ceolate, very obscurely five-veined, rounded behind, the middle vein 

 roughish, and terminating in a rather short rough awn : inner palea 

 bifid at the apex, thin and pellucid. 



Perennial. Flowers in July and August. 



In the situations natwal to this grass, high and dry pastures or 

 sheep-downs, no species is more valuable, not only on account of the 

 compactness of its fine short foliage, which is highly agreeable to the 

 close-cropping animals that feed upon. them, but, because, owing to the 

 depth to which its roots penetrate, it remains green through the di-iest 

 part of the summer, or at least long after most other species have 

 withered. Deer, as well as sheep, are exceedingly fond of it, hence it 

 is recommended for parks. Mr. Sinclair accords with some of the 

 older agricultural authors as to its fitness for permanent pastures, 

 more especially owing to its being less liable to injury by drought 

 than grasses of a superior quality ; but it is not at aU adapted for 

 general cultivation, the stems being too harsh and wiry, and the herb- 

 age unproductive where a crop of hay is required. In the latter case, 

 where it constitutes any considerable proportion of the turf of the 

 meadow, the mowing should take place at the time of flowering, the 

 stems being then more succulent and nutritious, and the yield more 

 abundant than either before or afterwards. 



Although frequently forming the principal part of the sward, in the 

 situations above mentioned, the Crested Dog's-tail Grass is a common 

 member of the promiscuous vegetation of most grass-lands that have 

 been long undisturbed, unless in such as are marshy. 



The slender stems, collected in the green state and carefaUy bleached, 

 are said to be superior to the Leghorn straw for the manufacture of 

 straw hats and bonnets, a purpose to which, without doubt, those of 

 many other British grasses would be equally applicable. 



Found throughout Europe, except in its extreme northern and colder 

 regions, and extending into western Asia.. 



