105 



not always that which contains the largest amount of readily assimi- 

 lative matter, and that sugar, starch, and gluten are not the sole con- 

 stituents of the animal fabric. 



Rooting deeply, and forming a dense short turf, the Sheep's Fescue 

 is admirably adapted for lawns, bowling-greens, and pleasure-grounds ; 

 as it requires little mowing, resists the intrusion of most weeds, and in 

 open situations retains its verdure throughout the summer, even in 

 seasons when long-continued drought destroys most other vegetation. 

 The preference manifested by gardeners, in forming grass-plots and 

 edgings, for turf cut from the heaths and commons, is due to the pre- 

 sence of this grass in such places, and the fineness and shortness of its 

 foliage. 



The four following plants of the section are possibly only varieties of 

 F. ovina, and are indeed regarded as such by most practical botanists 

 who have bestowed much attention on their differential characters; these 

 are so slight, as in most instances to leave little room for doubt upon 

 the subject, but, being permanent under cultivation, their presentation 

 in the work before us is almost a matter of necessity. 



Festuca vivipara. Viviparous Fescue Grass. Plate LXXXVI. 



Festuca ovina, var. vivipara of botanists generally. Festuca vivipara, 

 Smith. K B. 1355. 



An evident variety of F. ovina or F. dv/riuscula, common in moun- 

 tainous districts, especially those which present the loftiest peaks and 

 summits. Its peculiarity consists in the substitution of small plants 

 for flowers ; the paleae of the latter, and not unfrequently the stamens 

 and ovary, being extended and forming leaves. The absence of seed, 

 under these circumstances, is compensated by the distribution of the 

 little plants thus produced, which eventually dropping off are wafted 

 away by the wind and root where they fall. 



Many of the earlier botanists seem to have entertained doubts con- 

 cerning the identity of this grass with the common Sheep's Fescue, on 

 account of the permanence of its viviparous character. This is re- 

 tained in aU situations, and under every mode of cultivation to which 

 it may be subjected. Twenty years of garden growth and varied 

 treatment, have not elicited any change in the aspect of plants origin- 

 ally raised from a panicle sent by post from the Highlands of Scotland. 

 Wherever I have met with it in the wild state, it has been of taller 

 grofrth than its supposed progenitor, and with leaves considerably 

 longer and less rigid ; but in the absence of fully developed flowers no 

 distinction of species can be admitted between them. 



Festuca cesia. Glaucous Fescue Grass. Plate LXXXVII. 



Panicle ovate, one-sided, rather lax. Whole plant glaucous. Leaves 

 all filiform. 



