106 



Eestuoa csesia, Smith. E. B. 1917. Festuoa ovina, var., E. B. 

 ed. 2. Authors generally. 



Comparatively rare. From the very marked glaucous hue that 

 generally characterises this grass, most ordinary observers would 

 regard it as very distinct from the true Sheep's Fescue ; but, apart 

 from this hue and the lighter colour, and, usually, greater breadth of 

 the panicle, there is really no feature by which they can be separated. 



It is a very ornamental grass in gardens, especially among rock- 

 work, as it forms dense tufts, and the blueish glaucous foliage contrasts 

 brightly with the light lively green of most alpine plants. 



Fbstuca dumusoula. Hard Fescue Grass. Tall Sheep's Fescue 

 Grass. Plate LXXXVIII. 



Panicle pyramidal, one-sided, branches spreading. Radical leaves 

 filiform, channelled, stem leaves flat, acute. Root fibrous. 



Festuca duriuscula, Linnceus. Smith. E. B. 470 ; ed. 2. 142. 

 Parnell. Festuca ovina, var. duriuscula, Babington. Hooker 

 and Arnott. Bentham. 



Common ; and often abundant in moist pastures and old meadows, 

 where it attains a foot or more in height. Stems round, except at the 

 upper part, stouter than those of most forms of F. ovina. Radical 

 leaves tufted, in moist rich soil frequently equalling the flower-stems in 

 length, slender, but not bristle-like ; those of the stem usually ex- 

 panded. Inflorescence from two to four inches long ; the lower 

 branches of the panicle longer, so as to give it a pyramidal, rather 

 than an ovate outline. Spikelets five- to seven-flowered. 

 Perennial. Flowers in June. 



This is generally regarded as one of our most valuable grasses, being 

 very productive, considering the slender character of its foliage, and 

 thriving in most soils and situations, from an elevation of two oi:^ three 

 thousand feet to lands little above the sea-level. Mr. Sinclair remarks 

 that " it withstands the effects of severe dry weather better than many 

 other grasses ;" and hence he recommends its use, in limited propor- 

 tion, in laying down new pastures, adding that "it attains the greatest 

 perfection when combined with Festuca pratensis and Poa trivialis." 

 Few grasses retain their verdure during the severest winter weather 

 to an extent so remarkable, a circumstance associated with its later 

 and earlier growth compared with most of its associates. The spring 

 produce, however, is but trifling, the foliage not attaining much length 

 until the approach of the flowering season. Meadows in which it 

 abounds should be mown when it is in flower, as not only is the bulk 

 of the produce greater at that time, but likewise the proportion of 

 nutritive matter. 



Cattle generally are partial to the Tall Fescue Grass ; and hares are 

 remarkably fond of it, a circumstance deserving attention in forming 



