109 



FBSTncA SYLVATiCA. Reed Fescue Grass. Plate XC. 



Panicle repeatedly branched, spreading, erect. Spikelets oblong, 

 of three to five awnless acute flowers. Lower palea scabrous, three- 

 veined, the middle vein serrulate. Leaves lanceolate-linear with scab- 

 rous margins. 



Festuca sylvatioa, Villars. Hooker and ArnoU. Balington. Bentham. 

 Festuca Cakmaria, Smith. E. B. 1005; ed. 2. 147. Sche- 

 donorous sylvaticus, Beauvois. Lindley. Poa sylvatica, Parnell. 



Far from unfrequent in mountainous and rocky woods in the north- 

 west parts of England, the southern and middle counties of Scotland, 

 and in Ireland, growing chiefly in places retentive of moisture. It is 

 found in similar situations throughout central Europe. It forms coarse 

 reed-like tufts, having a tendency to spread by creeping. Stems erect, 

 round, roughish, slender, sometimes three or four feet high. Leaves 

 broad, flat, tapering to a point, very long, roughish on both sides. 

 Ligule, prominent, obtuse. The lower part of the flower-stems is 

 always clothed with imbricated, broad, acute scales, of a brown colour, 

 and more or less glossy. Panicle four to six inches long, occasionally 

 slightly drooping at the extremity ; its branches spread widely when in " 

 flower. Spikelets distant, rarely less than three- or four-flowered. 

 Lower or outer palea very acute, the middle vein rarely extending 

 beyond its termination ; the inner palea about equal in length, folded 

 along the middle, minutely fringed on the margins. 



Perennial. Flowers in July. 



The above synonyms indicate the varied opinions of botanists con- 

 cerning this species, as well as the uncertainty in which the whole 

 genus Festuca is involved. 



Cows and horses will eat the leaves of the ReedorWood Fescue Grass, 

 especially in the early part of the year while they are soft and tender ; 

 but though the produce is most abundant, in the condition of hay it is 

 worthless, and otherwise unworthy the attention of the agriculturist. 



Festuca decidua. Deciduous Fescue Grass. Plate XCI. 



A mere variety of Festuca sylvatica, with narrower leaves and the 

 spikelets usually only two-flowered. 



I am only acquainted with this grass through the figure and descrip- 

 tion in ' English Botany,' tab. 2266, and a single dried specimen, 

 from neither of which does it appear to differ essentially from the 

 preceding. The habit, however, is sufficiently varied to warrant the 

 republication of that figure as a guide to future observers. 



**** Radical leaves flat, broader than those of the culm. Awn 

 absent, or arising from below the summit of the outer palea. 

 Ligule of the uppermost leaf very short, or obsolete. Outer palea 

 five-veined. 



Bucetum — Parnell. 



