112 



mens, they might easily pass as confirmed varieties if not as distinct 

 species. 



It will be observed, on comparison of the descriptions of the Meadow 

 and the Tall Fescues, that they approach very closely to each other, 

 habit or general aspect being the chief distinction between them. 

 Independent, however, of the greater height of the one before us, its 

 leaves are twice the size of those of F. pratensis, from which it farther 

 differs in having a much more branched panicle, which spreads more 

 equally in all directions, and is less erect in the mass ; the spikelets 

 too are less compressed, and the flowers more constant and distinctly 

 awned. The importance attaching to such distinctions, may, on the 

 broad scale, be somewhat equivocal, and this is evidently the view of 

 Mr. Bentham, who cpnsiders F. prafensis a variety of F. elatior. I 

 am almost inclined to agree with him. 



Eestuca gigantea. Tall Bearded Fescue Grrass. Plate XCIV. 



Panicle branched, drooping. Spikelets lanceolate, compressed, 

 about five- or six-flowered. Lower palea five-veined ; the middle 

 vein terminating below the apex in a scabrous awn much longer than 

 the palea. Leaves linear-lanceolate, ribbed. 



Festuca gigantea, Villars. E. B. 1820 ; ed. 2. 146. Hooker and 

 Arnott. Babington. Bucetum giganteum, Parnell. Bromus gi- 

 ganteus, Linnceus. Hooker. Bentham. 



Not'unfrequent in moist woods and thickets, especially where the 

 ground is well shaded, and not much affected by the summer drought. 

 It is somewhat inclined to creep at the root. The round, striated 

 stems grow to the height of three or four feet. The leaves are very 

 long, broad, and more or less strongly ribbed ; rough on both sides, 

 except near the base on the outer surface. Ligule unequal, auricled. 

 Inflorescence often very much branched, loose, and drooping towards 

 one side, the lower branches growing generally in pairs upon the 

 rough rachis. Spikelets lanceolate, or inclining to ovate, pointed, 

 compressed ; usually consisting of five or six flowers. The outer 

 palea is more or less distinctly five-veined, the four lateral veins all 

 terminating below the apex, which is membranaceous and usually 

 bifid; the middle vein extends below the cleft into a strong, rough 

 awn, considerably longer than the palea, a character by which this 

 grass is at once distinguishable from others belonging to this section 

 of the genus Festuca. 



Perennial. Flowers towards the end of July. 



It is a coarse grass and of no agricultural value, as it dwindles in 

 size and becomes more rigid when cultivated in open ground, and, 

 though eaten by cattle in default of more grateful and palatable herb- 

 age, is deficient in the elements of nutrition. Horses and cows will 

 often reject hay in which it is mingled. The seeds afi^ord food to many 

 of the smaller birds. 



