CHAPTER II 
British Species 
THE grasses that we shall first describe are those which constitute 
the mass of the verdure of our meadows and pastures. With the 
exception of the last three or four, the species comprising this 
group are very abundant in all parts of Britain. Festuca durius- 
cula, Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata, Poa pratensis and P. 
trivialis, Cynosurus cristatus, Holcus lanatus, and Agvostis vul- 
garzs, flourish in various other habitats, besides meadows and 
pastures — by roadsides, in waste places and on heathy uplands 
—and are apparently indifferent both to soil and situation, ex- 
cepting Agrostis vulgaris and Poa 
pratensts which are partial to dry 
ground, and Poa ¢rivialis which 
luxuriates in damp places. The 
first five species above-named, and 
Anthoxanthum odoratum, are also 
common in woods. 
Anthoxanthum odoratum, the 
Sweet-scented Vernal-grass (fig. 13), 
is the first of our perennials to flower. 
The rootstock is tufted; leaves flat, 
tapering above, usually hairy on both 
surfaces, dull light green; auricles 
minute, roundish, or reduced to hair- 
tufts ; ligule truncate. Culms about 
a foot high. Panicle  spike-like, 
with extremely short branches, rather 
| uneven below, 2-2} inches long, yel- 
J’ lowish-green. Spikelets 4 inch long, 
terete, 1-flowered; second empty 
glume much larger than the lowest, 
: $6 , and as long as the spikelet ; third 
tunes pie Manerantin dere. and fourth glumes empty, dorsally 
enlarged spikelet, above; below, to awned, brown and hairy ; awns un- 
left, the same with two lowest empty equal, the longer bent, twisted, and 
glumes removed; below, to right, z f 5 . 
flowering glume and palea, much SOMetimes slightly exceeding the tip 
magnified. of the spikelet; flowering glume 
; minute, awnless; stamens, two. 
This grass is fragrant when bruised or withering, and imparts an 
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