34 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF BRITISH GRASSES. 
Rererences.—A refers to an annual grass, or such as dies when it has 
produced its first crop of flowers. 
B, biennial, such as flower two years, and then die. 
P, perennial, such as flower for several years. 
A.—Stamens, 2. Sryzus, 2. 
ANTHOXANTHUM — panicle spicate, glumes unequal, 
glumel double, outer one with short awns.—P. 
A. odoratwn—sweet vernal grass—is the only agricultural 
species in this division; it is a very early grass, being one 
of the first to flower, and is well known for its peculiar 
fragrant odour, which is more apparent in the dried than in 
the green specimens: it is the presence of this grass which 
imparts most of the grateful smell and flavour to meadow-hay, 
and which in all probability renders it not only more palat- 
able but also more nutritious than “seeds”’ or artificial hay. 
Its bulk is small, so that it adds but little weight to the 
rick, and its short leaves are incapable of affording much 
aftermath ; still its fragrance entitles it to a place in all 
mixtures of grasses in laying down permanent pasture. 
B.—Sramens, 3. Srrzz, 1. 
Narpus—glume absent, glwmel of two valves, spike 
unilateral.—P. 
N. stricta—heath grass—occurs on damp heaths or marshy 
places, and is readily distinguished by its slender unilateral 
spike with flowers all pointing one way. Of no agricultural 
value, except as indicating the nature of its soil. 
C.—Stamens, 3. Sryuzs, 2. 
t+ Flowers spiked. 
ALOPEcURUS—glumes nearly equal, united at the base; 
glumel of asingle valve, awned from below; spike 
compact. 
1. A. pratensis—meadow foxtail—spike cylindrical, blunt 
at the apex, about 2 inches in length.—P. 
