39 



GASTRIDIUM LENDIGERUM. 



Beauvois. Hooker and Aenott. Pabnell. Gaudichaud. Lindley. 

 Link. Babington. 



plate xi. b. 



Gastridium australe, Beauvois. Kuntii. 



Milium lendigerum, Linn;eus. Smith. Willdenow. 



" " Scheebeb. Hull. 



Agrosiis ventricosa, Knafp. Gouan. 



" australis, Linn.eus. 



" rubra, Hudson. 



Alopecurus ventricosus, Hudson. 



The Nit Grass. 



Gastridium — A swelling. Lendigerum — Maggot-bearing. 



Gasteidium. Beauvois. — A solitary Grass of this genus belongs to Great 

 Britain, the Gastridium lendigerum; having a spiked contracted panicle, 

 with two ventrieose, acute, awnless glumes, which are membranaceous, keeled 

 upwards, and considerably longer than the floret. Glumellas two, also 

 membranaceous. Named from the Greek, in allusion to a little swelling which 

 occurs at the base of the spikelet. 



A somewhat rare species, having a glossy swollen appearance 

 at the base of the glumes. Found in open fields where water 

 has stagnated, and more especially near the sea. 



Found in Norfolk, Essex, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Devonshire, 

 Dorsetshire, Hampshire, Somersetshire, Gloucestershire, Denbigh, 

 and Flint. Isle of Wight, abundant. Isle of Sheppy. 



Abroad it is a native of France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, 

 Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Northern Africa, and the 

 Mediterranean Islands. 



It has not been found either in Scotland or Ireland. 



Of no use as an agricultural Grass. 



