43 



STIPA PENNATA. 



LlNNiEUS. HoOKEK AND AllNOTT. SlIITH. PaENELL. HUDSON. 



Witheeing. Hull. Willdenow. Knapp. Sinclair. Schbadeb. 

 Kocn. Lindley. Babingtos. 



plate XIII. 



Spartum austriacum, Geuabde. 



G-ramen sparteum pennatam, Bauhin. Dillenius. 



The Common Feather- Grass. 



Stipa — Tow or flax, (from the Greek.) Pennata. Penna — A feather. 



Stipa. LinncBus. — Panicle upright and contracted. Glumes membrana- 

 ceous, two in number, longer than the floret. Floret stipulate. Glumellas 

 cartilaginous; exterior glumella involute, ending in a twisted awn of great 

 length, which is jointed at the base. There is only a solitary representative 

 of this genus in Great Britain, and that one very rare. The name is derived 

 from the Greek, signifying a flaxen appearance, in reference to the present 

 species — Stipa pennata. 



An exceedingly rare British Grass, of but little agricultural 

 value. It was first discovered on rocks in Long Sleadale, 

 Westmorland, by Dr. Richardson and Mr. Lawson, in the time 

 of Dillenius, and from that time there seems to be no re-discovery 

 of it. Lately, however, Mr. Joseph Sidcbotham has forwarded 

 me specimens gathered in corn-fields near Hebden Bridge, 

 Yorkshire, where he informs me it is found growing wild, 

 although rare. 



From the extreme beauty of this species it is extensively 

 cultivated in our gardens, and its flowers gathered to ornament 

 our drawing-rooms during winter. 



Stipa pennata grows in dry sandy situations. It is found in 

 many parts of Germany. 



I 



