144 FESTUCA PRATENSIS. 



France, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Lapland, 

 and the United States. 



Stem upright, circular, smooth, and striated, bearing four or 

 five lanceolate, acute, flat leaves, with smooth striated sheaths, 

 upper sheath extending considerably beyond its leaf. Joints 

 four. Inflorescence simple-panicled. Spikelets somewhat ovate, 

 and of five or six florets. Calyx of two acute, unequal, smooth 

 glumes, and three-ribbed. Florets of two equal palese, exterior 

 one of basal floret somewhat longer than the calyx; five-ribbed 

 and membranous. Length from fifteen to twenty-four inches. 

 Root perennial and fibrous. 



Flowers at the end of May, and seeds ripe at the end of July. 



The illustration is from a specimen given to me by Dr. Wilson, 

 of Nottingham. 



