Alopecurus. | LXXXIX. GRAMINE. 515 
Annual. Outer glumes 3 lines long, united to the middle, gla- 
brous or nearly so Ras jG 3 ; 3 ; 5 . 1, A. agrestis. 
Perennials or rarely annuals. Outer glumes less than 3 lines, 
free or united at the base only ; the keel hairy. 
Spikes long. Awns more or less prominent. 
Stem erect or nearly so. Outer glumes lanceolate, about 2 
lines. Awns twice aslong . . 2. A. pratensis. 
Stems procumbent at the base. Outer glumes not 1} lines. 
Awns not twice as long ‘ . 8. A. geniculatus. 
Spikes short. Awns scarcely exceeding the outer glumes . . 4A. alpinus. 
1. A. agrestis, Linn. (fig.1175). Slender F.—An annual, 1 to 2 feet 
high, erect or slightly decumbent at the base. Leaves rather short, 
with long, not very loose sheaths. Spike 2 to 3 inches long, thinner 
and more pointed than in the other species ; the spikelets fewer, longer 
(about 3 lines), not so flat nor so closely imbricated, and usually quite 
glabrous; the two outer glumes united to about the middle, the hair- 
like awn of the flowering one projecting 2 or 3 lines beyond them. 
In waste places, on roadsides, &c., in central and southern Europe 
and across Russian Asia, extending northward to southern Scandinavia. 
In Britain, frequent in the south of England, decreasing northwards ; 
in Scotland and Ireland only where introduced. Fl. the whole season. 
2. A. pratensis, Linn. (fig. 1176). Mécadow F.—Rootstock perennial 
and shortly creeping, the stems erect or scarcely decumbent at the 
base, 1 to 2 feet high. Sheaths of the upper leaves rather loose. 
Spike 2 to 3 inches long, very dense, rather obtuse; the spikelets very 
numerous and flat, 2 to nearly 3 lnes long. Outer glumes free or 
scarcely united at the base, with short hairs on the keel, which give to 
the spike a soft, hairy aspect. The nair-like awns project 2 to 4 lines 
beyond the outer glumes. 
In meadows and pastures, throughout Hurope and central and 
Russian Asia from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, and 
naturalised in several parts of the globe. Abundant in Britain. FY. 
spring and summer. | 
3. A. geniculatus, Linn. (fig. 1177). Marsh F.—A perennial like 
A. pratensis, or sometimes annual. Stems usually procumbent at the 
base, bending upwards at the lower nodes. Sheaths of the upper 
leaves rather loose. Spike 1 to 2 inches long, closely imbricated like 
that of A. pratensis, but more slender, with much smaller spikelets. 
Outer glumes hairy on the keel, not so pointed as in A. pratensis, and 
scarcely above a line long, the hair-like awns not projecting above a 
line beyond them. 
In moist meadows, and marshy places, throughout Europe and tem- 
perate Asia from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, and natural- 
ised in other parts of the globe. Abundantin Britain. Fl. all summer. 
A slight variety, with still shorter awns, has been described under the 
name of A. fulvus, Sm. ; and in some localities, especially near the sea, 
the stems thicken at the base into a kind of bulb, which state has also 
been distinguished as a species, under the name of A. bulbosus, Gouan. 
4, A. alpinus, Sm. (fig. 1178). Alpine F.—Rootstock creeping and 
stems erect, as in A. pratensis, but usually not so tall, and the sheaths 
of the upper leaves looser. Spike ovoid or shortly cylindrical, seldom 
above an inch long unless cultivated, and softly silky with the rather 
long hairs which cover the glumes, Spikelets closely imbricated, 
