Agrostis.] LXXXIX. GRAMINE. 519 
In fields and sandy pastures, in Europe and Russian Asia, from the 
Mediterranean to the Arctic regions. In Britain, confined to some of 
the eastern counties of England, from York to Hampshire. Fl. summer, 
The A. interrupta, Beauv., is a slight variety, with the spikelets more 
crowded, in a narrow panicle, with nearly erect branches. The anthers 
are also said to be shorter, but that character is very variable. It is 
often found with the common form passing gradually into it. 
XIV. GASTRIDIUM. NITGRASS. 
A single species, separated from Agrostis on account of the smooth, 
shining, enlarged base of the outer glumes. 
1. G. lendigerum, Beauv. (fig. 1187). Nitgrass.—An elegant, erect 
annual, 6 to 8 inches high, with flat leaves. Panicle contracted into 
a loose tapering spike, 2 to 3 inches long, of a pale green, shining with 
a satiny or silvery lustre. Spikelet very crowded. Outer glumes nearly 
2 lines long, narrow, and very pointed, with a short, very shining en- 
largement at the base, the second glume shorter than the lowest. 
Flowering glume very short, broad, and thin, often bearing below the 
summit an awn about the length of the outer glume, but as often with- 
out it. Palea nearly as long. 
In fields and waste places, especially near the sea, but occasionally 
also inland along the valleys of large rivers. Very common in the 
Mediterranean region, extending up western France, and in Britain, to 
South Wales, Warwickshire, and Norfolk... Fl. swmmer. 
XV. PSAMMA. MARAM. 
A single species, sometimes united with Calamagrostis, but more 
frequently considered as a distinct genus, characterised by the in- 
florescence, the firmer consistence of the glumes, without any awn to 
the flowering one. 
1. P. arenaria, Beauv. (fig. 1188). Maram, Sea Matweed.—Root- 
stock creeping. Stems stiff, erect, 2 to 3 feet high, with narrow, 
stiff, erect, and glaucous leaves, concave, or rolled inwards on their 
edges. Panicle contracted into a close, narrow-cylindrical spike, 5 or 6 
inches long, tapering to the top. Spikelets crowded, 4 or 5 lines long, 
the outer glumes lanceolate, compressed, stiff, and chaffy. Flowering 
olume rather shorter, but equally stiff, with a tuft of hairs outside on 
the axis of the spikelet. Palea nearly as long, with a minute hairy 
bristle, or prolongation of the axis at its base. Ammophila arundinacea, 
Host. 
On maritime sands, common on all the coasts of Europe, except the 
extreme north, and in North America. Frequent on the British sea- 
coasts. Fl. summer. [P. baltica, R. and 8§., is a variety or closely allied 
species found on the Norfolk and Northumberland coasts, with a larger 
interrupted panicle and more lanceolate and acuminate glumes. ] 
