Alopecurus.] LXXXIX. GKAMINEiE. 515 



Annual. Outer glumes 3 lines long, united to the middle, gla- 

 brous or nearly so 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 as long 2. A. pratensis. 



Stems procumbent at the base. Outer glumes not 1| lines. 



Awns not twice as long 3. A. geniculatus. 



Spikes short. Awns scarcely exceeding the outer glumes . . 4. A. 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 Kussian 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). Meadow F. — Eootstock 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 lines 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 hair-like awns project 2 to 4 lines 

 beyond the outer glumes. 



In meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and central and 

 Kussian Asia from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, and 

 naturalised in several parts of the globe. Abundant in Britain. Fl. 

 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. Abundant in 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. — Eootstock 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. 



