IIolcus.] LXXXIX. GR AMINES. 525 



In meadows, pastures, and waste places, throughout Europe and pro- 

 bably Russian Asia, except the extreme north. One of the commonest 

 British grasses. Fl. all summer. 



2. H. mollis, Linn. (fig. 1203). Soft U. — Very near H. lanatus, and 

 by some considered as a mere variety. It is not generally so downy, 

 although the hairs on the joints are rather more conspicuous, the 

 spikelets are larger, the outer glumes taper to a fine point, and the 

 awn of the upper flowering glume usually projects beyond the outer 

 ones. 



In similar situations with II. lanatus, and with nearly the same 

 geographical area, but much less common. Generally distributed 

 over Britain, but not abundant, and in some parts rare. Fl. summer. 



XXI. CYNODON. CYNODON. 



Spikelets 1-flowered, awnless, sessile along one side of the simple, 

 spike-like branches of the panicle, which all proceed from nearly the 

 same point, so as to appear digitate. At the base of the palea is a 

 small bristle or prolongation of the axis, sometimes bearing a very 

 minute rudimentary glume. 



A genus of very few species, perhaps all varieties of a single one, 

 readily known by the digitate spikes from all British Grasses except the 

 Digitaria set of Panicums, and from them by the spikelets arranged 

 singly, not in pairs, along the spikes. 



1. O. Dactylon, Pers. (fig. 1204). Creeping Cynodon. — A prostrate 

 Grass, often creeping and rooting to a great extent ; the flowering 

 stems shortly ascending, with short leaves of a glaucous green. Panicle 

 of 3 to 5 slender spikes, each 1 to 1J inches long. Spikelets less than a 

 line long ; the outer glumes nearly equal, open, narrow and pointed. 

 Flowering glume rather longer and much broader, becoming hardened 

 when in fruit, smooth on the sides, rather rough on the keel and edges. 

 Fibichia umbellata, Koch. 



In cultivated and waste places, especially near the sea, very common 

 in southern Europe and in all hot countries [where it is known as 

 Bermuda Grass], extending sparingly into northern France and central 

 Germany. In Britain, on the sandy southern coasts of England. Fl. 

 summer and autumn. 



XXII. SPARTINA. SPARTINA. 



Spikelets 1-flowered, much flattened, and awnless, sessile along one 

 side of the simple branches of a long, spike-like panicle. Glumes long 

 and narrow, strongly keeled, the palea as long as or longer than the 

 flowering glume. 



A small genus, chiefly American, and almost confined to seacoasts. 



1. S. stricta, Sm. (fig. 1205). Cordgrass.—A stiff, erect Grass, with 

 a creeping rootstock, and rather short, erect leaves, flat excepting at 

 the top when fresh, the edges always rolled inwards when dry. Panicel 

 3 or 4 inches long, consisting of from 2 to 4 erect, spike-like branches ; 

 spikelets arranged alternately in 2 rows along these branches, sessile 



