956 



THE GRASS FAMILY. 



1. Slender Foxtail. 



Fig. 1157. 



Alopecurus agrestis, Linn. (Fig. 1157.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 848.) 



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 "2 outer glumes united to about the 

 middle, the hair-like awn of the flower- 

 ing one projecting 2 or 3 lines beyond 

 them. 



In waste places, on roadsides, etc., in 

 central and southern Europe and across 

 Russian Asia, extending northward to 

 southern Scandinavia. In Britain, fre- 

 quent in the south of England, decreas- 

 ing northwards ; in Scotland only where 

 accidentally introduced, and not men- 

 tioned in the Irish Flora. Ft. the whole 



2. Meadow Foxtail. Alopecurus pratensis, Linn. (Fig. 1158.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 759.) 



Rootstock perennial and shortly creep- 

 ing, the stems erect or scarcely decum- 

 bent 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 Russian Asia, 

 from the Mediterranean to the Arctic 

 regions, and naturalized in several parts 

 of the globe. Abundant in Britain. Fl. 

 Fig. 1158. spring and summer. 



