GRAMINEjE. 



957 



3. Marsh Foxtail. Alopeourus geniculatus, Linn. 

 (Fig. 1159.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1250.) 



A perennial like the meadow F., or 

 sometimes annual. Stem usually pro- 

 cumbent at the base, bending upwards 

 at the lower nodes. Sheaths of the up- 

 per leaves rather loose. Spike 1 to 2 

 inches long, closely imbricated like that 

 of the meadow F., but more slender, 

 with much smaller spikelets. Outer 

 glumes hairy on the keel, not so pointed 

 as in the meadow F., and scarcely above 

 a line long, the hair-like awns not pro- 

 jecting above a line beyond them. 



In moist meadows, and marshy places, 

 throughout Europe and Russian Asia 

 from the Mediterranean to the Arctic 

 regions, and naturalized in other parts 

 of the globe. Abundant iu Britain. Fl. 

 all summer. A slight variety, with still 

 shorter awns, has been described under 

 the name of A.fulvus (Eng. Bot. t. 1467), and in some localities, es- 

 pecially 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 (Eng. Bot, t. 1249). 



Fig. 1159. 



4. Alpine Foxtail. Alopecurus alpinus, Sm. (Fig. 1160.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t, 1126.) 



Hootstock creeping and stems erect, as in the meadow F., 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. Spike- 

 lets closely imbricated, rather smaller than in the meadow F.; the 

 awns either included within the outer glumes or scarcely projecting 

 beyond them. 



