962 



THE GRASS FAMILY. 



in the southern hemisphere. Abundant 

 in Britain. Fl. the lohole summer. Be- 

 sides the great differences in size and 

 stature, it varies in the more or less 

 spreading panicle of a light-green or 

 purplish colour, in the length of the 

 ligula of the leaves, in the degree of 

 prominence of the nerv r es of the glumes 

 and the roughness of their keel, and in 

 other minute particulars ; but all at- 

 tempts to combine these characters so 

 as to show distinct species, or even to 

 separate marked and permanent varie- 

 ties, have hitherto failed. 



Fig. 1165. 



2. Brown Agrostis. Agrostis canina, Linn. (Fig. 11(56.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1856.) 



Yery near the common A., but the 

 leaves are rather finer, the panicle less 

 spreading, the outer glumes longer and 

 more pointed ; the flowering one bears 

 on its back below the middle a fine awn, 

 which slightly protrudes beyond the 

 outer glumes, and the palea is very mi- 

 nute or wholly wanting. 



With the common A., of which it may 

 be a mere variety, and has apparently 

 the same geographical range, but not 

 generally common except perhaps in 

 some mountain districts. Spread over 

 the whole of Britain. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 1166. 



3. Bristle Agrostis. Agrostis setacea, Curt. (Fig. 1167.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1188.) 



A perennial, with densely tufted leaves, mostly radical, and very 

 finely subulate. Stems erect, 1 to 2 feet high, with a narrow, slender 



