966 



THK GRASS FAMILY. 



with long, narrow, somewhat glaucous 

 leaves. Panicle branched, but not spread- 

 ing, except whilst in full flower, from a 

 few inches to near a foot long, with nume- 

 rous crowded spikelets, often assuming a 

 purplish tint. Outer glumes very narrow 

 lanceolate and pointed, almost subulate, 

 both near 3 lines long. Flowering glume 

 thin, its awn very short and slender, in- 

 serted some way from the top, and 

 scarcely distinguishable from the long 

 silky hairs which envelope the flower. 



In moist, open places, in woods and 

 thickets, and amongst bushes, spread 

 over the greater part of Europe and 

 Russian Asia from the Mediterranean to 

 the Arctic regions. Abundant in some 

 parts of southern England and Ireland, 

 but not generally common, and rare in 

 Scotland. Fl. summer. 



Fig.. 1171. 



2. Purple Smallreed. Calamagrostis lanceolata, Roth. 

 (Fig. 1172.) 



(Arundo Calamagrostis y Eng. Bot. t. 2159.) 



A tall grass, like the last, and not 

 always readily distinguished from it. It 

 is usually more slender, with flat, flaccid 

 leaves. Panicle much looser, 5 or 6 

 inches long, with slender branches, and 

 more often assuming a shining purple 

 colour. Outer glumes about 2 or some- 

 times 2J lines long, narrow-lanceolate* 

 but broader than in the wood S. Flower- 

 ing glume nearly as in that species, but 

 the awn is inserted close to the cleft 

 summit. 



In moist woods, and shady places, in 

 northern and central Europe, and Rus- 

 sian Asia, from northern France and the 

 Alps to the Arctic regions. Dispersed, 

 over several parts of England, but not 

 so common as the wood $., and unknown 

 in Ireland or Scotland. FL summer. 



