By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 



283 



the specific name and its occasional English one of Kneed-water- 

 grass. Leaves variable in length, the sheath of the upper one in- 

 flated as in the species of this genus generally. Ligule oblong. 

 Spikes 1 to 2 inches long. Glumes united at the base. Anthers 

 purple or violet, changing to dull yellow or rust colour. A. genicu- 

 lates is a plant of variable character, as is frequently the case with 

 others of aquatic habit. 



3. A. fulvus (Sm.) ; tawny Fox- tail-grass. Engl. Bot. t. 1467. 

 Tarn. Gr. t. 5. 



Locality. On the sides of ponds and ditches, floating on the sur- 

 face. P. FL June, September. Area, * * * '* 5. 



North Division. 



5. North-east District. By the side of the canal between Swindon 

 and Cricklade. " Chiseldon/' Marlb. Nat. Hist. Report. Very local 

 in the County. Closely allied to the last species, A. geniculates, but 

 it is a more luxuriant plant, with broader foliage, and larger flower- 

 spikes. Stems 1 to 2 feet long decumbent at the lower part. Ligule 

 oblong. Spikes pale green, 2 to 3 inches long. Anthers at first 

 white, when ripe deep orange colour, rendering the plant very con- 

 spicuous at a considerable distance when in flower. 



4. A. agrestis (Linn.), field, or slender Fox- tail-grass, Black-grass. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 848. Parn. t. 3. 



Locality. Fields and way-sides. A. Fl. April, November. Area, 

 \, 2, 3, 4, 5. A very troublesome weed. Readily known by its 

 annual root, attenuate panicles or spikes frequently of a purplish 

 colour, and by the lanceolate acute glumes, united to the middle, 

 which are glabrous, or a little rough at the keel. Glumes quite 

 smooth. [A. pronus (Mitten) should be looked for in the county. 

 According to Dr. Hooker, in the " Student's Flora/' it is a "prostrate 

 form " of A. pratensis.~] 



Nardtjs (Linn.) Mat-geass. 

 Linn. CI. iii., Ord. i. 

 Name. From Nardus, the Latin name of a shrub, yielding spike- 

 nard. Why applied to this scentless grass it is difficult to say. 

 1. N. stricta (Linn) close-spiked Mat-grass. Str ictus (Lat.) is 



