292 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



drooping directed to one side. Spikelets greenish-brown. In luxuriant 

 specimens the panicle is sometimes more than 1 foot in length, but 

 in exposed situations not above 6 inches, or even shorter. /3 A. 

 bulbosum (Lindl.) lower joints of the stem swollen into bulb-like 

 knobs, mostly one above the other. Knots of the stem usually 

 pubescent. Panicle branches shorter. This variety is nearly as 

 common in the Districts as the typical form, especially when the 

 plant grows in cultivated ground. 



Triodia, (R. Br.) Heath-grass. 

 Lin. CI. iii. Ord. ii. 



Name. From [tries) three, and (odous,) a tooth ; in reference to 

 the outer pale terminating in three points. 



1, T. decumbens, (Beauv.) decumbent Heath-grass. Engl. Bot. t. 

 792. Barn, Gr. t. 30. 



Locality. On dry hilly pastures and heaths. P. Fl. July. Area, 

 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,. Observed in all the Districts. Whole plant usually 

 prostrate and spreading, the stems only ascending and becoming 

 erect at the time of flowering, when they vary in height from a few 

 inches to 1 foot. Leaves, linear, acuminate, more or less hairy, 

 rough towards the points. Ligule represented by a tuft of hairs. 

 Spikelets few, seldom more than 5 or 6, arranged like a raceme. 

 Glumes very nearly equal, acute, strongly 3-veined, longer than the 

 spikelet. Outer palea, ovate, convex. Inner or upper palea, broad, 

 obtuse. The peculiarity of the ligule is a marked feature, by which 

 this grass may be readily recognized. Its presence is always indi- 

 cative of a poor soil. 



Melica, (Linn.) Meltc-grass. 

 Linn. CI. iii., Ord. ii. 

 Name, Said to be from mel } mellis, (Lat.) honey, the seeds being 

 gweet, 



1, M, uniflora } (Retz)., one flowered Melic-grass. Engl. Bot. t> 

 J.158. Tarn. Gr. t. 18. 



Locality. Shady and rocky woods, and sides of hollow lanes, 

 f . FL Jvne. Area, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 



