GRA3IINA. 
91 
long lateral branches. Spikelets green, with the glumes and pales 
narrowly (rarely broadly) edged with purple, and usually with fewer 
florets than in var. a. 
On heaths and in moist woods. Rather common, and generally 
distributed. A'ar. 3 in marshy woods, by the sides of streams, and 
England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer, Autumn. 
Plant growing in dense circular tussocks, composed of closely placed 
tufts, the" base of each of which is enlarged and somewhat bulbous 
and white. Var. a has the stems 6 inches to 2 feet high, destitute 
of knots, except close to the base, where there is a single one. 
Radical leaves none. Leaves few, sheathing the flowering stem about 
as far as the middle, the lower one short, the longest from 2 inches to 1 
foot long by -g to | inch broad, tapering towards the base and apex, very 
acute, fiat, rather stiff, with slender shghtly rough closely placed 
ribs, every third, fourth, or fifth of which is stronger than the others, 
glabrous or sparingly hairy above, dull bluish-green; sheaths shorter 
than the leaves, smooth, often tinged with purple ; ligule rudi- 
mentary, with a few short hairs. Panicle 2 to 10 inches long, narrow. 
Spikelets i to J; inch long, dull purple, sometimes tinged with green, 
2- or 3-flowered; the uppermost floret rudimentary minute. Anthers 
and stigmas purple. 
Var. 0 has the stem 1 to 3 feet high or more. Leaves 6 to 18 inches 
long. Panicle 4 to 18 inches long, with the branches much longer, 
fLiul the spikelets more distant thnn in vnr. 'x. 'jr-^en, with the glumes 
and pales edged with pur{)le. V ' ~ f var. 3 have but a 
single floret,' the plant is the Yi ' dley, which is but 
a starved state of the lax-pai.'. . ilea. It is indeed 
said that M. depauperata ha.-. -read of 3-ribbcd, 
but this is certainly not alway- ■ - . probably an acci- 
dental circumstance in >Ir. Monro - original Clova specimens of M. 
depauperata. 
Purple Mt Uc- Grass. 
French, M»i;n;>^ J.l^ue. German, r.hine MulLile. 
bundles under the ] 
GENUS XXX.— M E L I C A. Lh 
Spikelets stalked, arranged in a nearly simple u 
lose panicle or in a loose open panicle, slightly 
