p. 102. — Sibtli. FI. Oxon. p. 46, — Abbot’s FI. Bedf. p. 22. — Poa decumbent. With. 
(3rded.) v. ii. p. 147. — Engl. Bot. t. 792 — Knapp’s Gr. Brit. t. 59. — Sin. FI. Brit, 
v. i. p. 107. — With. (5th ed.) v. ii. p. 194. — Thomps. l’l. Berw. p. 12. — Davies’ 
Welsh Bot. p. 10. — Host. Gr. Austr. v. ii. p. 52. t. 72. — Furt. Midi. FI. v. i. p. 
p. 81. — -Relh. FI. Cant. (3rd ed.) p. 37. — Ilook. FI. Scot. p. 36. — Grev. FI. Edin. 
p. 24. — Perry’s PI. Varvic. Sel. p. 9. — Mack. Catal. PI. of Irel. p. 14. — Melica 
decumbens, Web. Gott. p. 3. — Gramen avenaceum parvum procumbens, pa- 
niculis non aristatis, Kay’s Syn. p. 408. — Pluk. Phyt. t. 34. f. 1. — Gramen 
triticeum jialustre humilius, spied breviore, Moris, v. iii. p. 177. sect. 8. 1. 1. f. 6. 
Localities. — In bogs, barren sandy pastures, and on heaths, both in dry and 
moist situations ; frequent. 
Perennial. — Flowers in July and August. 
Root slightly creeping, fibrous. Culms from 4 to 18 inches long, 
decumbent, except when in flower, harsh, rigid, jointed, leafy, 
striated, and smooth. Leaves strap-shaped, taper-pointed, striated, 
rather glaucous, smooth, except towards the point, where the rib 
and edges are very rough. Sheaths long, striated, hairy especially 
near the top, entirely divided. Ligula ( stipula ) a tuft of hairs 
(see fig. 9). Panicle very simple, its branches angular, wavy and 
roughish. Spikelets few, turgid, of a violet tinge, containing about 
4 florets. Calyx-glumes spear-shaped, equal, with a roughish keel. 
The Corolla (see fig. 3.) has two or more dense tufts of shining 
bristles at its base, with two intermediate depressions. Outer Palea 
with three teeth at the apex, the middle one shortest. 
Mr. Sinclair says, that this Grass appears to be but little sus- 
ceptible of improvement by being transplanted to a richer soil ; that 
it never appeared to be cropped by the Deer in the Park at Woburn ; 
and that it is late in the production of foliage in the Spring, and 
produces little after-grass, and is not, therefore, to be recommended 
for cultivation. 
The Natural Order Geaminfai is composed of glumaeeous monocotyledon- 
ous plants, with cylindrical, fistular stems (culms), closed at the joints, and 
covered with a coat of silex. Their leaves are alternate, one at each joint, with 
a sheath slit longitudinally on one side, having a membranous appendage (ligula) 
at its summit. Their flowers are small, and are disposed in spikes, panicles, or 
racemes, which are more or less branched ; they are usually perfect, but some- 
times monoecious or polygamous, and consist of imbricated bracteas, of which 
the most exterior are called glumes (calyx, Linn.9 (fig. 1.), the interior imme- 
diately enclosing the stamens Palece ( corolla , Linn . J (fig. 2.), and the inner- 
most at the base of the ovary scales (nectary, Linn-9 (fig. 5.). The glumes 
are usually 2 in number, and alternate ; sometimes single, most commonly un- 
equal, and enclose 1 or many florets (see fig. 2). The florets (fig. 3 ) consist of 
2 alternate palece, the lower or exterior one simple, the upper or interior one 
composed of 2 united by their contiguous margins, and usually with two keels. 
The nectary, when present, consists of 2 scales (see fig. 5.), which are collateral, 
alternate with the pale®, and next the lower of them ; either distinct or united. 
The stamens are hypogynous (situated below the. germen). The anthers are 
versatile; the ovary is single; with 2, very rarely 1 or 3, styles ; and feathery 
or hairy stigmas. Th e pericarp usually forms one body with the seed ; and the 
embryo is lateral, on one side at the base of the farinaceous albumen. See 
Lindl. Syn. and Hook. Brit. FI., 4th edit. 
This family is one of the most natural in the vegetable kingdom, and also one 
of the highest importance to mankind, as it is composed of the true Grasses ; among 
which are wheat, rye, oats, barley, maize, panick, rice, millet, &c. It is ex- 
emplified in the following plates of this work ; viz. — t. 45 — 56 — 59 — 64 — 68 — 99 — 
104—108—112—116 — 144 — 148 — 184—192—200—203—208—211—216—247— 
252—256—288—292—300 — 324—332—344—348—372—408—412—416—444— 
448—462 —476—480— 488 — 492—496. 
