A broil . p. 24 — Trv. Lotid. FI. p. 99. — Luxf. Reig. FI. p. 9. — Mack.Catal. PI. of 
irel. p. 15. ; FI. Ilibern. p. 309. — Festuca elatior, I. inn. FI. Suec. p.3‘2. — Host. 
Gram. Atisir. v. ii. p.57. t. 79. — Schreb. Resell, tier Grliser. v. i. p. 34. t. 2. — 
Leers' FI. Herb. (2nd edit.) p. 34. t. 8 . f. 6 . — F. elatior , var. 2. pratensis. With, 
(otlr edit.) v. ii. p. 206. — F. fiuitans -y. pratensis, Hu.ls. FI, Angl. (2nd edit.) 
p. 47. — Schedonorus pratensis, Gray’s Nat. Air. v. ii. p. 114 — Lindl. Svn. p. 
312.— G rumen panicululum elatius, spicis long is muticis sguainosis, Ray's 
Syn. p.411.; but not Uauel. lc. t. 25. 
Localities.— I n meadows and pastures. 
Perennial. — Flowers in June and July. 
Root fibrous, tufted. Culms several, upright, from 1 to 2 feet 
high, simple, round, smooth, leafy, bent at the lowest joint only. 
leaves spreading, strap-shaped, pointed, flat, striated ; those on 
the culms rough on both sides. Sheaths striated, very smooth. 
Ligula (stipula) very short, 1 lunt, often torn, decurrent, clasping 
the stem. Panicle nearly upright, branched, spreading, the branches 
inclining to one side, solitary or in pairs, unequal, their pedicels 
rough and compressed ; all closed together after flowering. Spike- 
lets strap-shaped, compressed, of 8 or 9 florets. Glumes (fig. 1.) 
unequal, rather sharp-pointed, keeled, smooth, the larger one egg- 
spear-shaped, with 3 or 5 ribs; the smaller single-ribbed. Outer 
palea (valve of the corolla) cylindrical, keeled, more or less of a 
purplish colour, smooth, except the keel, ending in a membranous 
point, which in the upper florets is sometimes cloven, and attended 
by a short awn ; inner palea downy at the margin. Nectary with 
4 points. Germen (fig. 4.) inversely egg-shaped ; Styles short and 
distant ; Stigmas thick and feathery. Seed loose, spear-shaped, 
pointed, channelled along the upper side. 
This is one of the most valuable of our Grasses, and is highly 
esteemed by all persons practically acquainted with the produce of 
our meadows ; its foliage is juicy, sweet, and abundant, and in 
rather moist situations it will bear the scythe more than twice in the 
season. “ No plant whatever,” says Mr. Salisbury, “ deserves 
so much the attention of the grazier as this grass.” It will grow in 
almost any soil, and all descriptions of cattle eat it, and are nourish- 
ed by it. It is of easy culture, and yields abundance of seed, which 
grows very readily. It is recommended to lay down meadow-land 
with one bushel of this seed, one bushel of Alopecurus pratensis , 
three pounds of Anthoxanthum odoratum (t. 99.), and a little Bro- 
mus mollis, with Clover. Mr. Salisbury informs us, that he made 
some excellent meadows with this seed, which, after a trial of ten 
years, were equal to any in the kingdom. 
From Mr. Sinclair's experiments, it appears that the Meadow Fescue Grass 
at the time of flowering is of greater value than at the time the seed is ripe, pro- . 
portionally, as 3 to 1. That it is of greater value than that of the Meadow Fox- 
tail f Alopecurus pratensis, t. 45.), in the proportion nearly of 11 to 9. That 
the Cock's-foot Grass fDacUjlis glome rata, 1. 108.) is superior in point of pro- 
duce to the Meadow Fescue, in the proportion nearly of 2 to 1. But for grazing, 
Mr. Sinclair observes, the latter-math produce of the Meadow Fescue must 
be brought forward ; in this case it approaches nearer to Cook’s-foot in value, and 
increases its superiority, in point of produce, over the Meadow Foxtail. 
In the vale of Aylesbury it constitutes a considerable portion of the most valu- 
able and fattening pastures of that rich grazing district. 
