Root creeping, fibrous. Culms ( stems J upright, slender, 3 or 4 
feet high, round, jointed, leafy, smooth. Leaves bright green, 
from 4 to 9 inches or a foot long, and about one-third of an inch 
broad, terminating gradually in a fine point ; fiat, with a single rib 
and rough edges. Sheath striated, smooth. Ligula (slipula) ob- 
long, blunt, often jagged. Panicle large, often a foot long, and 
8 inches wide, upright, loose, spreading, very much scattered from 
the various lengths of the secondary foot-stalks, which grow in 
half whorls, and give the plant an airy, light, and elegant appear- 
ance. Flowers solitary, egg-shaped, slightly drooping. Calyx 
(fig. 1.) permanently green, roughish, of 2 elliptical, expanded, 
concave, ribbed, nearly equal glumes. Corolla (see fig. 2.) nearly 
the shape and size of the calyx, to which it is opposite, not con- 
trary ; at first of a greenish-white, polished ; after flowering yel- 
lowish and horny, the larger palea embracing the other, and both 
together forming a shining hard coat to the seed. Awn none. 
Nectary a deeply cloven membrane. Anthers deeply cloven at 
each end, of a yellow colour. Styles (see fig. 3.) short, combined. 
Stigmas feathery, white. — Mr. G. Sinclair says, that the branches 
of the panicle are often in whorls, diverging by glands fixed in the 
axils, which has caused it to be mistaken sometimes for Poa relro- 
Jlexa, or P. distans. 
“ This Grass, in its natural state, seems to be confined to woods 
as its place of growth ; it will thrive and grow, however, when 
transplanted to open exposed situations. It is remarkable for the 
lightness of its produce in proportion to its bulk. Birds are re- 
markably fond of the seeds ; so much so, as to raise a doubt 
whether, for the sake of the seed only, it could be cultivated to ad- 
vantage on the farm. But in covers, where game is preserved, 
there cannot be a better grass encouraged, as it will save the corn- 
fields. 
“ About the beginning of August is the best season for sowing 
the seed. The surface of the ground, near the roots of the bushes, 
should be lightly stirred, and the seed scattered over it, and raked 
in ; a few of the decaying leaves that cover the ground should be 
afterwards thrown over it. 
“ It flowers in the second week and latter end of June, and the 
seed is ripe in the middle of July and beginning of August.” 
Hort. Gram. Wob. 
Mr. Knapp observes, that the word ‘ effusus’ is not inaptly given 
to this Millet-grass, as the abundance of its seed sufficiently bears 
witness, and that from its quantity it merits some attention. Do- 
mestic poultry might perhaps thrive upon it ; or it might be given 
with advantage to swine, and tend to diminish the consumption of 
bread corn ; a desideratum that defective seasons have rendered 
distressingly necessary. Its foliage is eaten by cattle, but the 
quantity of herbage it produces is too small to render it an object 
of attention to the Farmer ; and from its creeping root it would, 
if introduced into meadows, occupy the place of much more pro- 
ductive species. 
