land; Maryport and Allonby : Hutchinson.— Devon; F.xe and Clyst rivers 
near their junction, abundant : FI. Devon. — Dorset ; On the eastern side of t he 
Backwater, near Weymouth. On the Weymouth side, near Portland Ferry: 
Rev. A. Bloxam . — Durham ; On the salt-marshes of Tyne, Wear, and Tees : 
N. J. Winch, Esq. — Essex; Near Maldon: Mr. Dai.e, in Ray's Syn . — 
Kent ; In dykes, near or distant from the coast, connected with the sea by tide 
or inundation. Varieties, in the military canal ; on sandy ground near the turn- 
pike on the New Road to Folkstone. In a dyke by the road-side, Dimchurch 
East. In dykes at New Romney. Between Sandwich and Deal: Rev. G. E. 
Smith. About Nortlifleet, abundantly: Mr. W. Ramplin, in N. B. G. Be- 
tween Plumstead and Eritli : J. P'. Young, in FI. Metr. In the Isle of Shepey : 
Mr. W. Curtis.— Middlesex ; In the Isle of Dogs: FI. Metr . — Common in 
Norfolk. — Northumberland; Sea-coast near Beal; and on the salt-marshes 
of Tyne : N. J. Winch, Esq. — Somersetsh. Plentiful in ditches overflowed by 
the Parret; near Westonzoyland ; near Bridgewater and Middlezoy; salt- 
marshes, Brean Down: J. C. Collins, in N. B. G.— Stojffbrdsh. Shirley 
Wych, near Stafford : Dr. Stokes. — Surrey; Near Battersea : Mr. W.Pamp- 
lin, jun. — In Sussex : Itev. G. E. Smith. — Worcestersh. Marshes and ditches 
about Badsey : Rev. Mr. Rcfforo, in Midi. FI. — WALES. In Anglesea ; 
Rev. H. Davies. — Denbighsh. On the North Coast: J. E. Bowman, Esq. in 
N. B. G. — Merionethsh. Marshes between Harlech and Barmouth : J. Ander- 
son, in N. B. G. — Monmonthsh. Near Pontnewvdd Works: Mr. C. Conway, 
in N. B. G. — SCOTLAND. Aberdeensh. In the river V than, between Ellon 
and the sea ; in the marsh at the North end of the Old Town Links, Aberdeen: 
Dr. Murray, in N. B. G. — Argylesli. Arran: Mr. Joseph Hookir, in 
N. B. G.— Dumbartonsh. Banks of the Clyde from Dumbarton to Bowling 
Bay, plentifully : Mr. Hopkirk, in N. B. G . — Dumfriesshire ; I.ocher: Rev. 
G. Gordon, in N. B. G. — Forfarthsh. On the back sands, near Montrose: 
Mr. Don. — Haddingtonsh. Stream-side near LufFness : Dr. Graiiam. — Kin- 
cardinesh. Gouidori in theMearns: Dr. Murray, in North. FI. — Linlith- 
gowsh. On the coast westward of Queensferry : Mr. Watson, in N. B. G. — 
Rossshtre ; Dingwall : Rev. G. Gordon, ibid. Near Bonar Bridge : North. 
FI.— IRELAND. Salt-marshes, frequent : Mr. J. T. Mackay. 
Perennial. — Flowers in July and August. 
Root creeping; in /3. knotty or tuberous. Culm (stem) up- 
right, from 1 to 3 feet high, striated, leafy, triangular, the angles 
roughish. Leaves strap-shaped, keeled, taper-pointed, dark green, 
rough at the margin ; the lower ones sheathing and alternate, those 
under the panicle sessile, and very unequal in length. Spikes 
egg-shaped, soft, sessile or stalked, solitary or aggregate ; some- 
times elongated and cylindrical. Glumes membranous, shining, 
of a dark uniform brown, often minutely downy ; notched or torn 
at the end, with a long intermediate point or awn (see fig. 2). 
Seed somewhat triangular, pointed, shining brown, with from 1 to 
5 or 6 rough bristles at its base (see fig. 4). 
This is supposed to be the plant known as a very noxious weed 
in certain valuable pastures bordering the Isle of Thanet, and there 
denominated Spurt-grass. The root creeps powerfully, and pal- 
liative remedies are of no avail. The only effective mode of clear- 
ing the land is to pare and burn ; take a course of crops, and let 
th e hand and fork assist the plough and harrows. Sinclair. It 
is said to be much relished by cattle; and Dr. Withering says, 
that the roots (especially those of variety /3.) are esculent, and that 
when dried and ground to powder, they have been used instead of 
flour in times of scarcity. 
