Annual. — Flowers in July, August, and September. 
Root of many slender, branched fibres. Culms (stems J generally 
numerous, from 5 inches to a foot or more high, simple, or some- 
times branched towards the bottom, smooth, upright, frequently 
more or less zigzag, occasionally somewhat decumbent at the base, 
and knee-jointed (geniculated). Leaves spreading, sharp pointed, 
striated, flat, rough on the ribs and margin ; their sheaths long, 
striated and rough. Stipula ( ligulaj oblong, membranous, rough 
at the back, and often somewhat jagged. Panicle upright, spike- 
like, dense, from 1 to 5 inches long, pale, the long rough awns of 
the glumes giving it a silky appearance. Flowers small, very nu- 
merous. Glumes (fig. 1, a.) equal, strap-spear-shaped, compressed, 
hispid, each with a green keel, a white membranous margin, and a 
rough terminal awn (fig. 1 , b.) three times its own length. Palece 
(fig. 3.) shorter than the glumes, unequal, the outer largest, keeled, 
and terminated by a short rough awn ; the inner awnless, with 
2 teeth. Anthers (see fig. 3.) short. Styles (see fig. 4.) scarcely 
any. Stigmas (see fig. 4.) long and feathery. Seed egg-shaped, 
polished, covered by the paleae. 
Alopecurus paniceus, of L.INN.EUS, Sp. PI. p. 90 ; and of Wi- 
thering, Bot. Arr. 1st edit. v. i. p. 38 ; is considered by Sir J. E. 
Smith, and other recent authors, as a trifling variety of this species, 
diminished by want of nourishment, as is usual with annual grasses. 
This very pretty grass, which Sir W. J. Hooker says is un- 
doubtedly a native of this country, is very rare in a wild state, and 
it is not often met with in a cultivated one, except in Botanic Gar- 
dens. In the warmer parts of Europe it is more abundant. 
“ A blade of grass — a simple flower — 
Cull’d from the dewy lea, 
These, these shall speak with touching power 
Of * change and death to me.’ 
For if ‘ stars teach as well as shine,’ 
Not less these gems of earth, 
In budding bloom and pale decline, 
May pour instruction forth. 
Come, then, and ever when I stray, 
Breath still the solemn cry, 
‘ Man and his glory, what are they ? 
Fragile as grass or flow’ret gay, 
Which blossoms but to die.’” 
Moral of Flowers, p. 142. 
