Festucci.~\ cvn. gramine^e. . 559 
|f Ligule of the uppermost sheath very short, scarcely perceptible. Outer 
glumetla 5-nerved. Bucetum Pam. 
5. F. pratensis Huds. ( meadow F .) ; panicle close never 
divaricate, branches in pairs one bearing a single spikelet, the 
other one or several spikelets sometimes wanting, spikelets 
5 — 10-flowered, outer glumella 5-ribbed with a very short or 
obsolete awn, leaves linear-lanceolate —a, some or all of the 
branches of the panicle in pairs, one usually with several spike- 
lets. E. B. t. 1592 : Bucetum Pam. Gr. t. 46. — /3. litliacea; 
branches of the panicle solitary reduced to a single spikelet 
which is sessile or shortly stalked below. ( — 1. larger glume 
with many (7 — 9) prominent ribs. F. loliacea Iluds.: E. B. t. 
1821. Bucetum Parn. Gr. t. 1 13. — 2. larger glume with 3 — 5 
nerves. Bucetum Parn. tt. 45, 114.) 
Moist meadows and pastures, banks of rivers, &c., common. — /3- 
more rare. I/.. 6, 7. — Mr. Bentham unites this species to the 
next. 
6. F. eldtior L. ( Tall F .) ; panicle diffuse patent much 
branched, branches divaricate during or after flowering mostly 
in pairs each with 2 or more (usually numerous) spikelets, 
spikelets 5 — 6-flowered, outer glumella 5-ribbed with a very 
short or obsolete nearly terminal awn, leaves linear-lanceolate. 
E. B. t. 1593. Bucetum Parn. Gr. tt. 46, 47. F. arundina- 
cea Sclirel). 
Moist pastures and hanks of rivers, not unfrequent. 71 . 6, 7. — 
There appears to he two forms of this species : one, F. elatior, with 
branches of the panicle short, divaricate in flower, hut afterwards 
ascending ( Parn. Gr. t. 47); the other, F. arundinacea, with branches 
of the panicle longer, divaricate after flowering ( Parn. Gr. t. 46) : hut 
these points of difference seem to he caused by the greater or less 
luxuriance of the plant. 
7. F. gigantea Vill. ( tall-bearded F.) ; panicle branched 
drooping towards one side, spikelets lanceolate 3 — 6-flowered 
awned, outer glumella 5-nerved usually shorter than its infra- 
terminal awn, leaves linear-lanceolate ribbed. — a. panicle 
larger and more drooping, spikelets about 5-flowered. E. B. 
t. 1820. Bromus L. Bucetum Parn. Gr.t.47. — /3. panicle 
smaller and more erect, spikelets fewer about 3-flowered, 
leaves narrower. F. triflora Sm. : E. B. t. 1918. 
Shady woods and moist hedges. 71. 7, 8. — A tall grass 3 — 4 
feet high, with broad leaves, having the habit and some of the 
characters of Bromus. Ligule of the uppermost sheath very short. 
Panicle large. Glumes very unequal, larger ones with 3 ribs. 
Outer glumella lanceolate, obscurely ribbed, nearly glabrous, membra- 
nous at the edge upwards ; the dorsal rib nearly smooth, not extend- 
ing to the apex, but terminating in a distinct aiun, which is thus 
inserted a little below the bifid point, and is sometimes twice as long 
B B 4 
