Order GRAMINE M. 
Genus Festuca. 
Sub-Order Festucaceze. 
2.—FESTUCA SCOPARIA. 
POA-LIKE FESCUE. 
(Plate LF. A .) 
Festuca scoparia, Hook, fil., FI. Antarct, L, 98. 
Festuca scoparia. Hook, fil., FI. N.Z., I., 308. 
Festuca scoparia, Hook, fil., Handb. N.Z. FI., I., 341. 
A densely-tufted, fine-leaved, littoral grass. Flowers December—February. Perennial. Culms 
6—20 inches high, leafy, glabrous. Leaves filiform, rigid, longer or shorter than the culm, sheathing 
leaves narrow ; ligule very short. Panicle \ —3 inches long, ovoid or narrow, elongate, branches short, 
erect, alternate, or the lower pair sometimes opposite. Spikelets green, flattened, ^^ inch long. 
Empty glumes very unequal, 1- and 3-nerved. Flowering glume acuminate, 5-nerved. Palea nearly 
as long as the glume, bifid at the top, and 2-nerved. Scale acutely bifid. Grain broad, concave in 
front. Distribution of Species : AUCKLAND ISLANDS, CAMPBELL ISLAND, NEW 
ZEALAND. 
A small Poa- like grass, growing generally on precipitous rocks; its abundance, more or less, 
depending on the presence of such habitats. The large sea-green cushions, of filiform leaves of this 
species, are very conspicuous objects, and readily attract the attention. From the difficulty of reaching this 
grass, it is very improbable that it can be much grazed by other stock than sheep, for whom the fine foliage 
is well adapted. Under these circumstances it will chiefly possess a botanical interest. Distribution 
in New Zealand: NOT UNCOMMON ON ROCKY PARTS OF THE COAST OF 
BOTH ISLANDS. 
Reference to Plate LV. A.: Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4, 4. Nervation of empty 
glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Nervation of Palea. 7. Scale. 8, 8'. Grain, front 
and side views. 
