Order GRAMINE M. 
Genus Agrostis. 
Sub-Order Agrostide^s. 
2.—AGROSTIS CANIN'A. 
THE SHOWN BENT GRASS. 
(Plate XIX., XX.) 
Agrostis canina, Linnaeus. Hook, fil., FI. N.Z., I., 2,96; Handb. N.Z. Flora, I., 328. 
Trichodium caninum, Schroeder. 
A tufted glabrous grass, ascending to 3000 feet altitude. Floivers December—February. Root 
perennial, creeping. Stem 1—24 inches high, slender. Leaves flat or involute, glabrous, short, sheaths 
smooth ; ligule oblong, obtuse, entire or lacerate. Panicle 2—4 inches long, upright, open when in 
flower, contracted when in seed; branches slender, lower whorled, slightly scabrid. Spikelets P —B-inch 
long; pedicels scabrid. Empty glumes nearly equal, 3-nerved, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous; keel 
ciliate. Flowering glumes oblong, truncate, 3-nerved; awn dorsal, or o. Palea o. Scale entire, 
acute. Ovary linear-oblong. Stamens 3, short, broad. Styles very short. Stigmas short, feathery. 
Grain narrow-oblong, obtuse at both ends. Distribution of Species : EUROPE, AMERICA, 
FALKLAND ISLANDS, FUEGIA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND. 
Var. / 3 .—AGROSTIS GELIDA, F. Mueller; Handb. N.Z. Flora, I., 328. 
(Plate XX. A.) 
Tufted; found at 5000 feet altitude in the South Island. Stems 3—5 inches high. Panicle much 
contracted, 1 — 1-^ inches long. Distribution of Var. (3 : SCOTTISH MOUNTAINS, 
AUSTRALIAN ALPS, NEW ZEALAND. 
Var. y. —A. SUBULATA, Hook, fil., FI. Ant., I., 95, t. 53. 
A. parviflora, Brown, Var. ( 3 . — Perpusilla, FI. N.Z., I., 296. 
(Plate XX. B.) 
Densely tufted and moss-like ; found at 5000 feet altitude in the North Island; J—2 inches high. 
Leaves flaccid. Panicle very short, hidden altogether, or projecting from amongst the leaves at their 
base. Distribution of Var. y: CAMPBELL ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND. 
An abundant and wide-spread grass in Europe, and also common in New Zealand; but it has 
always been regarded in Britain as of little value, either in pasture or agriculture. It is found abundant 
in boggy situations, where its graceful upright panicle may be seen early in the season ; and therefore, 
although not a first-class grass, it is still very valuable as an early food for stock. Like many 
other grasses, this species has a wide range of value according to the existing conditions of its 
growth, being harsh, dry, and unpalatable on dry clay land, whilst on rich moist soil, even with a low 
temperature, it is more succulent and agreeable to stock. It is variable, to a considerable extent, in 
