454 
about 6 smooth, lanceolate-oblong flowers, bearing awns half their length, 
or less; leaves involute-bristle-form, short, chiefly tufted at the base of 
the slender culms, which are setaceous and somewhat angled above. 
Perennial; flowers in July. Culms 6 to 15 inches high. Michigan—* 
introduced. A native of Europe. 
On dry side hills this sheep’s grass might probably be cultivated with 
advantage. It has a fine foliage, which is succulent, and may be better 
adapted to the masticating organs of sheep than the larger grasses, 
whose nutritive powers are greater.* It has been long cultivated in 
Great Britain, being one of the first to receive the attention of farmers. 
The straw affords a very fine material for braiding and making hats. 
80. Festuca Elatior. IAnnwus. 
Tall Frescue-grass. 
Panicle branched, loose, rather spreading; spikelets ovate-lanceolate, 
crowded, 4 to 6-flowered; lower palea pointless or very short pointed; 
rhizoma creeping; leaves broadly linear. Perennial; flowers in June. 
Culms 3 to 5 feet high. Moist meadows; introduced—Ohio, Resembles 
the following, but is not as valuable for the purposes of the farmer. 
81. Festuca Ppatensis, Hudson. 
Meadow frescue-grass. I 
Panicle simple, or sparingly branched; spikelets 5 to 10-flowered; 
lower palea barely acute; root fibrous; seeds oblong slender, very acute, 
rounded on one side, with a long furrow on the other, covered with the 
paleae. Perennial; flowers in June and July. Culms 2 to 3 feet high. 
Introduced—Ohio. 
This valuable grass has not been found in this State, but is included in 
the catalogue of plants growing spontaneously in Ohio. Sinclair states f 
that the meadow frescue constitutes a considerable portion of all the rich 
natural pastures and irrigated meadows; it makes excellent hay, and 
though a large plant, the leaves or herbage are succulent and tender. It 
ia apparently muchliked by cattle, as they never allow it to form rank 
tufts which is often the case with the larger grasses. 
* Sinclair, Hort. Gram. TVob. p. 259. 
tHortus Gramineus, Woburnensis, p. 152. 
