89 
genuine sheep’s fescue and to the sub-variety of it designated genuina by Hackel. The 
rest of the text applies equally to genuine and hard fescue. The latter is more robust in its 
growth, and this constitutes the chief agricultural difference between it and genuine 
fescue. For brevity, both varieties are spoken of as sheep’s fescue. 
Botanical description of genuine sheep’s fescue. Genuine sheep’s fescue forms a compact tuft 
of grass. All the branches are intra- vaginal, and enclosed in parent sheaths which are persistent 
and do not split up into fibres (fig. A). It produces numerous culms, which are very slender, and 8 to 
24 inches high; each has two nodes, and is somewhat angular and rough beneath the panicle. The Jleaf- 
sheaths on the culms are also somewhat rough, and split except at the very base (fig. 9). The blade 
(fig. 10) is light-green and folded in the bud; this fold persists and gives the bristle-like or setaceous 
character to the leaf. A layer of cells with very thick hard walls (sclerenchyma) lies immediately 
beneath the epidermis in the form of a ring represented dark in fig. 10. This complete skeleton beneath 
the epidermis, causes the leaf to retain its cylindrical form when the rest of the cells are dried and 
shrivelled up. (If the sclerenchyma ring is incomplete, as in striated sheep’s fescue, then the dry blade 
between the bundles of sclerenchyma will fall in, and appear furrowed). The inflorescence is a one-sided 
panicle, spreading when in flower, 1 to 4 inches in length, with axis and branches rough: the lowest branch 
is one half or one third as long as the whole panicle. The spikelet (fig. 1) is three- or four-flowered 3 
its form is elliptical or somewhat linear; the colour is green, often with a violet tint, but when the 
plant is grown in the shade, its colour may be lighter. The g/wmes are narrow and lanceolate; the lower 
(figs. 1, 2), one-ribbed, the upper (figs. 1 and 2), three-ribbed; both have fine short hairs on the keel. 
The lower pale (figs. 1 and 2) is five-ribbed, awned, and usually rough beneath the apex. The wpper 
pale has two ciliated keels. The flower is composed of two ovate, bi-dentate lodicules as long as the ovary, 
three stamens, and a pistil with an ob-ovate, glabrous ovary, and a pair of terminal styles. 
Flowering goes on as in perennial rye-grass. When ripe, the spikelet becomes spreading (fig. 2) 
and then breaks up into false fruits in the ordinary way, so that a portion of the axis of the spikelet 
forms. the stalk in front of the upper pale (fig. 3). The false fruit composed of the two pales and, 
the enclosed caryopsis (figs. 3 to 5), is 3 to 4 mm. long without the awn, and 4 to 54/2 mm. including 
the awn. The stalk, about one fourth the length of the pale (excluding the awn), is obliquely truncate 
and slightly concave at its apex. It is covered with stiff bristles sloping upwards (figs, 3 and 4). 
The caryopsis (figs. 6 to 8) is about 2 mm. long, compressed, and dark brown in colour; the ventral 
surface is slightly concave (fig, 6), and has a hilum almost as long as the caryopsis itself; the dorsal 
surface is slightly convex (fig. 7). | 
Varieties. The sub-species are distinguished by the following characters, 
1. Genuine Sheep’s fescue has just been described in detail. 
2. Hard fescue has stouter culms, larger spikelets, and thicker leaves. Festuca duriuscula, the 
hard fescue of commerce, is a vigorous variety of genuine sheep’s fescue (Hackel has determined it as 
F., ov. eu-ovina vulgaris firmulda). 
3. Fine-leaved fescue (var. capillata, Lam. paludosa, Gaud., tenuifolia, Sibth.) is always designated 
in commerce as Festuca ovina, tenuifolia. Low stature, fine hair-like leaves, and awnless spikelets, at 
once distinguish it. It has no special value as an agricultural plant, and should be used only for 
ornamental purposes, more especially in shady places. 
%. Sheep’s fescue of Valais. The ring of sclerenchyma beneath the epidermis of the leaf is in- 
complete, whereas in the three preceding varieties it is complete; when dry, therefore, the leaf becomes 
furrowed. The whole plant is covered by a fine layer of wax which gives the grass its characteristic 
bluish-green and glaucous appearance. The wax can readily be rubbed off by the fingers, It is widely 
spread over southern Europe. 
5. Striated Sheep's fescue resembles the preceding, but is not glaucous. It has the same geogra- 
phical distribution as the preceding form. 
12 
Botanical 
description. 
Sub-species 
and varieties. 
a) 
