Varieties. 
Name. 
History. 
Agricultural 
value. 
Geographical 
distribution. 
Habitat. 
Limits 
of altitude. 
Climate. 
66 
flowering, they become horizontal and produce a spreading and somewhat ovate form of panicle (fig. 6); 
when flowering is over, the panicle again becomes contracted (distinction from Agrostis vulgaris) ; the 
colour is white, tinged with red or violet. The spikelet is one-flowered (fig. 1). Both glumes are longer 
than the pales, acute, and membranous (fig. 1); each has a midrib (fig. 9) which forms the ciliated keel 
(fig. 1). Both pales (fig. 2) are white membranes ; the lower, about twice as long as the other, three- 
ribbed, notched at the apex, and awnless, or al times with a short awn; the upper has the usual struc- 
ture and is bicarinate (fig. 9). The Jlodicules (fig. 3) are two, ovate and acute. The pistil (fig. 3) is 
composed of a glabrous ovary, terminated by a pair of almost sessile feathery stigmas. Flowering goes 
on as in Perennial rye-grass. The false fruit (fig. 4%) is the spikelet, consisting of the caryopsis inves- 
ted by the pales and the glumes; when ripe it is 2—3 mm. long. The caryopsis itself (figs. 7 and 8) 
is readily freed from the pales, oblong, attenuated at the base, convex on its outer, and furrowed on 
its inner face. 
Varieties. The commonest variety has greenish-white spikelets, and is called Agrostis stolonifera 
var. alba, Alefeld. In seed catalogues Agrostis stolonifera and Agrostis capillaris, Pollich, are often 
mentioned separately, although they are identical. The best variety is perhaps Giant Fiorin (Agrostis 
stolonifera var. gigantea. Koch.) in which the panicle is well developed and much branched. Other 
varieties have no agricultural importance. 
Stoloniferous bent-grass is a translation of the Latin botanical name. It is also known as creeping- 
rooted bent, Marsh bent, White bent, Whitetop, etc. 
About 250 years ago, this grass was known in England as a good fodder-plant. According to 
Werner, it came into cultivation in 1764, but soon after went oul of use. 50 years later it again came 
into notice under the new name of Fiorin. In Ireland about the beginning of this century, Dr. Richard- 
son pointed out its merit, and on his recommendation it came to be extensively cultivated in Great 
Britain. In 1814, M. de Conicht. of Frederick Sound in the Island of Zealand, experimented on it and 
gave very favourable reports of his results. About 1840, the cultivation of Fiorin commenced on the 
continent, and the grass obtained very high repute there. 
Although fiorin has not fulfilled the high expectations it promised, still, in certain 
circumstances, it is not without value. On light soils of a moist nature, it forms good 
»bottom grass« well adapted for pasture. It is perennial, provides good fodder late in the 
year and continues growing till winter. It is not suitable for alternate husbandry, because 
its long creeping stolons are difficult to get rid of; in such cases, it is to be regarded as 
a weed. 
Occurrence, Climate, Soil, Manure. Fiorin is indigenous — to Central, Eastern and Southern 
Europe, in Portugal, Spain, France, Iceland, Scandinavia at Alten Fiord, England, and Ireland; to Africa, 
in Algeria, Abyssinia, the Canary Islands and Cape Verd; to Asia, in Caucasus and Georgia: it is also 
indigenous to North America. 
This grass is especially frequent on wet ground. It is also common on mountains where cloud 
and dew persist. 
The variety Coarctata (Agrostis patula, Gaud.) with the panicle short, contracted, and highly col- 
oured is frequent on the Alps; it is sometimes met with at a height of 7,200 ft. 
Maritime and mountainous climates and rainy districts are most suitable for this grass ; 
wherever the air is dry the yield becomes much reduced. Thus is happens, that in Bri- 
tain, this grass is much more productive than in Germany and France. On dry ground, 
the culms produce fewer leaves and soon become hard. Winter cold does no injury. 
Conicht, for example, allowed a part of the grass to stand over winter, and cut it in spring; 
the quality of the grass was then as good as that obtained from the same field in autumn. 
In England it is often pastured as late as December. 
