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C YNOSURUS criftatus.
Creßed Dog's-tail Grafs.
T R I A N D R I A Digynla.
G en. C har. Cal. o f 2 hulks, containing few florets.
Partial Receptacle unilateral, leafy.
S pe c. Char. Bracfteae pinnatifid.
Sy n . Cynofurus criftatus. Linn. Sp. PL 105. HudJ.Fl.
An. 59. With. Pot. Arr. 95. Relh. Cant. 39.
Sibth. Ox. 52. Leers Herb. 49. t. 7. f . 4.
Gramen criftatum. Rail Syn. 398.
rr . . . 1 HIS grafs is equally common with the preceding, making
a principal part of the turf on high gravelly or chalky foils, in
parks, lawns and Iheep-walks, and affords good nourifhment to
thofe animals as well as to deer.
The root is tufted, perennial, with long fimple fibres. Stems
very erect, from a foot to 18 inches high, rigid, round, fmooth,
clothed about the lower part with fhortifh, alternate, palifh
leaves. Stipulas fhort. Spike green, erect, about 2 inches long,
compofed of numerous fpikelets, all leaning one way, on a
zigzag ftalk. Each fpikelet is accompanied by another abortive
one, which Linnaeus calls the braftea?, refembling a fmall
double-toothed comb. Thefe remain long upon the ftalk, turning
of a yellowifh colour in decay. Ray mentions a variety
with 4 rows of fpikelets. This Cynofurus flowers in June or
July