/ ê> S [ 3918 ]
E E S T Ü C A triflora.
Three-jlowered Fescue-grass.
TRIÂNDRIA Digynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. of 2 valves. Spikelet oblong, somewhat
cylindrical, two-ranked, with sharp-pointed
glumes.
Spec. Char. Panicle spreading. Spikelets three-flowered,
with long awns.
Syn. Bromus triflorus. Linn. Sp. PI. 115. FI. Dan.
t. 440. Sm. Tr. o f Linn. Soc. v. 8. 276.
Gramen bromoides, paniculâ sparsâ, locustis minoribus
aristatis. Scheuchz. Agr. 511. t. 5 . f 19.
T h i s grass, new to Britain, and very little known to botanists
in general, was found by Mr. Crowe on his estate at
Saham, Norfolk, in the autumn of 1804, when it was in
flower, as recorded in the 8th volume of theLinnsean Society’ s
Transactions. His original specimen is drawn in our plate,
but he could never again find the precise spot where it
grew, nor have T since his death had either opportunity or
inclination to visit that sequestered country, where we have
together collected several uncommon plants as well as insects.
Less accurate observers than Mr. Crowe may probably have
overlooked this plant for Festuca gigantea, t. 1820; but besides
its smaller size and many shades of difference in its
stipula and habit, it is essentially distinguished by having but
3, or at most 4, florets in each calyx, and a more spreading,
less drooping, panicle. The florets are slightly 5-ribbed in
their upper part. Awns long, rough, alike terminal in all
the florets, as far as we can discern, there being only now
and then a slight separation o f the marginal membrane. Inner
glumes minutely rough with depressed short hairs, not coarsely
fringed. Boot tufted, perennial, with many strong rough
fibres.