farshire, as another of its stations. The specimen figured was
gathered on Ben Voirlich, on the 6th of August 1845.
Root creeping moderately. Stem from three to fifteen
inches high, rigid, compressed, very slightly rough, bearing
til ree or four leaves with roughish sheaths, the upper sheath
about as long as its leafj and crowned with a prominent obtuse
ligule. Leaves all short, acute, nearly flat, slightly rough at
the edges, so placed as to leave nearly two-thirds of the stem
naked ; the joints usually covered by the sheaths, but in luxuriant
specimens from the north of England the upper joint is
exposed. Inflorescence more or less compound, or occasionally
simple. Panicle erect, one to three inches long; its
branches more or less spreading, short, rough, the lower ones
usually in pairs. Spikelets erect, ovate, of thi'ee or four
florets, the top of the lowest floret on a level with the apex of
the larger glume. Glumes rather unequal, acute, three-ribbed,
the midrib rough on its upper part, margins membranous.
Lower florets w>ebbed at the base. Outer palea five-nerved,
the dorsal and marginal nerves hairy, especially in their lower
part; intermediate nerves faint, glabrous. Anthers long.
The size of the panicle varies greatly, being sometimes
nearly simple, at others slightly compound and patent, or
much more compound and rather close. The English specimens
are more luxuriant than those from Scotland, and have
more frequently long many-flowered panicles. In them the
upper leaf is often placed rather higher on the stem, but below
the middle.
This plant is distinguished from P. nemoralis by its ligule,
shorter and lower-placed upper leaf, upper sheath usually
covered, and slightly rough stem. It is very similar to P.
cæsia, but differs in its webbed florets, the lower of which is
not longer than thé larger glume.—C. C. B.