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48
ON FKSTUOA HETEROPHYLLA.
quality of its spring herbage, nor in its time of flowering and fruit-
ing, does it agree with the above. Even in an early season, its
flowers did not begin to expand before the middle oi June ; and its
seed was not ripe till more than a month later. It is here more
backward than either F. ovina or F. rubra. In the 8vo edition of
1824, as stated by Mr. Carruthers, " a very good plate is given "
;
but the plant represented by it is neither heterophylla nor the rubraform
of 1816, but F. ovina, var. vulgaris Koch. I could match the
figure with shade-grown specimens so named by Dr. Hackel,
collected last summer at Witley.
I next come to Mr. M. J. Sutton's work (1886), of which, by
the courtesy of Messrs. Sutton, a copy is before me. The short
description is correct, as far as it goes, but would equally well
apply to rubra fallax; and one who knew the capillary-triangular
root-leaves of heterofhyUa would scarcely describe them simply as
" folded." The accompanying figure bears not the faintest resemblance
to the true plant, either in leaves, habit, or inflorescence, and is
in marked contrast to the general excellence of the plates. The
statement about its introduction in 1814 evidently points to
Sinclair's book ; and the remark that it is " particularly suited
to pastures, on account of its large bulk of herbage," is also very
suggestive of error.
Messrs. Carter's figure I have not succeeded in seeing, but this
is immaterial, as they expressly state, in sending me a seedsample,
that it "is the F. heterophylla of commerce and a giant
variety of Festuca duriuscula or Hard Fescue."
Messrs. Webb's figure is as unlike the real plant as is Messrs.
Sutton's. They remark that "it produces a large quantity of
foliage, which is broad aud succulent, and of a fine dark green
colour. Hence, like Sheep's Fescue, it is well adapted for lawns."
This is certainly not true of heterophylla, which grows in compact
tufts (almost " tussocks ").
I wish to express my best thanks to the three leading firms
mentioned above, for their prompt help and liberal gift of seeds,
which I hope to grow experimentally.
Dr. Stebler stands alone in figuring the genuine plant of
Lamarck. With reference to its alleged culture in England, he
expressly says :— " It is very probable that the four varieties mentioned
above are in reality forms of tufted red fescue [Festuca rubra
fallax Hackel). The tufted red fescues are often regarded as
varieties of various-leaved fescue." He states that commercial
seed is rarely genuine, F. fallax being usually substituted for it,
but mentions two German houses and one in Paris from which he
has obtained it. Messrs. Sutton write to me as follows :—
" The true F. heterophylla is very seldom oS'ered in the trade. We
used to sell considerable quantities, but lately have been unable to
get sufficient seed, really true, to make it worth while ofl^ering it in
our catalogue." As, however, they maintain that Mr. Martin
Sutton's figure "was certainly Festuca heterophylla, ... a very
luxuriant specimen grown on soil suitable to it," their opinion
seems to me of small value, either way ; and I greatly doubt their