^^''^O GRAMINEiE 



243 



27. AIRA. X. 



1- A.fiexuosa, L.—E. Bot. t 1519. Ph.—Torr. Fl p. 132. Gray, Gram, et Cyp, 

 Part r. n. 43. 



Hae. Canada. Pk; Mrs Sheppard, Nevvfoundlaud and Labrador. JDr Morrison. N. W. Am. Douglas, 



2. A. Danthonioides {Trin.) ; glumis perianlhia in^qualiter denticulata dorso aristata 

 excedentibus, arista geniculata glumis longiore, foliis angustissimis. Trin. in AcLPetrop, 

 1830. 6. 57. Kth. Agrost />. 290. 



Hab. Low plains of the Columbia, near Fort Vancouver. Douglas. N. W. Am. iKth.)—K very peculiar 

 grass, of which I have seen no authentic specimen, but which I refer here at the suggestion of Dr Gray. 



3. A. atro-purpurea, WahL—Bong, Veget. de Siicha, p, 54 Avena, ZfwA.— Aira aJpina, 



Vahl, in Fl. Dan. t.26\. 



Hab. Sitcha. Bongard. 



4. A. laiifoUa; panicula laxa, pedicellis scabriusculis, glumis opacis lato-ovatis acu- 

 minatis complicato-carinatis glaberrimis flosculos (2) superantibus, periantiiii valv. ext. 4- 

 nervio apice 4-dentato eroso, arista infra medium inserta superior! glumis ^quali inf. 

 breviore, foliis Jato-linearibus acutis glabris, (Tab. CCXXVIL) 



Hab. Rocky Mountains. Drummond.—h. very remarkable species, which Drs Torrey'and Gray are dis- 

 posed to refer to Avena : but it seems to me rather to have the character of Aira, It is remarkable for the 

 breadth of the leaves, and for the large, opaque (not glossy), purple-green colour of the glumes. The awns 

 are almost wholly included. The florets at the base, as well as the pedicel of the upper floret, are villous with 

 long white hairs : the inner valve of the perianth is bicarinate. with a strong nerve at each carina, and 

 scabrous. 



Tab. CCXXVIL— i^i^. 1. Spikelet ; / 2. Florets; /, 3. Outer valve of the perianth ; / 4. Inner valve 

 do. : — magnified, 



5. A. elongata; panicula longissima composita gracili, ramis appressis scabris, glumis 

 lineari-subulatis carinatis 3-nerviis (carina scabra) flosculos 2 multo superantibus, peri- 

 anthii valvula exteriori apice 4-dentato obsolete 4-nervio arista stricta longissima peri- 

 anthium multo superante, foliis angustissimis setaceis rigidis. (Tab. CCXXVIIL) 



Hab. Sandy islands of the River Columbia. Douglas, ^This, too. in the opinion of Messrs Torrey and Gray, 

 should be referred to Avena ; but it must be recollected that every Agrostographist has his own views respecting 

 the limits of Aira^ Trisetum, and Avena. The present plant is very different from every species in those 

 genera with which I am acquainted. Its leaves are slender and setaceous. Culms, including the panicle, 

 two feet and more long : of which the panicle itself occupies about one-half. The glumes are pale, tinged with 

 purple, glossy, the carina green and scabrous. 



Tab. CCXXVIIL— i^£^. 1. Spikelet ; / 2. Florets ; /. 3. Outer valve of the perianth ; /. 4. Inner valve 

 of do. '.— 'magnified. 



