72 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



aira. Stems erect, round, rough- 

 ipli, in close tufts, leaves fiat, 

 linear, acute, Avith rougliit^li stri- 

 ated sheaths, upper sheath longer 

 than its leaf, panicle pyramidal 

 or oblong, large, at first drooping, 

 afterwards erect, Avith branches 

 spreading in every direction 

 awn barely equalling the palea, 

 outer palea of lower fioret shorter 

 than the glumes, membranous 

 iaa:f>;ed or four-toothed on the 

 summit, hairy at the base, with ^^V 

 slender awn rising from a little "^ ■ 

 above the base, and extending 

 scarcely aboA'C the palea. Dis- 

 tinguished from aira flexiiosa in 

 the awn of the lower floret not 

 protruding beyond the glumes of 

 the calyx. In aira ffexiiosa the 

 awn of the lower floret protrudes 

 more than one-third its length 

 beyond the glumes. 



It has an unsightly look in 

 fields and pastures, on 

 account of its growing in 

 tufts or clusters or has- ^ 

 socks. Cattle seldom 

 touch it. Prefers stiff or 

 marshy bottoms, where 

 the water stands. June. 



Water Hair Grass, 

 (^aira aqvntica.'} Fig. 6-1. 



Wood Hair Grass. 



This grass Mr. Curtis calls the 

 sweetest of the British grasses, and equal to any foreign one. Its 

 stems and leaves, Avhen green, have a sweet and agreeable taste 

 like that of liquorice. Water fowls are said to be very fond of 

 the seeds and the fresh green shoots. Cattle also eat it very 

 readily. It is strictly an aquatic, but can be ciiltivated on 

 imperfectly drained bogs and muddy bottoms. Not common. 

 It flowers in July. 



