62 TRIANDRIA, DIGTNIA. 



Florets without a third rudiment between 

 them. 



Flowers scariose and shining', disposed in capillary pa- 

 nicles. In niany species the valves of the calix or the 

 -corolla are obtuse. From ^hiena the awned spc-cies are 

 distinguished by producing- straight or geniculate awns, 

 arising from the base of the flower. 



Species. 1 pumilaP 2.aquatica, (this ■-pecies is nearly 

 allied to Poa.) 3. obtnsata. 4. brevifoUa? 5 capillucea. 6. 

 pracQX. 7-fexuosa. 8. cespitosa. 9. mollis. 



This genus is almost exclusively confined to Europe 

 and North Amenca; some species, however, are common 

 to Uarbai*\ , and t!ie South of turope. 



91. ^LRALEPSIS.f 



Calix srariose, 2-valvpd, 2 or Silowered, 

 somewhat terete, much shorter than the outer 

 valve of tlio corolla, acute at the base. Flowers 

 alternate, distinct. Corolla 2-valved, stipitate, 

 valves very un'^qual, the o?f?ertricusi)idate, cen- 

 tral cusp mii'^h longer, terminated by a straight 

 awn, nerves all pubescent; inner glume short, 

 arched inwards. Seed somewhat gibbous, en- 

 larged above, arillate. 



Grasses with the habit of Andropogon., and partly the 

 structure of Aira. Culm simple, leaves and sheathes 

 short; racemes few-flowered, remote, nearly simple, and 

 solitary, axdlary and terminal, sheathed; sheathes deci- 

 duous; (flowers and culm purple ) 



Species. 1. U.put'purea. {Aira ptii^pitrea, W ai.tzr Sind 

 Elliott.) Culm terete and somewhat hair}^^ below the 

 commencement of flowers, semicylindric above; racemes 

 shorter than the internodes, few-flowered, flowers nearly 

 sessile. Leaves flat, very narrow, above almost filiform. 

 Calix 1 or 2-flowered, valves nearly equal in length, each 

 with a single nerve, somewhat acute, rarely lacerate. Co- 

 rolla acutely stipitate; outer valve more than twice the 

 length of the ralix, in seed deeply 3-parted, 3-nerved, and 

 reflected, dentures acuminate, the central one terminating 

 in an :iun as long ms the valve, serves all pubescent; in. 



•j- From ovpec, cauda, and Aew/5, squama, palea 01 ghnna, in- 

 tended to mdicate the singularly caudate appearance of the 

 ^uter corolU valve. 



