TRIANDRIA— DIGYNIA. Aha. 101 



long as the corolla,, and formed like those of the 2 species above 

 described. 

 The Linnsean P. Crus-corvi proves not a distinct species from this. 



39. AIRA. Hair-grass. 



Linn.Gen.34. Juss.31. Fl. Br. 83. Lam. i. 44. Gccrtn.tA. 



Cat. of 2 unequal keeled valves, containing a spikclet of 2 

 perfect j#o; 'ets, one of them generally elevated on a short 

 stalk, without any rudiments of a third. Cor. of 2 oblong, 

 unequal, clasping valves ; the outer one largest, with a 

 dorsal twisting awn, above the base, in several species 

 wanting ; inner notched at the point, awnless. Nect. a 

 cloven scale. Filam. capillary. Anth. prominent, pen- 

 dulous, notched at each end. Germ, ovate. Styles short, 

 distinct. Stigm. feathery, large. Seed ovate, loose, co- 

 vered with the membranous corolla. 



Inflorescence panicled, either very loosely, or condensed into 

 a spike. The genus is, as Mr. Brown remarks under his 

 Eriachne, Pr. 183, entirely artificial, allied to 3 or 4 

 others, from which it differs in the small number of florets. 

 AYe can therefore give no characteristic description of its 

 habit, any further than that the stems are erect, jointed, 

 and more or less leafy. Leaves generally narrow. 



* Corolla axv?ilcss. 



1. A. cristata. Crested Hair-grass. 



Panicle spiked. Calyx longer than its flower-stalk, shorter 

 than the florets. Glumes all pointed. 



A. cristata. Linn. Sp. PI. 94. Fl. Br. 83. Engl. Bot. v. 9. t. 648. 

 Knapp t. 30. Hook. Scot. 29. Schrad. Germ. v. 1. 255. 



Poa cristata. Willd. v. 1. 402. With. 145. Hull. 22. Belli. 37. 

 Sibth. 42. Abbot 19. Host Gram. v. 2. 54. t. lb. Leers 31. t.5. 

 f. 6. Ehrh. Phyt. 32. 



Festuca n. 1444. Hall. Hist. v. 2. 217. 



Gramen pumilum hirsutum, spica purpureo-argentea molH. Rail 

 Syn. 396. 



G. spica cristata, subhirsutum. Bauh. Prodr. 8. Theatr. 43. 

 Scheuchz. Agr. 166. Moris, v. 3. 194. sect. 8. t. 4./. 7. 



In dry, elevated, or calcareous, pastures, or on walls, not very 

 common. 



Perennial. July, August. 



Roots forming dense tufts ; their fibres downy. Stems simple, erect, 

 round, about 6 inches high, or more ; most jointed and leafy be- 

 low ; a little downy above. Leaves rather stiff, linear, narrow, 



