108 TRIANDRIA— DIGYNIA. Holcus. 



spreading, but rather dense, whitish^ or purplish, with downy 

 stalks. Calyx-valves dotted, hoary, or downy, nearly equal in 

 length_, but the innermost broadest. Florets shorter than the 

 calyx, as is likewise the aien of the barren one ; but the essen- 

 tial specific difference, pointed out by Scheuchzer, between this 

 and the next, consists in the arched curvature of the awn, like 

 a fish-hook. That appendage is also twisted and recurved when 

 dry, turning inward when moist. Seed coated by the hardened 

 polished corolla. 



2. H. mollis. Creeping Soft-grass. 



Calyx partly naked. Lower floret perfect, awnless ; upper 

 with a sharply-bent prominent awn. Leaves slightly 

 downy. Root creeping. 



H. mollis. Linn. Sp. PL 1485. fVilld. v. 4. 933. H. Br. 89. Engl. 



Bot. V. \7.t.\ 170. Curt. Lond.fasc.5. t.8. Knapp t. 38. S'mcl. 



43. Hook. Scot. 28. Schrad. Germ. v. 1. 249. Leers 218. L 7. 



f.7. Host Gram. v. 1.3. t.3. Schreb. Gram. v. 1. 149. t.20.f.2, 

 Avena n. 1485. Hall. Hist. v. 2. 229. 



Gramen caninum paniculatum molle. Scheuchz.Jgr.235. t.A.f. 25. 

 G. miliaceum aristatum molle. Rail Syn. 404. 



In pastures, shady copseS;, and hedges. 



Perennial. July. 



Root widely creeping, difficult of extirpation, but not very common 

 or troublesome in arable land. Whole plant more slender than 

 the former,, and less downy. Panicle more loose and smoother, 

 with conspicuous awns, which in drying bend at a right angle, 

 and extend beyond the calyx. The upper y?orei is said to be oc- 

 casionally perfect, as well as the lower. 



Villars refers both these grasses to Aira, and Curtis inclines to 

 the same opinion ; but however miscellaneous that genus may 

 be, they differ from it in having a permanent hardened corolla, 

 forming a shining coat to the seed, which difference deserves 

 more attention than it has generally received. 



3. H. avenaceus. Oat-like Soft-grass. 



Calyx smooth. Barren floret lowest, with a sharply-bent 

 prominent awn ; fertile one slightly elevated, scarcely 

 awned. Leaves rather harsh. Root knotty. 



H. avenaceus. Scop. Cam. v. 2. 276. Wiggers Holsat. 72. Fl. 



Br. 90. Engl. Bot. v. 12. f. 813. Sibth. 40. Knapp t. 39. 



Sincl.A9. Hook. Scot. 28. Schrad. Germ. v. 1.247. 

 Avena elatior. Linn. Sp.Pl. \\7. Hiids.53. Curt. Lond.fasc.3. 



t. 6. Mart. Rust. t. 7. Cullum 42. Leers 40. t. 10./. 4. Schreb. 



Gram. v. \.25.t.l. 

 A. n. 1492. HalLHht. v. 2.. 231. 



