328 TUiANDRiA DiGYNiA. Melica. 



Obs. The accurate G^ertner, Carp. vol. ii. p. 4G6 t. 175 gives to 

 the sessile (lower of A. vintica, one hermaphrodite, and one female 

 floret, and to the pedicelled one t^vo male ones, consequently this 

 must be different, and a second awnless species. 



AIRA. Schreb. Gen. N. 112. 



Calyx two-valved, two-flowered, without the rudiment of a third. 



1. A.Jiliformis. K'on. Mss. 



Smooth, erect, one foot high. Leaves ensiform. Panicles ob- 

 lono", compound, of simple, linear, secund racemes. 



A native of pasture ground. 



Culms erect, mostly naked, round, smooth, about a foot high.— 

 Leaves small, smooth ; mouths of the sheaths enlarged by a mem- 

 branaceous, torn process. — Panicle erect, thin, oblong, composed of 

 alternate, simple, one-ranked, filiform, expanding racemes. — Flozi}- 

 ers in two rows. — Cah/x two-flowered, large. 



MELICA. Schreb. Gen. N. 113. 

 Cali/x two-valved, two-flowered, w ith the rudiment of a third. 



1. M. digiiafa. R. 



Culms from four to five feet high. Spikes terminal, expanding, 

 mostly five-fold. Cah/x one-flowered ; outer valvelets of the corol 

 and rudiment awned. 



A large beautiful species, a native of hedges, thickets, &c. 



Culms near the base procumbent, but when supported by bush- 

 es erect and often from four to five feet high. — Leaves upper side 

 somewhat hairy ; mouths of the sheaths bearded, — Spikes four or five, 

 digitate, secund, spreading, filiform, from six to nine inches long, 

 hairy at the base. Rachis three-sided. — Flozcers in two rows, ses- 

 sile, awned. — Calyx one-flowered ; glumes unequal, the interior be- 

 ing three or four times longer than the exterior, and short-awned. — 

 <^orol, valves unequal, the largest has along awn issuing just below 



