

134 TRIANDRTA. DIGYNIA. Holcus. 



is not the case with any other British species of Agrostis. Spite 

 -J- of an inch long, containing about t» florets. The structure of 

 the florets seems to correspond with that of the Agr. capillars of 

 the Linn. Herbarium, (see Smith's hones Fasc. ill* p. 54,) but in 

 this the florets form a spike, in that a panicle. Spike-stalk zigzag* 

 It is difficult to decide the proper place of this elegant little 



lana'tus. H 



grass. The florets being perfectly sitting on each side of a zigzag 

 spike-stalk, would direct us to the last subdivision of the grasses, 

 (see p. 62.) but there is no genus in that subdivision to which it 

 is in the least allied The florets have the habit of a Poa, but 

 unlike all others of that genus there is only one in each calyx, 

 and the calyxes are strictly seated upon a spike-stalk. Its dissi- 

 militude to the Agrostis has already been noticed. 



Found by Mr. Stillingfleet in Wales. A, July 



HOL'CUS. Florets hermaphrodite and male. Cal. 



husk 2 valves, with 1 to 3 florets. 

 Hermaphr.y^z^^twicethe length of the blossom. 

 Male. Awn as long as the blossom. 



lusks 2-flowered, woolly : hermaphrodite floret awn- 

 less : male floret with a bent awn, inclosed in the 

 calyx. 



Gram* past.— Dicks* h. s.-Curt. 228— .FY. dan. ll&l—Scbreb* 

 20. \-Leers %. 6-J. B. ii. 466. 2-Scheuchz. 4.2A-A. B. 

 -Park* 1155. l-Anders. 



The whole plant of a velvet-like softness. Linn. Male 

 floret containing a pistil. Germen similar to that of the fertile 

 floret, but much smaller. Styles awl-shaped, simple. Seed very 

 minute, abortive. Curt. Panicle from 2 to 8 inches long, and 

 from 1 j to 3 \ inches broad. Leaves rather rough but not harsh 

 to the touch. Calyx husks unequal. Both florets on short pe- 

 dicles, the upper one hermaphr. awnless ; the other male, with an 

 awn not longer than the blossom. 



Meadow Soft-grass. Meadows and pastures, common. 



P. June, July.* 



mollis. H. Roots creeping: joints woolly: awn protruding out of 



the oalyx. Curt. 



Dicks, h. s.-Fl. dan. 1059-Curt. 323-Leers~. J-Schreb. 20. 

 2~Scheuch. 4. 25. 



This grass, though vegetating rather late in the season, produces an 

 abundant crop ; but it is not very agreeable to cattle, and makes a soft, 

 spongy hay, very unfit for horses- It abounds chiefly in light and moist 

 soils, such as turf or peat land. A plot of it, sown by the writer of this, 

 was entirely killed by a long frost. Mr. Swa.t«> 



* 



