

TRIANDRIA, DIGYNIA. Aira. \3b 



The Linnaean character which represents one of the florets as 

 male, does not agree with our plant, we have therefore adopted 

 that given by Mr. Curtis. Root creeping. Leaves soft. Panicle 

 3 to .3 inches high, and \\ to 2| broad. Calyx husks nearly 

 equal. Floret $ both hermaphrodite, 1 on a pedicle, awned, hairy 

 at the base ; awn twice the length of the blossom : the other sit- 

 ting, awnless, and not hairy at the base. The young botanist 

 would expect to find this plant in the genus Aira, and certainly s 

 not without reason. 



Creeping Soft-grass. Cornfields, hedges and woods.P. July, Aug. « 



H. Calyx 2-flo\vcred: awn of the male floret knee-bent, avena'ceu?. 



fixed to the back of the blossom. Gmelix. See 



A vena elatior. 



APRA. Cal. 2-valved ; 2-flowered ; without any 



intervening substance between the florets. 



( 1 ) Florets aivnless. 



A. Panicle expanding: florets without awns, smooth, aquat ica. 



longer than the calyx : leaves flat. 



Curt.-Vaill. 17. 7-Floret, Mont. 60. 



Straw with two joints. Scop. About a foot high. Leaves 

 broad, smooth, short. Panicle 4 or 5 inches long, 2 to 3 inches 

 broad when expanded ; purplish. 



Water Hair-grass. Grows generally in the margins of pools 

 and standing waters, seldom on banks. Mr. Swayne. — S. W. 

 side of Edgbaston Pool. P. June, July. 



(2) Florets owned. 



A. Leaves flat : panicle expanding : petals woolly and coespito'sa, 



awncd at the base: awn straight, short. 



//. ox. viii. 5. row 3. 17> &t*d row 2. \-Leers 4. 8-G<?r. 5. 

 1 and 2-Ger. em. 5. 1 and2-C. B. th. 34. 2 and35-ParL 

 1 158. 2 and 3~Dod. o6l. 1-J. B. ii. 46l. 3-Fl. dan. 240 

 —Scheuch. 5. 2 and 3. 



Sometimes trails on the ground to the length of several feet. 

 Panicle of a beautiful purple silky appearance. Mr. Dickenson; 

 6 or 8 inches high, or more, and half as broad. Awns the length 

 of the blossom. 



Turfy Hair-grass. Moist meadows and woods. P. June — Aug. 



Var. 2. Panicle viviparous. Lightf. — On Highland moun- 

 tains. [In Yorkshire. Mr. Milne.] .Oct.* 



* It is very apt to grow, in tufts, and occasions irregularities in the 



surface of meadows. Cows, goats, and swine eat it. Horses are not fond 



of 





