CXLIV. GEAMINES. 587 
59. DESCHAMPSIA, Beauv. 
fine dorsal awn attached below the middle, the lowest close above the 
empty glumes, the upper raised on a stipes (the rhachis of the spikelet). 
Palea prominently 2-nerved, often 2-toothed. Styles short, distinct. 
Grain enclosed in the glume and palea, usually free from them.— 
Perennial grasses with the shining spikelets of Trisetum and 
Aira, usually smaller than in. the former, larger than in the 
latter genus. 
The genus is generally distributed over the temperate regions of the northern 
hemisphere, and is also represented without the tropics in the southern hemisphere. 
The only Australian species ranges generally over the generic area. 
l. D. cæspitosa, Beauv. Agrost. 91, t. 18, f. 3.—A tall perennial 
forming large dense tufts. Leaves stiff, narrow, usually rough on the 
upper surface, flat or convolute when dry. Stems attaining 2 to 4 ft., 
although sometimes much shorter. Panicle 4 in. to near 1 ft. long, a 
first rather dense, spreading with capillary branches when fully out. 
Outer glumes 1} to near 2 lines long, the flowering ones not exceeding 
them, truncate and 4-toothed, the awns very slender, scarcely or not at 
all twisted at the base and usually shorter than the glumes themselves. 
—Kunth, Enum. i. 286; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 118 ; Aira cespitosa, 
Linn. ; Reichb. ic. Fl. Germ. t. 96; Trin. Spec. Gram. t. 283. 
Victoria. Avon and Omeo Rivers, and Haidinger Range, F. Mueller. i 
Tasmania. Frequent in wet places on low grounds as well as in the mountains, 
J. D. Hooker and others. 
S. Australia. Between Rivoli Bay and Mount Gambier, F. Mueller. 
Widely spread over the temperate and coolregions of the northern hemisphere, 
also in New i gia. 
60. TRISETUM, Beauv. 
Spikelets 2- rarely 3-flowered, in a narrow and dense or loose panicle, 
the rhachis of the spikelet articulate hairy and more or less produ 
: i s and beyond the upper one as a hairy 
bristle or bearin terminal empty glume or male flower. Outer 
empty glumés unequal, acute, keeled, thinly scarious on the sides. 
Flowering glumes more hyaline, keeled, acute or shortly 2-fid, with a 
dorsal awn attached above the middle, usually twisted at the base and 
nt in the middle. Palea prominently 2-nerved, usually 2-toothed. 
Styles distinct, stigmatic from near the base. rain glabrous, 
