CLASS ni. ORDER II.] AIRA. 97 



ferent to the present genus, and to which there does not appear 

 any obvious reference. 



* Panicle close. Glumella awnless. 



1. A. crista'ta, lAxxn. (Fig. 121.) crested Hair-grass. Panicle spiked, 

 florets longer than the glumes, leaves hairy. 



English Botany, t. 648. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 101. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 39. — Sinclair, Hort. Gram. Woburn. p. 304. — 

 Airoch'loa crista'ta, Lindley, Synopsis, p. 207. 



Plant forming close tufts. Root fibrous, downy. Stem from six to 

 twelv^e inches high, simple, bent in the lower part, erect in the upper, and 

 thickly clothed with short white down, leafy and smooth below. Leaves 

 linear, glaucous, smooth or downy. Sheaths close, striated, more or 

 less downy, upper ones long. Ligula very short, crenate fringed. 

 Inflorescence a close, lobed, spiked panicle, from one to three inches 

 long, its branches shorter than the glumes. Glumes unequal, lanceolate» 

 acute, smooth or slightly downy, pale, thin, compressed, with a roughish 

 keel. The loiver floret sessile, the upper on a short stalk, which is 

 smooth or downy. Glumelles equal ; the outer one pale green, with 

 membranous edges, and mostly three-ribbed ; the Inner white, roughish, 

 thin, membranous, with tsvo ribs, which terminate in acute points, 

 between which it is cleft, and from them the edges of the valve fold 

 inwards. Anthers yellow. Stigmas feathery. 



Habitat. — In dry, chiefly elevated pastures, most frequent in the 

 north, sometimes on old walls, not very common. 



Perennial ; flowering from June to August. 



This gi'ass thrives well upon sandy land, or even upon stronger 

 lands of a clayey nature, but is not much relished by cattle, and is 

 mostly avoided by them when other grasses can be obtained : this is 

 probably owing to the softness of the leaves, independent of which, how- 

 ever, it does not appear to possess any advantage over many of the 

 other grasses, which the cattle prefer. 



** Panicle loose. Glumelles awned. 



2. A. cccspito'sa, Linn. (Fig. 122.) turfy Hair-grass. Panicle 

 spreading, its branches slender, roughish; florets rather longer 

 than the glumes, hairy at the base, the outer valve with a straight 

 awn about as long as itself, and proceeding from near the base ; 

 leaves long. 



English Botany, t. 1453.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 102.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 40. — Sinclair, Hort. Gram. Woburu. p. 304. — 

 Deschamj)'sia caspito'sa, landley. Synopsis, p. 309. 



Plant forming large thick tufts. Root fibrous, long, tough. Steins 

 from two to four feet high, erect, smooth and shining, except at the 

 top, leafy, particularly in the lower part. Leaves very long, narrow, 



VOL. I. O 



