CtASS ni. ORDER II.} AIRA. 101 



from below the middle, which is twisted in the lower part, jointed in 

 the middle, and about as long again as the valve. Anthers small, pale 

 yellow. Stigmas leathery. 



Habitat. — In similar situations to the last, but not so frequent. 



Annual ; flowering in May and June. 



*** Panicle contracted. Aum, club-shaped. 



7. A. ca7ies'cens, Linn. {Fig. 127.) grey Hair-grass. Panicle rather 

 dense ; florets shorter than the glumes ; awn club-shaped, arising 

 from below the middle of the outer valve, thelength of the glumes; 

 leaves bristle-shaped, 



English Botany, t. 1190.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 105.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 41. — Coryneph' orus canes'cens, Beauv. Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 307. 



Root with long slender white fibres. Ste^n slender, from four to 

 eight inches high, bent in the lower part, erect in the upper, where it is 

 smooth and shining, below roughish, and thicily clothed with short, 

 rigid, bristle-shaped, roughish, glaucous leaves, the upper ones very 

 short, with long, striated, inflated, and roughish sheaths. Ligula lan- 

 ceolate, mostly torn, and decurrent. Inflorescence a close erect panicle, 

 about an inch long, spreading when in flower, its branches short and 

 roughish. Spikelcts small, green or purplish. Glumes somewhat un- 

 equal, lanceolate, smooth, thin, and membranous on the edges, longer 

 than the florets, the keel roughish ; the florets thin and delicate, the 

 lower one sessile, the upper elevated on a hairy stalk, half the length 

 of the valves; the outer valve largest, lanceolate, the back channelled, 

 in which is imbedded the lower part of the a^vn, which arises Irom near 

 the base of the valve, and generally when in seed as long again, but 

 previous to this it is not so long. The structure of the awn is remark- 

 able: the lower part, which is generally the length of the valve, is 

 rather thick, brown, and twisted; the extremity is jointed, and sur- 

 rounded by a few short rigid pale bristles, from the centre of which 

 arises a thin delicate process mostly about as long again, gradually 

 thickening towards the extremity ; this part is highly hygrometrical, 

 moving with the least moisture applied by breathing upon it. Anthers 

 dark purple. Stigmas feathery. 



Habitat.— On the sandy sea-coasts of Norfolk and Sufi'olk; plentiful 

 near Yarmouth. 



Perennial; flowering in July. 



The foiTn of the awn is considered by Beauvis sufficient to constitute 

 this a distinct genus, in which opinion he is followed by Lindley. The 

 name, Corynephorus, by which it is distinguished, diff'ers only in its 

 termination from a genus of Alga, and may lead to some confusion. 

 Perhaps the Latin word Claviger, which has the samemeaning, (should 

 both genera be adopted by succeeding botanists,) may be substituted 

 for one or other of them. 



