288 The Flora of Wiltshire. 



HoLCUS, (Linn.) Soft-grass. 

 Linn. CI. iii., Ord. ii. 

 Name. Perhaps from (helJcoJ to draw ; because ropes miglit be 

 made of it. 



1. H. lanatus, (Linn.) woolly or meadow Soft-grass. Ungl. Bot. 

 t. 1169. Parn. Gr. t. 69. 



Locality. Meadows, pastm-es, and woods. P. Fl. July. Area, 

 \, 2, 3, 4j 5. Commo/i in the Districts. Root tufted, not creeping. 

 Stems, erect, simple, 1 or 2 feet high ; smooth above ; clothed in 

 the lower part with soft deflexed hairs. Stipula short and blunt. 

 Panicle thrice compound, erect, spreading but rather dense, whitish, 

 or purplish with downy stalks. Glumes rather obtuse, mucronate. 

 Awn of the upper flower curved inward like a hook, and extended 

 beyond the glumes, quite smooth except towards the tip. Boot 

 Jibrotis. Much resembling the next in general appearance, but 

 clothed with a softer and more abundant pubesence. 



2. H. mollis, (Linn.) creeping Soft-grass. Engl. Bot. t. 1170. 

 Parn. Gr. tt. 21 & 22. 



Locality. In pastures, shady copses, and hedges. P. Fl. Jtdy. 

 Area, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Generally distributed. Glumes acuminate. 

 Awn of barren floret exserted at length, geniculate, scabrous all over. 

 Stem and leaves subglabrous or slightly hairy. Root creeping. 

 Inflorescence not so compact as in the preceding, whitish. Mr.Wilson 

 well observes that this species is distinguished from Yi. lanatus by the 

 acute (or almost acuminate) glumes and bearded nodes of the culm. 



AiRA, (Linn.) Hair-grass. 

 Linn. CI. iii., Ord. ii. 



Named from the Greek verb airo, to kill or destroy. 



1. A. ccRspitosa, (Linn.) tufted Hair-grass. Engl. Bat. t. 1453. 

 Parn. Gr. t. 23. 



Locality. Moist shady places, and borders of fields. P. Fl. June, 

 July. Area, \, 2, 3, 4, 5. Plentiful in all the Districts. Root 

 tufted. Stems 2 to 4 feet high. Leaves linear, acuminate, rough 

 on the margin. Ligule long, acute, entire. Panicle large, silvery- 

 gray or greenish, much branched, Spikelets acute. Glumes imequal 



