290 The Flora of Wiltshire. 



AvENA, (Linn.) Oat, Oat-grass. 

 Linn. CI. iii. Ord. ii. 

 Name. From [axieo) to desire^ because cattle are fond of it. Oat, 

 from the Celtic word atan. 



1. A. fiarescens, (Linn.) yellow Oat-grass. Engl. Bot. t. 952. 

 Triseinm.- Beativ. Parn. Gr. t. 54. 



Locality. Dry meadows and pastiires, and by road-sides in 

 chalky soils. P. Fl. July. Area, \, 2, S, 4, 5. Distributed 

 throughout all the Districts. Stems, smooth, glossy, about 1 foot 

 in height. Leaves yellowish-green, flat, roughish on both sides. 

 Lnjlorescence ei'ect, bright yellow-green, changing to glossy golden 

 yellow. Panicle much branched, spreading widely while in flower. 

 This has the smallest flowers of all our species, and may readily be 

 distinguished by that circumstance as well as by the outer glimella 

 and the ghiin.es. Terminal^cre^ abortive, reduced to a stalked bristle, 

 hairy at the base. 



2. A. pulescens, (Linn.) downy Oat-grass. Lngl. Bot. t. 1640. 

 Parn. Gr. f. 53. 



Locality. Dry pastures, especially in chalky or limestone soils. 

 P. Fl. June. Area, \, 2, 3, 4, 5. Becorded in all the Districts. 

 Stems smooth, 1 or 2 feet in height. Leaves flat, rather broad, 

 never involute, flaccid, downy on both sides. Jvforescence erect, 

 more or less compact, often so much so as to appear spicate. Panicle 

 generally simple. SpiJcelets smaller than those of A. pratensis. 

 Flowers hairy at the base, frequently tinged with reddish-brown or 

 purple. All the fotoers owned. 



3. A. pratensis, (Linn.) meadow or narrow-leaved Oat-grass. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 1204. Parn. Gr. t. 52. 



Locality. In dry chalky or limestone pastures. P. Fl. July. 

 Area, 1,2, 3, 4, 5. Jn all the Districts, but local in its distribution. 

 Stems smooth, from 12 to 18 inches high. L.eaves usually involute, 

 finely serrated with minute cartilaginous teeth at the margins. 

 Ligule long, pointed. lnjlorescence mosth' a simple compact panicle, 

 with erect branches. Spikelets large, ovate, usually 4 or 5, flowered. 

 Glumes unequal, acute. Atvn from above the middle purplish with 

 a white tip. A. jpratensis much resembles A. pubescens. 



