AVENE 209 
p. Awn arising from between the teeth of 
the bifid apex, flattened, twisted; in- 
florescence a simple panicle or reduced 
to araceme or even to a single spikelet. DANTHONIA. 
pp. Awn dorsal. ~ 
E. Lower floret of the 2-flowered spike- 
JGh: Shar AAG jG eh 2 ces eo oe . ARRHENATH- 
EE. Lower floret perfect. [ERUM (Par. 241). 
F. Spikelets large, the glumes over 
Dery tntipe Se se Oey a ots ea oe AVENA 
FF. Spikelets less than 1 cm. long. (Par. 239). 
G. Lemma keeled, bidentate; awn 
arising from above the middle..TRIsETUM. 
eq. Lemma convex; awn from below ; 
UES EERIE Fs ec ne ee Se DESCHAMPSIA. 
238. Notholcus Nash—A genus of several species of 
Europe and Africa, one of which, velvet-grass (NV. lanatus), 
is introduced in America. This is sometimes cultivated as 
a meadow-grass but has little forage value. As it thrives 
better than other meadow-grasses upon poor soil it is 
utilized for sterile ground. It has escaped in many parts 
of the United States especially on the Pacific coast. Velvet- 
grass is an erect perennial with velvety foliage and a 
narrow panicle, expanded in flower. (Holcus L. in part.) 
Notholcus lanatus (L.) Nash. (Fig. 43), Velvet-grass. Perennial; 
culms erect, 1 to 3 feet high, pubescent; sheaths velvety especially 
near the node; ligule pubescent, membranaceous, about 2 mm. long, 
more or less toothed and ciliate; blades flat, velvety, mostly 2 to 4 
inches long; panicle oblong, 2 to 4 inches long, pale or purplish, in 
flower spreading and rather open, in fruit contracted; spikelets 4 to 
5 mm. long, the glumes pubescent, longer than the florets, ciliate 
on the nerves, the upper broader, 3-nerved, the awn of the second 
floret hooked. A common weed from Puget Sound to San Francisco, 
in moist and dry soil. 
239. Avena L—Oats. Mostly annuals with large 
spikelets, of which the common cultivated oat (A. sativa) is 
the most familiar example. The drooping spikelets are in 
open panicles. The large and papery glumes are longer than 
N 
