AVENA FATUA. 
Linnzxus. Smira. Hooker anp Arnott. Parnety. Kwyaprr. 
Wititpenow. Martyn. Don. ScHRADER. 
Host. Leers. Enruart. Scuresper. Kocnu. Linpiry. WItHerine. 
Hupson. Kunto. Hui. ReELyan. 
SrtptHore. Appot. WincH. Macreiant. Bapineton. Draxin. Rates. 
PLATE LIX. 
The Wild Oat-Grass. 
Avena—Oat. Fatua—Wild. 
Avena. JLinneus.—The Oat-Grass has a lax panicle and laterally com- 
pressed spikelets. Awns long and twisted. In this family is the Avena 
sativa, or Cultivated Oat, an introduced species. Amongst our indigenous 
species are Avena fatua, A.strigosa, A. pratensis, A. pubescens, A. flavescens, 
and A. planiculmis; the latter has only been collected by one botanist, Mr. 
Murray, who discovered it at Glen Sannox, in the Isle of Arran. 
Tur Wild Oat-Grass is a common species in England and 
Ireland, yet much rarer in Scotland. It chiefly grows in corn- 
fields, and is a troublesome weed. 
The awns, from their extreme sensitiveness to the moisture 
of the air, are manufactured into Hygrometers. The florets are 
also occasionally used as artificial flies for trout-fishing. 
Native of France, Italy, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Lapland, 
Asia, and Northern Africa. 
Stem upright, circular, and polished, having four or five flat, 
linear, rough, minutely-ribbed leaves, with smooth striated 
sheaths. Joints smooth. Inflorescence simple-panicled. Panicle 
spreading, and of large size. Rachis smooth, branches rough. 
