GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 45 



Obs. — Airochloa cristnta is distinguished from Aira. in which genus 

 it is placed in the British Flora, in the tlorets having no awns, and not 

 hairv at the base. 



This grass, from its rather stiff pubescent leaves, is supposed to be 

 the principal cause why cattle seldom eat it. Its nutritive properties 

 being as great as in most other grass. It is found in pastures of dry 

 soil, especially near the sea, and on rocks of an elevation of 1500 

 feet above the sea. It is frequent in England, Scotland, and Ireland, 

 as well as in Germany, France, and Italy. It has not been found in 

 Lapland or North America. 



Flowers in the third week of June, and ripens its seed about the 

 end of August, 



30. MoLrVEA DEPAUPERATA.* 



Taicni/ Melic- Grass. 



Specific Character. — Outer palea five-ribbed. (Plate XIX. ") 

 Description. — It gi'ows from nine to twenty inches high. The root 

 IS perennial, of many strong yellowish fibres. Stem erect, round, 

 smooth, bulbous at the base, bearing three leaves with smooth striat- 

 ed sheaths ; the upper sheath shorter than its leaf, crowned with a 

 very short, almost imperceptible ligule. Joint smooth, situated verv 

 near the base. Leaves long, extending beyond the panicle, acute, 

 smooth on the lower half, roughish upwards, hairy on the inner sur- 

 face. Inflorescence simple pauicled. Panicle erect, thin, few-flower- 

 ed, close ; the branches roughish and slender, arising from the angu- 

 lar rachis, mostly solitary, seldom in pairs, Spikelets erect, of a 

 bleached appearance, on long footstalks, of one awnless floret, some- 

 times the rudiment of a second. Calyx of two membranous une- 

 qual acute glumes, (Fig. 1), without lateral ribs. Floret of two 

 palea, (Fig. 2.) the outer palea much longer than the glumes, acute, 

 smooth, five-ribbed, the marginal ribs the broadest Inner palea about 

 equal in length to the outer palea, with two prominent ribs not 

 fringed, 



* Molinea depauperaia, Lindlev. 



