GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 49 



or pinkish tinge. Panicle erect, usually somewhat of a triancmlar 

 form ; spreading, (in the young state close ), the branches hairv, aris- 

 mg from the rachis alternately in pairs of unequal lengths. Spikelets 

 pendulous, with hairy peduncles ; of two florets, the upper one awned. 

 Calyx of two hairy membranous glumes (Tig. 1), of equal heio-ht, 

 the upper glume the larger, of an ohloncj form, tipped with a minute 

 bristle, hairy on the keel and upper part of the inner margins, fur- 

 nished with a green rib on each side : lower glume somewhat crescent- 

 shaped, hairy on the keel and upper part of the inner margins, with- 

 out lateral ribs. Florets of two paleae (Fig 2) ; the outer palea of 

 lowermost floret of an oval form, about half the length of the calvx, 

 obscurely five-ribbed, obtuse at the summit, hairy at the base, with 

 a long naked footstalL Inner palea about equal in length to the 

 outer palea, membranous, obtuse, with the margins delicately fringed. 

 Upper floret smaller than the lower one, elevated on a Ions naked 

 footstalk ; furnished with a dorsal awn about half the length of the 

 palea, arising from a little beneath the summit, and when ripe, curv- 

 ed in the form of a fish hook, becoming concealed within the cah"x ; 

 sometimes the awn, during the early stage, projects conspicuously be- 

 yond the calyx, its summit is slightly roughish, but the tico lower thirds 

 are perfectly smooth 



Obs. — Holcus lanatus is distinguished from Holcus mollis in many 

 respects, which are best seen by comparing the descriptions ; but the 

 most simple and constant character is derived from the aim of the up- 

 permost floret, which, in H. lanatus, is roughish at the summit, with 

 the ttco lower thirds perfectly smooth, while in H. ?7wllis it is minutely 

 toothed throughout its whole length, which can be readilv seen by the 

 assistance of a lens, (^See Plate XXI. Fig. 2.). The unprotruded 

 curved awn in H. lanatus is considered a good specific distinction bv 

 most authors, but in the flowering stage of the plant the a\A-n is not 

 curved, and protrudes slightly beyond the calyx, as in H. mollis, and 

 becomes curved only as the seeds approach to matm'its-. 



The only advantages that this grass possesses are in its beino- 

 productive and easy of cultivation. It has no merits either for 

 pasture or hay, as cattle of every kind seem to dislike if, especially 

 horses. It is a very common gr?ss on shady banks ; in woods and 



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