GRASSES 0¥ SCOTLAND. 51 



rothfh throwjhoiii its whole length, protruding at all times conspicu- 

 ously bevond the calj-x, when dry becoming bent but never ciu-ved ; 

 in other respects, the upper floret is similar to the lower one. 



Obs. biaristatus, (Plate XXIL) This variet}', when 



compared with ^o/c>/.t mollis, has larger and fewer spikelets, generally of 

 a bleached appearance : the ligiUe longer : the florets nearly of equal 

 size, as long as the small glume of the calyx ; acute at the summits, both 

 furnished with a long dorsal aiai, rough throughout the whole length. 

 Root creeping. At first I was led to consider this grass as a distinct 

 species (in consequence of finding the awns constant in all those speci- 

 mens I examined), and stated it as such at a meeting of the Royal 

 Society of Edinbiu-gh ; but having since had an opportimity of exa- 

 mining several dozen specimens from various localities, and not find- 

 ing the characters constant throughout all the florets of the same pani- 

 cle, I am induced to consider it as only a variety of//, mollis. In some 

 specimens the spikelets on the upper part of the panicle have both their 

 fiorets distinctly awned, while the florets of the lower spikelets are si- 

 milar in every respect to those of H. mollis. This variety is frequent- 

 ly met with in damp shady woods, and occasionally in open boggv- si- 

 tuations. It flowers early in July. 



parvijlorus, (Plate XXII.) a variety fi-ora nine to twelve 



inches high, with very small spikelets of the size represented in the fi- 

 gure, being not more than half the size of those of Holcus mollis. 

 Flowers early in July, and is found in dry sandy woods. 



Holcus rnollis is distinguished from Holcus lanatns (two species very 

 closely allied), in the large glume of the calyx being acute ; the la- 

 teral rib situated nearer to the keel than to the inner margin. Aicn of 

 the floret minutely toothed its ichole length, (see Fig. 4) ; — whereas in 

 H. lanatns the large glume is more obtuse, tipped with a minute point 

 or awn : lateral rib situated nearer the inner margin than to the keel ; 

 aicn of the floret perfectly smooth nearly its whole length, and being 

 roughish only on the upper third. (See Fig. 4). 



This grass is considered by fiirmers as a most troublesome weed, 

 and with difficult}- eradicated, especially when it gets possession of a 

 soil that is favourable to its growth. Its long creeping root, which 

 is said sometimes to exceed the length of four feet, is very impoverish- 



