1104 



Avena fatua. In corn-fields and other cultivated land, in waste 

 ground, fallows, &c; abundant in most parts of the Isle of Wight, to 

 an injurious degree in cereal and other crops. Much too common 

 about Ryde, Yarmouth, &c. amongst corn, clover, turnips, &c. Ge- 

 nerally distributed, I believe, over the county. The more valuable 

 cultivated Oat [A. sativa) differs from the present species in its 

 smaller and far less spreading panicle, which continues unilateral to 

 the last ; in its smoother, less strongly ribbed florets, nearly devoid 

 of all hairiness beneath, one or more of which are abortive, and want- 

 ing the awn, which is shorter, and not geniculate, as in that. The 

 florets of the cultivated Oat are placed upon a short, vertical, com- 

 pressed pedicel, immediately under their base, in a transverse posi- 

 tion, whilst those of A. fatua stand laterally or obliquely upon their 

 very short point of insertion, and are all furnished with awns. 



X Avena strigosa. In corn-fields and cultivated ground, in potato- 

 plots, &c, here and there occasionally, but not common, at least in 

 the Isle of Wight, and doubtless introduced with agricultural seeds. 

 In a field at Steephill. A specimen or two amongst potatoes in a 

 garden near St. John's toll-gate, Ryde, Rev. G. E. Smith, 1838 !!! 

 I believe I have gathered it elsewhere in the island, but its presence 

 here is quite fortuitous, and hardly entitles it to a place in our flora, 

 even amongst the naturalized species. I am not aware that it is ever 

 cultivated with us as it is in various parts of Europe, and very com- 

 monly in the Isle of Skye, as I learn from Mr. Borrer. Spikelets 

 two- (sometimes four-) flowered ; both florets perfect, the inner one 

 on a geniculate, bearded pedicel, but neither having any basal tuft, as 

 in A. fatua. Scar nearly circular, neither transverse nor oblique, the 

 pedicel of each floret being rounded, not compressed, as in A. sativa, 

 which the present species much resembles ; inserted at the very cen- 

 tre of the base of the pales. 



Avena pratensis. On dry pastures and heaths ; very common in 

 the chalky parts of the island, and, with the next, on most of the 

 chalk downs in the county. Plentiful on St. Boniface Down, and 

 other parts of the UnderclifF; about Carisbrooke, &c. 



Avena pubescens. In dry woods, pastures, on chalk-banks, downs, 

 &c, with the last, and I think equally common. Abundant on St. 

 Boniface Down, and elsewhere along the Undercliff. Common about 

 Luccombe, Carisbrooke, Freshwater, &c, Mr. Dawson Turner in 

 Snooke's Fl. Vect. !!! 



Arrhenatherum avenaceum (Avena elatior, Sm. &c.) In meadows, 

 pastures, thickets, on hedge banks and by road-sides; very common 



