336 GLUMACE^ 



2. P. litloralis (Perennial Beard-Grass). Stems procumbent ; 

 panicle more branched ; awns scarcely longer than the glumes. 

 Salt marshes on the south-east coast ; rare. Fl. June, July. 

 Perennial. 



22. Gastridium (Nit-Grass) 



i. G. Un&igerum (Awned Nit-Grass). An elegant grass, 6-8 

 inches high ; leaves flat ; panicle contracted into a loose, tapering 

 spike 2-3 inches long ; outer glumes about \ inch long. Damp 

 places, especially near the sea ; rare. Fl. June to September. 

 Annual. 



23. Holcus (Soft Grass) 



1. H. lanatus (Meadow Soft Grass, Yorkshire Fog). Rootstock 

 creeping ; stems 1-2 feet high, very softly grey-hairy like the leaves ; 

 panicle 2-3 inches long, pale or reddish ; awn scarcely protruding. 

 Meadows, etc. ; very common. Fl. July. Perennial. (PI. xciv.) 



2. H. mollis (Creeping Soft Grass). Usually not so downy as 

 the last ; spikelets rather larger ; awn usually protruding. Mea- 

 dows, etc. ; less common. Fl. July. Perennial. 



24. Weingaertneria {Grey Hair-Grass) 



1. W. cancscens (Grey Hair-Grass). A small tufted plant, 

 seldom above 6 inches high, bluish green or purplish ; leaves very 

 narrow, rolled inwards along the margin ; panicle dense and 

 narrow, 1-2 inches long ; spikelets about inch long. Sandy 

 coasts of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Jersey. Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



25. Aira (Hair-Grass) 



1. A. caspitosa (Tufted Hair-Grass). A tall plant growing in 

 large, dense tufts; leaves rather stiff, flat, very rough on the upper 

 surface ; panicle spreading, 6-12 inches long ; spikelets about I inch 

 long ; awns not projecting beyond the outer glumes. Moist, shady 

 places ; common. Fl. July. Perennial. 



2. A. alpina (Alpine Hair-Grass). Sometimes regarded as a 

 variety of the last ; it is dwarfer (4-15 inches high), with shorter 

 leaves and more or less enlarged glumes. The panicle sometimes 

 becomes viviparous, when the spikelets resemble tiny tufts of 

 leaves. Scottish mountains. Fl. July. Perennial. 



3. A. flexuosa (Heath or Wavy Hair-Grass). Tufted; stons 

 i-i feet high ; leaves very narrow, rolled inwards along the 

 margins ; panicle spreading, 2-3 inches long ; spikelets |-J inch 

 long, very shining ; awns projecting beyond the outer glumes. 

 Heaths and hilly pastures; common. Fl. July. Perennial, (xcvi.) 



4. A. seiacea (Bog Hair-Grass). Similar to A. flexuosa, but the 

 basal leaves are longer, slenderer, and are folded, not rolled inwards 



