THE GRASS TRIBE 337 



along the margins ; panicles sometimes 5-6 inches long ; spikelets 

 more numerous. Bogs ; rather rare. Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



5. A. caryophyllea (Silvery Hair-Grass). An elegant little tufted 

 grass 4-6 inches high, with fine short leaves ; panicle loose and 

 spreading, with very slender branches usually in threes ; spikelets 

 rather more than J* inch long ; awns slightly protruding. Dry, 

 sandy places ; common. Fl. May. Annual. 



6. A. precox (Early Hair-Grass). Tufted, 3-6 inches high ; 

 leaves very fine, short ; panicle contracted, -1 inch long ; spikelets 

 as in the last. Dry, sandy places ; common. Fl. April, May. 

 Annual. 



26. Trisetum {Yellow Oat) 



1. T. pratense (Yellow Oat). Often called T. flavescens. Erect, 

 1-2 feet high; panicle oblong, 3-5 inches long; spikelets erect, 

 often yellowish, less than \ inch long ; flowering glume cleft into 2 

 awn-like points and with a fine bent, twisted awn on its back. 

 Rather dry meadows, etc. ; frequent. Fl. July. Perennial. 



27. Avena (Oat) 



1. A. pra/ensis (Perennial or Glabrous Oat). Erect, 1-3 feet 

 high ; leaves usually narrow ; sheaths much flattened ; panicle 

 slightly compound or reduced to a simple raceme ; spikelets erect, 

 glabrous, shining, nearly 1 inch long without the awns. Meadows 

 and pastures, especially in dry, hilly districts ; common. Fl. June. 

 Perennial. 



2. A. pubescens (Downy Oat). Differs from the last in having 

 the leaj-sheaths more or less hairy, and rather smaller spikelets with 

 much longer hairs on their axis. Limestone districts ; common. 

 Fl. June. Perennial. 



3. A. fatua (Wild Oat). A rather robust, erect, glabrous grass 

 2-3 feet high ; leaves long and broad ; panicle large, very loose ; 

 spikelets large, hanging from very slei talks ; outer glumes 

 nearly J inch long ; awn about twice as long as the spikelet, rather 

 stout, abruptly bent. The cultivated Oat (A. saliva) is closely 

 related to this and by some is considered a variety of it. Corn- 

 fields ; common. Fl. July. Annual. 



4. A. sirigosa (Bristle Oat or Black Oat). Resembles A. fatua, 

 but the flowering glumes are larger, and instead of being covered 

 outside with hairs are hairy only below the middle. Cornfields ; 

 rare. Fl. July. Annual. 



28. Arrhenatherum (False Oat) 



1. A. avenaceum (Common False Oat). Erect, 2-3 feet high ; 

 haves few, flaccid ; panicle narrow, loose, 6-8 inches long ; spikelets 



