H. LANATUS L., MEADOW SOFT GRAS& 193 



Tipper male. Empty glumes persistent below the joint, keeled, 

 the lower 1-nerved, acute or acuminate, the second broader, 

 3-nerved, acute or awned. Floral glumes shorter than the 

 empty ones, membranous, the lower awnless, at length firm, 

 including a perfect flower, the upper quite similar, but including 

 a staminate or neutral flower, and bearing on its back a slender 

 curved awn. Palea narrow, 2-keeled. Lodicules oblique, acumi- 

 nate. Stamens 3. Styles distinct, stigmas feathery. Caryopsis 

 oblong, included by the firm glume, free. Soft annuals or 

 perennials. Leaves flat or rarely convolute. 

 Species 8, belonging to Europe or Africa. 



H. lanatus, L., Meadow Soft Grass, Yelvet Grass, York- 

 shire Fog, Salem Grass, White Timothy, Yelyet Mes- 

 quit Grass. A soft perennial, culms G-24 in., ascending, leafy. 

 Leaves flat, upper sheaths inflated; ligule short. Panicle 2-5 

 in., whitish green, often pinkish ; branches 2-3-nate. Spikelets 

 -J- in., elliptic-oblong; empty glumes acute, nerves strong. 

 [Specific character after Hooker.] 



Velvet grass is mentioned here because it is so soft, velvety, 

 conspicuous and handsome, that every one at once becomes inter- 

 ested in knowing the name and value, but it is still questionable 

 whether it is worthy of cultivation anywhere. 



Holcus lanatus is very productive of seed, and somewhat 

 resembles orchard grass. The whole plant has a grayish aspect 

 of pale white color often tinged with red. It is very common in 

 England, and has been introduced with other seeds into various 

 parts of this country. During summer on the moist old pastures 

 of New England, we have often seen bunches untouched and 

 going to seed, while June grass, red top and white clover were 

 kept closely cropped. 



Baron Lawes says: "This grass is not liked by cattle either 



FIG. 86. Holcus Uinatiis (Velvet Grass) ; a, A plant; fc, spikelet; c, back of upper 

 empty glume ; d, two florets, without empty glumes. (Scribner.) 



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