CH. vu] Botanical Description of Species 



59 



a tuft of hairs in the middle. In Britain, only known to occur 

 on the sandy shores of East Anglia. 



Aira caryophyllea, L. (Silvery Hair-grass.) (Fig. 42.) 



An annual, with rather rough needle-like leaves, growing 

 about six inches high, and found mostly on poor uplands. 



Panicle erect and spreading ; spikelets containing two flowers, 

 the empty glumes equal. 



"Seed" dark-brown or almost black; about 1-5 mm. long, 

 with a basal hair- tuft. Outer palea bifid at its apex, and bearing 

 a dorsal (or almost basal) twisted and "kneed" awn about twice 

 its own length. (Fig. 43.) 



Fig. 40. "Seed" of Aira Fig. 41. " Seed " of Aira flexuosa. x 10. A. Back 

 ccBspitosa. x 10. A. view, showing position of the awn. B. Front 



Front view. B. Side view. 



Aira prcecox, L. (Early Hair-grass.) 



An annual, almost identical in structure and habitat with 

 A. caryophyllea. It is however usually a smaller plant, and the 

 branches of the panicle remain close to the main axis. 



Alopecurus pratensis, L. (Meadow Foxtail.) (Figs. 44, 150.) 

 Abundant in Britain in moist meadows and pastures (see p. 135). 



A slightly stoloniferous, and entirely glabrous perennial, 

 forming loose tufts of abundant dark-green foliage. Sheaths 

 smooth, split; the lower ones often of a purplish colour near the 

 ground, and becoming a dark chocolate colour as they age; the 

 uppermost ones become inflated just before flowering, and remain 



