54 THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 



Genus DESCIIAMPSIA, Beauvois. 

 Des-champ' -si-a. 



Spikelets from two three-flowered ; glumes unequal in length ; 

 flowering glume thin, mernbranaceous, and with an awn at the back 

 below the middle. Panicle compound, usually spreading, the third, 

 when present, imperfect. The species here are to be found under 

 the genus Aria in the older books. 



60. DESCHAMPSIA FLEXUOSA, Linneus. 

 Des-champ '-si-a Uex-u-o'-sa. 



Common Names. Common Hair-Grass, Wood Hair-Grass. 



Perennial. Stems from one to two feet high, smooth and slender ; 

 leaves mostly in a tuft from the base, very slender and with the 

 edges rolled in from one to six inches long. The awn is longer 

 than the flowering glume, at length becoming bent and twisted. 



This species grows in dry, sandy or rocky places, and flowers in 

 June. 



Sheep are said to be fond of this grass, but as it affords only a 

 small amount of feed, it is not worth cultivating. 



61. DESCIIAMPSIA C^SPITOSA, Linneus. 



Des-champ' -si-a cons-pi-to'sa. 



PLATE XXXI. 



Common Names. Hair Grass, Tnftc-d Hair Grass. 



Perennial. Stems tufted, from two to four feet high ; leaves flat, 

 linear, rough above and smootli beneath. Panicle pyramidal or 

 oblong, six inches long ; awn straight, barely equalling the flower- 

 ing glume. Shores of lakes and streams. Flowers in July. 



Genus HOLCUS, Linneus. 

 Hol'-cus. 



Said to have been derived from the Greek, Iwlko, to extract, 

 because of its supposed virtue in drawing out thorns. 



Spikelets two-flowered, crowded in an open or contracted panicle ; 

 the boat-shaped glumes nearly equal and somewhat compressed, 



enclosing and much exceeding the enclosed flowers, which are a 



