Holcus.] GHAMINE.E. 301 



free, covered by the cartilaginous corolla. Name, Mdica, or 

 MeUiga, given in Italy to the Sorghum vulgare, on account 

 of the sweet flavour of its stem (mel, honey ) ; applied by 

 JLinnaBus to this somewhat allied genus. 



Triandria. Digynia. 



1. M. uniftora, Linn. Wood Melic-grass. Panicle branched, 

 slightly drooping ; spikelets erect, ovate, with only one perfect 

 floret. Br. Fl ed. 3. p. 41. E. FL v. i. p. 112. E. Bot. 

 t. 1058. 



Shady woods, frequent. Fl. May, June. 1. Imperfect floret on 

 rather a long foot-stalk. Leaves broader than M. nutans, which 

 has not yet been found in Ireland, and whole plant larger. Scale of 

 one piece, orange-coloured, thick, " covered by the outer glume of the 

 corolla." (Wilson.} Hook. 



2. M. ccerulea, Linn. Purple Melic-grass. Panicle erect, 

 subcoarctate ; spikelets erect, oblongo-cylindrical ; floret much 

 longer than the calyx. Br. Fl. ed. 3. p. 41. E. Fl. v. \.p. 113. 

 E. Bot. t. 750. Molinia, Schrank, Lindl. /3. panicle pale 

 green ; spikelets few-flowered. M. afpina, Don. M. depau- 

 perata, Lindl. 



Wet heathy places and moors, frequent. $. Cunnamara. FL Aug. 

 1. Habit very different from the last, but scarcely distinguishable in 

 generic character. Culms one to two feet high or more. All the 

 leaves, which are long and linear, acuminated, springing from the base, 

 or from a single joint immediately above it. Panicle two to eight 

 inches in length, bluish-purple, rarely green. Calyx-values lanceolate, 

 nearly equal. v Florets generally two perfect and one sterile. Anthers 

 large, purple. The culms are very tough, and Lightfoot says, the 

 fishermen in Skye twist them into excellent ropes for their nets. 



11. HOLCUS. Linn. Soft-grass. 



Panicle lax. Calyx of two valves, nearly equal, 2-flowered. 

 Corolla 2-valved ; upper floret with stamens only and awned, 

 lower perfect and awnless. Fruit covered by the indurated 

 corolla. Name, oX/cos, from eX/cw, to extract ; because it was 

 supposed to have the property of drawing out thorns from 

 the flesh. Triandria. Digynia. 



1. H. mollis, Linn. Creeping Soft-grass. Calyx-valves acu- 

 minate ; imperfect flower with an exserted genicuiated awn ; 

 joints of the culm with a tuft of hairs ; root creeping. Br. Fl. 

 ed. 3. p. 42. E. Fl. v. i. p. 108. E. Bot. t. 1170. 



Pastures and hedges, common. Fl. July. !{.. Mr. Wilson well 

 observes, that this species is best distinguished by the acute (or almost 

 acuminate) calyx-glumes and downy joints of the culm. 



2. H. lanatus, Linn. Meadow Soft-grass. Calyx-valves 

 rather obtuse, mucronate; imperfect flower with a curved awn 

 included within the calyx, no tuft of hairs at the joints ; root 



