AIRA CANESCENS. 



LlNN^EUS. HOOKEE AND AENOTT. J. E. SMITH. PABNELL. ScHEADEK. 

 KNAPP. WlLLDENOW. DlCKSON. WlTHEEING. EHEHAET. OEDEE. 



PLATE XXIII. A. 



Coryn&pJiorus canescens, BEAUVOIS. BABINGTON. 



" " REICHENBACH. KOCH. KUNTH. 



Gramen junccum, DALECHAMPS. 



The Grey Hair-Grass. 



Aira To destroy. Canescens To become grey. 



ONE of the rarest of the British Grasses, and consequently 

 a useless agricultural species. 



Found on the sandy coasts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Dorset, and 

 Jersey. 



Native of the Islands of the Mediterranean, Greece, Turkey, 

 Snain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Belgium, 

 France, England, Norway, and Sweden. 



Easily distinguished from all other British species, in having 

 club-shaped awns, which are fringed in the centre. 



Stem upright, circular, and smooth, bearing four or five 

 cetaceous, very short, rough, and glaucous leaves, with rough 

 striated sheaths, the uppermost leaf shorter than its sheath. 

 Ligule of upper leaf acute and bold. Joints three, the upper- 

 most one naked. Inflorescence compound panicled, close and 

 compact until in flower, then spreading; having a purple tinge. 

 Branches rough, but rachis smooth. Spikelets consisting of two 

 acute, membranous, equal-sized glumes, destitute of lateral ribs; 

 keels minutely dentate, and two florets shorter than the glumes. 



