AVKNH.K. 



301 



lutrodiutcd on hullitst ;,nv)ini(l, IMiilii(k'Ii))iia. 



r4. (15-). AiRA L. S,,. I'l. 03 (175:5). A.yuis Aduns. Fam. 2: 

 i'Mi (1703). /.rp/u/>/a,/ja Klirli. liuitr. 4: U(j (irso). J'ruineid] c 

 14!) (118!)). J//////r>/m I'iirl. Fl. I'ulenn. 1 : 9x; (1.S15). /aW,,m 

 l''i'-l. Fl. Itul. l:->;5;' (1848). Moliutria 1. c. 23U (1S48). /',/■/- 

 ballia Tvui. Fund. Ayrost. 133 (1848). Fu,,ia Scl.iir. Euuni I'l 

 'I'mnss. :o4 (18()(j). 



Spikelets 2-fl()werod, small, in a loose or nirdy contracted pani- 

 cle with capillary rays; rachilla articulate, minutely hairy and not 

 ut all or scarcely produced lieyond the perfect flowers. Empty 

 ^dumes thinly scarious, nearly equal, acute; lloral-lume close above 

 tliem, shorter, thin and hyaline, linely j.ointed „r shortly hilld, 

 with a fine dorsal twLsted awn below the middle; palea ;3-nerved,' 

 hyaline, about as Ion- as its glume. Styles short, distinct. Grain 

 enclosed and more or less adnate to the glume and i)alea. 



Delicate slender grasses, usually aniiuals with narrow blades. 



A sn)all genus with 4-5 species, all of which are Kuropean, 

 though some of them are now widely disseminated in otlior temper- 



Fio. QB.—Aira cari/op7ii/lUa. Spikelet. (Ricliardson.) 



ate regions. The genus formerly was made to include Deschamp- 

 sia, Airopsis, Cornncphorus, and others. It is nearly allied to 

 ivena, Imchnc, Miciriira, Cwlachne. 



