CLASS III. ORDtR It.] ARRHENATHERUM. 103 



themselves in it. They, however, contain much nutritive matter, and 

 as Sinclair observes, much relished by pigs. 



2. H. lana'tus, Linn. (Fig. 129.) Meadotv Soft-grass. Glumes 

 unequal, somewhat obtuse, the keel terminating in a short point, 

 upper floret with a curved awn included within the glumes; 

 joints of the stem without tufts of hairs ; root simply fibrous. 



English Botany, t. 1169.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 107.— Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 305. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 42. — Sinclair, 

 Hort. Gram. Woburn. p. 163. 



Root of numerous, strong downy fibres. Stems numerous, erect, 

 single, from one to three feet high, smooth, or more generally clothed 

 with thick short down. Leaves linear lanceolate, striated, downy on 

 both sides. Sheaths long, striated, soft and downy. Ligula short, 

 blunt. Inflorescence an erect branched spreading panicle, larger than 

 the above species, a pale green or more generally purplish, its branches 

 Blender, repeatedly divided, and clothed with soft hairs. Glumes 

 dotted or downy, vmequal, tlxe outer valve smallest, keeled obtusely 

 pointed, the inner obtuse with two strong lateral ribs and a keel, which 

 terminates in a short rigid point. Florets shorter than the glumes, 

 pale, smooth and shining, the upper one on a short smooth stalk, con- 

 taining stamens only, the outer valve largest, with a short curved 

 smooth awn arising from near the extremity, and included within the 

 glumes, the lower floret largest, containing both stamens and pistils. 

 Anthers yellow or purple. Seed coated with the hardened glossy 

 glumelles. 



Habitat. — In meadows, pastures, by the side of hedges and woods, 

 common. 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



This very common grass, like the last, is of little value for the 

 purposes of cultivation, and is equally disliked by cattle in its succulent 

 state as well as when made into hay, a circumstance which appears to 

 depend upon its soft woolly nature; and as Sir H. Davy has observed, 

 the bland mucilaginous taste of the nutritive matter of this grass, is 

 not such as is found to be contained in those kinds which are most 

 liked by cattle, which are those of a subacid or saline nature ; and 

 he further observes, that this grass might probably be made more 

 palatable to cattle by being sprinkled over with salt, — a practice which 

 ought to be followed by all persons whose meadows or fields contain 

 any great proportion of this grass. 



GENUS XXIX. ARRHENATH'ERUM. Beauvis. Oat-like Grass. 



Osn. Char. Panicle loose. Glumes two, unequal, two-flowered ; 

 lower floret with stamena only, and a long jointed awn arising 



