CLASS UI. ORDER II.J AVBNA. 141 



Glumelles nearly equal, lanceolate; the o?<<c)- smooth, scarcely ribbed 

 except towards the apex, where it is membranous and pale, often torn j 

 the lower part green, variegated with purple, as well as the glumes; 

 awn from above the middle of the back, purplish, with a white slender 

 point. Glumellides long, lanceolate ; the inner valve thin, white, and 

 membranous. Stigmas short and feathery. 



Habitat. — Dry pastures and mountainous places in a chalky or cal- 

 careous district, as well as in meadows of a clayey soil; not uncommon. 



Perennial ; flowering in July. 



4. A. alpi'na, Smith, (Fig. 182.) yreat Alpine Oat-grass. Panicle 

 erect, slightly branched ; spikelets erect ; florets five or six, longer 

 than the glumes; leaves roughish, broad, flat, linear, acuminated ; 

 the margins rough ; sheaths and stem round. 



English Flora, vol. i. p. 165. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 310. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 53. — Avenia planicul'mis, English Botany, t. 

 2141. 



Root fibrous, downy, tufted. Stem erect, about two feet high, round, 

 smooth, striated, leafy below. Leaves linear, broad, flat, striated, which 

 as well as the edges are rough, with minute points ; the lower ones 

 folded, not rolled inwards. Sheaths round, close, deeply striated, 

 rough ; the upper ones long ; the lower very short. Ligula acute, 

 torn. Inflorescence an erect, rather close panicle, from three to four 

 inches long; its branches angular, rough, simple or subdivided, tumid 

 at the extremity. Spikelets erect, often an inch long. Glumes lance- 

 olate, unequal, membranous ; the margins and acute points thin and 

 pale; the two lateral ribs and keel roughish. Florets five or six,rather 

 remote, each upon a smooth footstalk, except a tuft of stiff", white, 

 shining hairs, which are slightly decurrent. Glumelles lanceolate : 

 the outer with five rough ribs ; the apex deeply cloven ; the colour a 

 pale yellowish-green, variegated with brown : awn long and tapering, 

 rough, brown, arising from about the middle of the valve : inner valve 

 thin, white, membranous, minutely downy, the point acute. Stigmas 

 short, feathery. 



Habitat. — Rocky placLS on mountains; rare.^ 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



This species is nearly allied to the last, from which it is distinguished 

 by its larger and more compound panicle, its stouter habit, and broader, 

 flatter, and rougher leaves. 



6. A. planicul'mis, Schrad. (Fig. 183.) Jlat-stemmed Oat-grass. Pa- 

 nicle erect, branched ; spikelets erect ; florets from five to seven, 

 much longer than the glumes ; leaves broadly linear, suddenly 

 acute, flat, minutely serrated, rough, as well as the flat, sharply- 

 keeled sheaths ; lower part of the stem slightly compressed, two- 

 edged. 



