TRIANDllIA— DIGYNIA. Aira. 101 



(.istinct. Stigm. feathery, large. Seed ovate, loose, co- 

 vered with the membranous corolla. 

 Iiiflorescence panicled, either very loosely, or condensed into 

 a spike. The genus is, as Mr. Brown remarks under his 

 Eriachne, Pr. 183, entirely artificial, allied to 3 or 4- 

 others, from which it differs in the small number of florets. 

 We can therefore give no characteristic description of its 

 habit, any further than that the stems are erect, jointed, 

 and more or less leafy. Leaves generally narrow. 



* Corolla awnless. 



1. A. cristata. Crested Hair-grass. 



Panicle spiked. Calyx longer than its flower-stalk, shorter 

 than the florets. Glumes all pointed. 



A. cristata. Linn. Sp. PL 94. Fl. Br. 83. Engl. Bot. v. 9. t. 648. 



Knapp t.30. Hook. Scot. 29. Sclirad. Germ. v. 1. 255. 

 Poa cristata. Mllld. v. \. 402. With. 145. Hull. 22. Relh.37. 



Sibth.42. Abbot 19. Host Gram. v. 2. 54, t. 75. LeersSl. t.5. 



/. 6. Ehrh.Phijt.32. 

 Festuca n. 1444. Hall. Hist. v. 2. 217. 

 Giamen pumilum hirsutunij spica purpureo-argentea molli. Rail 



Syn. 396. 

 G. spica cristata, subhirsutum. Bauh. Prodr. 8. Theatr. 43. 



Scheuchz. Jgr. 166. Moris, v. 3. I94.5eci.8. t.4.f. 7. 



In dry, elevated, or calcareous, pastures, or on walls, not very 

 common. 



Perennial. July, August. 



Roots forming dense tufts ; their fibres downy. Stems simple, erect, 

 round, about 6 inches high, or more ; most jointed and leafy be- 

 low } a little downy above. Leaves rather stiff, linear, narrow, 

 acute, flat, single-ribbed, with long, clasping, more or less downy 

 or hairy sheaths, and a very short, slightly fringed, stipula. The 

 edges of the leaves are rough and hairy, as Professor Schrader 

 rightly observes, in opposition to my former descriptions, but 

 this character varies in degree ; their upper surface is strongly 

 ribbed. Panicle lanceolate, dense, erect, many-flowered, from 

 1 to 4 or 5 inches long, compound and somewhat interrupted, 

 conspicuous for its shining silvery hue, mixed with pale purple 

 and green ; the common stalk densely downy. Fl. crowded, 

 erect. Glumes all similar, compressed, finely pointed, with mem- 

 branous edges. Florets very rarely 3. 



This species is a Festuca, except in the small number of florets. 



2. A. aqnatica. Water Hair-grass. 



Panicle spreading. Florets awnless, even, obtuse, longer 

 than the calyx. Leaves flat. Stipula oblong. 



