540 



CVII, GRAMINE^. 



lA 



ira. 



very different in habit and generic character from Alra, and from anv 

 other grass with which we are acquainted. Mertens unites it to th 

 long-spikeleted Poas, which now, according to Smith, form the o-enus 

 Glyceria; but it does not naturally combine with tliem Root or 

 eaudex very long, branched, floating, jointed, sending from" the joints ' 

 fibrous radicles below, and culms above, a foot or more lono-, stout 

 with short broad leaves. Glumes with only a single nerve or'inidrih' 

 thin and membranous, broadly oval, obtuse. Glumellas of a thick- 

 texture, brownish-green, white and diaphanous at the blunted ex* 

 tremity. 



16. AiRA Linn. 

 Panicle lax (rarely 



Haii^-grass. 



(Tab. VII. f. 15.) 

 Spikelets laterally com- 



times a neuter one which is usually rudimentary. Glumes 2 

 unequal, about as long" as "* " * 



florets 



1 -nerved, ■ 



Glumellas membranaceous and thin, hairy at the base ; the outer 

 one awned at the back, with or without faint lateral nerves 

 toothed or entire or bifid but not setigerous at the end. Cary-^ 

 opsis glabrous. — N'amed from aipw, to destroy. This name was 



; 



{bearded 



on account of its injurious effects, and no\y to the present 

 genus of grasses, which has little in common with it. 



* 



Outer ghimella erose or toothed at the end. Caryopsis free, neuter 



floret subulate, 



1. A. ccespitosa L. (tvfted H.) ; panicle diffuse, branclies sca- 

 brous, glumes slightly rough on, the midrib, upper 3-ribbed, 

 florets hairj at the base rather longer than the glumes, awn 

 straight inserted near the base of and seldom exceeding in 

 length the outer glumella.— a. vulgaris : sheaths of leaves rou<Th, 



- , E. B. t. 1453: Parn. Gr. 



tt. 23, 104.— d. " 



awn the length of the floret. 



—S. brevifolia; radica . ^ ^^ ^ 



panicle small, awn the length of the floret.' Parn.^^Gr.Z 

 136. — y. longiaristata ; sheaths smooth, awn proiectino- one 

 third beyond the floret. Parn. Gr. t. 105, ° ' 



+ 



Moist shady places, and borders of fields, plentiful.— jS. and 7. on 

 the mountains. 2f. 6, 7.— Much tufted. C«//ns 2— 4 feet high. 

 Leaves hnear, acumuiate, rough at the margin. Ligule long, acute, 

 entire. Panicle large, silvery-grey or greenish, much branched, smaller 

 and purplish in ^. Spikelets acute. Glumes unequal, lanceolate, ' 

 subglabrous, rather acute, erose. Florets with a few longish hairs at 



the base, upper ones pedicellate; their ^Zwwe/fes ovate, obtuse, erose, the - 

 outer one with 4 short teeth, the inner bifid. Mr. Wilson finds it vi- 

 viparous on Snowdon. with the awn inserted above the middle of the 

 valve. Far. fi. is frequently collected for the next species, from which - 

 It can only be certainly known by the position of the awn ; var. 7. has" 

 sometimes but one fprtilp flnrpt «ri>o^ if ;,. 4 7. , -r^ 



■i * 



