TRIANDRIA DIGYNIA. Aira. 19 



A. vulgaris. Fine B, Panicle spreading ; with strad- 

 dling, hair-like branches. Calyx-valves nearly equal. 

 Stem erect. Stipula abrupt, very short. E. B. I67I. 

 A. tenuis. Sb. 



Per. June, 



This grass was always taken for Aira capillaris of Linn, till his 

 Herbarium came among us. E. B, 

 Panicle upright, purplish, with very numerous spreading, hair-like, 



zigzag branches, variously forked, and subdivided, with little 



egg-shaped, shining flowers. E. B. The earliness of this grass, 



its chief agricultural value. 



A. alba. Marsh B. Panicle condensed at the base of 

 the main divisions j stalks rough. Calyx-valves spear- 

 shaped, bristly at the keel. Stem spreading, creeping. 

 Stipula oblong, ribbed. E. B. 1189. i3. A. stoloni- 

 fera. E. B. 1532. Gramen caninum supinum. G. 

 E. 26. 



Moist meadows. Fields inundated in autumn. 



Per. June. 



Stems often throwing out fibres from their lower joints. Panicle 

 palish. In /3 the stem more extensively creeping, sometimes 

 floating ; distinguished by its still more dense and tufted lobes 

 of the panicle, and the calyx generally rough all over, with little 

 bristly points. Sm^ 



AIRA. Hair-grass. 



* Corolla awnless. 



A. cristdta. Crested H. Panicle spiked. Calyx longer 

 than its flower-stalk, shorter than the florets. Glumes 

 all pointed. E. B. 648. Poa cristata. Sb. 42. 



Dry Pastures. 



Per. June. 



Stems simple, erect, about six inches high. Panicle erect, dense, 

 of a silvery gi'een hue. 

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



florets. Sm. 



A. aqudtica. Water H. Panicle spreading. Florets 

 awnless, even, blunt, longer than the calyic. Leaves 

 flat. Stipula oblong. E. B. 1557- C. 1, 5, 



Ditches, pools. Margins of rivers. 

 Per. June. 



Stems leafy, floating upon the water. Glumes equal, blunt. The 

 flowers abound with honey. When growing accidentally out of 



c 2 



