TRIANDRIA DIGYNIA. Melica. 21 



HOLCUS. Soft-grass. 



H. lanatus. Meadow S. Calyx woolly. Lower floret 

 perfect, awnless ; upper with an arched awn. Leaves 

 downy on both sides. Root fibrous. E. B. 1169- 

 C. 4. 11. 



Meadoivs, pastures. 

 Per. June, 



H. mollis. Creeping S. Calyx partly naked. Lower 

 floret perfect, awnless ; upper with an acutely-bent, 

 prominent awn. Leaves slio-htly downy. Root creep- 

 ing. E. B. 1170. C. 5. 8. 



Pastures, shady copses, hedges. 

 Per. July. 



Root widely creeping, difficult of extirpation, but not very com- 

 mon nor troublesome in arable land. Whole plant more slender 

 than the former, and less downy. Sm. 

 H. avendceiis. Oat-like S. Calyx smooth. Barren 



floret lowest, with a sharply-bent prominent awn ; 



fertile one slightly elevated, scarcely awned. Leaves 



rather harsh. Root knotty. E. B. 813. Axiena 



elatior. C. 3. 6. Gramen caninum nodosum. G. 



E. 23. 

 Hedges, pastures. 

 Per. June. 



The plant has the habit of an arena. Ls. of a darkish green. 

 Branches of the panicle half-whorled. The roots sometimes very 

 troublesome to farmers in arable lands. Crop abundant, but un- 

 palatable to cattle. Swayne. 



MELICA. MeHc-grass. 



M. uniflora. Wood M. Petals beardless. Panicle 

 branched, drooping toward one side. Flowers erect. 

 Spikelet with only one perfect floret. E. B. 1058. 

 C. 5. 10. 



Groves, thickets. 

 Per. May. 



Root fibrous, or somewhat creeping. The only perfect floret, 

 stalkless. The neuter one on a stout bent stalk, its glumes small, 

 abrupt, and shapeless. Its red blossoms suspended by hair-like, 

 and almost invisible stalks, seem like insects dancing in the air. 

 E. B. 



M. coerulea. Purple M. Petals beardless, acute. Pa- 



