85 



HOLCUS MOLLIS. 



LiNNjaus. HooKBE AND Aenott. Smith. Paenell. Lindlet. 



Koch. Willdenow. Cuktis. Knapp. Sinclaie. 



ScHBADEE. Lbees. Host. Schekbes. Babington. Htjdson. Abbot. 



WiTHEEiNa. Eelhan. Hdll. Sibthoep. Dickson. 



PLATE XXVI. 



The Creeping Soft Grass. 



Molcus — To extract. Mollis — Soft. 



HoLCTJS. LinncBUs. — Of the genus Holcus, or "Soft-Grass," England can 

 boast of only two species, both exceedingly interesting plants. The name 

 is derived from the Greek, and signifies to extract; the genus taking this 

 singular name because it was supposed to have the property of drawing out 

 thorns from the flesh. 



A Grass of no agricultural value, as cattle refuse to eat it, 

 whilst its long creeping roots speedily impoverish the soil. Its 

 favourite habitat is sandy, light, barren soil. 



Common in Britain, Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany, 

 and Italy. 



Stem upright, circular, and smooth, bearing four or five flat, 

 broad, acute, soft, roughish, pale green leaves, with usually 

 smooth sheaths, upper sheath considerably longer than its leaf. 

 Joints four, hairy. Inflorescence compound-panicled. Panicle 

 upright, and slightly pendulous at the apex. Spikelets consisting 

 of two florets, the upper one awned. Calyx consisting of two 

 equal-length glumes, membranous, and keels hairy. Upper 

 glume three-ribbed; lower one destitute of lateral ribs. Florets 

 of two paleee. From near the apex of the upper floret arises 



