THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



267 



bearing stamens, the npper one perfect, about 3 lines long, the lower one with a 

 fine dorsal awn, the upper one awnless. Avena elatior, Linn. 



Not common, but widely dispersed. Distributed in both Hemispheres. 

 Introduced. 



Var. bulbosa. Similar, but the rhizome developing a succession of 

 spherical bulbs, and both flowers perfect and apparently fertile. 

 Introduced. Bellerive. 



AvBNA SATIVA, Ziinn. The wild degenerated state of the oat of cultivation 

 shows a disposition to become naturalised. 



28. DANTHOlSriA. 



Spikelet few or many flowered. Outer pair of empty glumes as long as or 

 longer than the spikelet, acute. Flowering glume terminating in 2 subulate 

 points, and bearing a fine, twisted, dorsal awn attached near the top. 

 Inflorescence a loose or rather dense panicle or raceme. 



A genus of wide distribution in temperate parts of both Hemispheres. 



Small. Flowers in spikelet, 2-4... ... ... 2. D. pauciflora. 



Flowers ustlally many ... ... ... ... 1. D.penicillata. 



1. D. PEificiLLATA, i^. ^. ilf. Very variable in size and detail. Leaves setaceous, 

 convolute to flat, and 2 lines broad. Stem from 4 inches to 2 feet high. 

 Inflorescence a loose or rather dense raceme or panicle. Spikelets ^ to nearly f 

 inch long. Outer glumes acute, enclosing the flowers. Flowering glumes 3 to 

 about 8, 2-4 lines long without the awns, ending in 2 long lanceolate or filiform 

 lateral processes and a fine, dorsal, twisted awn, usually bearing ciliate hairs on 

 the margin or back. 



Very common ; also throughout Australia- 



The extreme variability of the plant has given rise to many specific names. 

 In Tasmania the forms are too numerous, and run one into, another, to warrant 

 them being kept separate. The following are the more marked : — 



Var. pallida. About 2 feet high. Leaves subulate. Panicle dense, 3-6 

 inches long. Outer glumes under |. inch. Flowering glumes 3 or 4, 

 hairy on margin and a few tufts on the back. Lateral lobes lanceolate. 

 D. pallida, R. Br. 



Var. racemosa. Stems weak, 1-2 feet. Leaves narrow, flat. Spikelets 

 not numerous, in a simple raceme or linear panicle, 2-3 inches long. 

 Outer glumes about | inch long, acute. Flowering glumes generally 

 numerous, glabrous or nearly so. Lateral lobes long, filiform. Awn 

 about 8 lines long. D. racemosa, R. Br. 



Var. pilosa. Differing from the last in little beyond a more tufted habit 

 and a dense panicle, but very variable. The pilose condition 

 untrustworthy. -D. pilosa, R. Br. 



Var. semiannularis. Usually robust and 1-2 feet high. Leaves from 

 nearly filiform to flat, and 2 lines broad. Panicle dense, 2-4 inches 

 long. Outer glumes 5-9 lines long, acute. Flowering glumes usually 

 numerous, about 2-4 lines long, very hairy, some of the tufts foMning a 

 rinij- just below the awn. Lateral processes long, filiform. Awn about 

 I inch long. Z>. semiannularis, R. Br. 



Var. setacea. 6-9 inches high. Leaves short, filiform. Panicle dense, 

 about 1-I| inch long. Spikelets slender, about 4 lines long. Outer 

 glumes narrow, acute. Flowering glumes about 4 or 5, small, hairy, but 

 usually without the ring of semiannularis. Lateral lobes long and very 

 slender. Awn rather longer. D. setacea, R. Br. ; D. suhulata. Hook. 



K.: 



