614 GBAMiNE^. [Phragmites. 



pedicel of eacli floret being rounded, not compressed as in A. sativa, inserted at 

 the very centre of the base of the paleae. 



The Brislle-poiiited Oat is cultivated, with other species of this grain, in vari,ous 

 parts of Europe, and very commonly in the Isle of Skye, as I learn from Mr. Bor- 

 rer. Its occurrence with us is quite fortuitous. 



** Smaller glume 1 — 3 nerved, larger one 3-nerved. Outer glumella distinctly 

 5-ribbed. Spikelets erect. Ovary hairy at the top. Ligule acute. Peren- 

 nial plants. 



8. A. pratensis, L. Meadow Oat-grass. " Panicle erect simple 

 or slightly compound lax, spikelets erect oblong compressed of 

 3 — 6 florets, lower floret scarcely so long as the larger glume, 

 leaves glabrous but more or less scabrous on the surface, root 

 tufted."— 5r. Fl. p. 553. E. B. t. 1204. Host. Gram. Aust. ii. 

 38, t. 51. Trisetum, Parn. Gr. t. 52. 



On dry heaths and pastures ; very common in the chalky parts of the island. 



E. Med. — On St. Boniface down, and other parts of the Undercliff, abundant. 



W. Med. — About Uarisbrook. 



4. A. puhescens, L. Doivny Oat-grass. " Panicle erect nearly 

 simple, spikelets erect of about 2 or 3 florets scarcely longer than 

 the glumes, lower leaves plane and the sheaths downy, edges 

 smooth."— 5r. Fl. p. 553. E. B. t. 1640. Host. Gram. Aust. ii. 

 37, t. 50. Trisetum, Pers. : Parn. Qr. t. 54. 



In dry woods, pastures, and on chalky downs ; common. Fl. June, July. !(.. 



Easily known from A. pratensis, to which it is must nearly allied, by its flat 

 leaves, downy at the edges. Moot downy like the rest of the plant. Calyx often 

 2-flowered, in which case there are usually the rudiments of a third floret, more 

 or less developed, sometimes little more than a pedunculated tuft of white hairs. 



*** Smaller glume 1-nerved, larger 3-ribbed. Outer glumella keeled with faint 

 lateral nerves ending in two bristles. .Spikelets erect. Ovary glabrous. 

 Ligule short and obtuse. Perennial plants. 



5. A. flavescens, L. Yellow Oat- grass. "Panicle much 

 branched lax, spikelets of about 3 florets equal in length to the 

 longer of the very unequal glumes, outer glumella with 2 termi- 

 nal bristles, lower leaves and sheaths hairy." — Br. Fl. p. 553. E. 

 B. t. 952. Host. Gram. Aust. iii. 26, t. 38. Trisetum, Beauv. : 

 Parn. Gr. t. 54. 



In dry meadows, pastures and heathy places ; very commonly. Fl. July. !(.. 



XXVIII. Phragmites, Trin. Eeed. 



" Panicle loose. Spikelets distichous, with 3 — 4 many distant 

 perfect florets and a barren one at the base, which are all enve- 

 loped in long silky hairs attached to the rachis of the spikelet. 

 Glumes 2, ' inembranaceous, unequal, shorter than the floret, the 

 lower much smaller. Glumellas 2, membranaceous ; lower ending 

 in a long subulate awnless point." — Br. Fl. 



1. F. communis, Trin. Common Reed. "Panicle spreading, 

 spikelets coloured about 5-flowered longer than the glumes, leaves 



