132 



AvENA STEi&osA. Bristle-pointed Oat. Plate CXII. 



Panicle unilateral, erect. Spikelets usually two-flowered. Flowers 

 awned, nearly equalling the glumes in length, not hairy at the base. 

 Outer palea terminating in two straight bristles. Awns twice as long 

 as the flowers. 



Avena strigosa, Schreler. E. B. 1266 ; ed. 2. 162. Generally 

 adopted. 



A weed of cultivation only, in this country and elsewhere through- 

 out central Europe, and hitherto unknown in a wild state. It is far 

 from being uncommon in corn-fields, especially among oats and barley, 

 rising generally to the same height, and not very readily distinguishable 

 from the former by the eye in passing. The leaves are rather broad, 

 rough, and often glaucous. Inflorescence erect in the mass, usually 

 a simple panicle, the long, slender, roughish branches of which incline 

 to one side. Spikelets nearly as large as those of the common 

 cultivated oat, seldom more than two-flowered. Grlumes smooth, more 

 or less glossy, about equal in length to the flowers. Outer palea ter- 

 minated by two straight bristles, whibh, though variable in length, are 

 usually equal to the palea, if not longer. Both flowers are awned, and 

 the great comparative length of the awns, as opposed to those of 

 Avena sativa, will serve to direct the attention of a botanical observer, 

 when it grows in a field of the latter. 



Annual. Flowers in June and July. 



The resemblance between this and the cultivated species is very 

 striking, and has induced many to believe it a mere variety. That 

 it is either such or a hybrid production between that and some other 

 grass, seems indicated by the circumstance of its not having been 

 found truly wild, or elsewhere than in arable land; and, farther, 

 by the inconstancy of its re-appearance, year after year, in the same 

 locality. In both these respects it resembles Avena fatua, the origin 

 of which is equally problematical. 



Its principal distinguishing feature from the other plants of this 

 series consists in the bristles terminating the outer palea. 



* * Outer glumes one- to three- veined, inner one three-veined. Outer 

 palea five-veined. Spikelets erect. Plants perennial. Ligule acute. 



Avena pratensis. Narrow-leaved Oat Grass. Meadow Oat. 

 Plate CXHI. 



Panicle erect, simple ; branches short, scarcely spreading. Spike- 

 lets erect, oval, compressed, three- to six-flowered. Flowers scarcely 

 exceeding the glumes, hairy at the base. Leaves more or less ijjvolute, 

 their sheaths smooth. Ligule long, acute. 



Avena pratensis, Linnaius. E. B. 1204 ; ed. 2. 164. Hooker and 

 Arnott. Babincjton. Trisetum pratense, Parnell. 



