135 



characters, and agrees in every respect with wild German and other 

 continental specimens. In reference to these characters it is further 

 observed in the ' British Flora,' that " none are so striking as the flat, 

 sharply carinated sheaths, and the great breadth of the leaves, which 

 in cultivated specimens equals half an inch. Their width too is nearly 

 the same throughout, at the extremity coming suddenly to a sharp 

 point." In addition to these features, the apparently verticillate ar- 

 rangement of the spikelets in successional and rather distant tiers is no 

 less remarkable. Viewed apart, indeed, or in contrast only with the 

 normal form of Avena pratensis, no two species could be more distinct ; 

 but with A. alpina, and its varied gradations intervening, the limit 

 between them is no longer traceable, and the three become as one. 

 Such is the view entertained by many of our best practical men, and 

 careful comparison of the figures and remarks upon them in ik^ present 

 work will tend to its confirmation. 

 Perennial. Flowers in July. 



Avena pubbscens. Downy Oat Grass. Plate CXVI. 



Panicle erect, nearly simple, compact, almost spicate. Spikelets 

 erect, oval, two- or three-flowered, scarcely longer than the glumes. 

 Flowers hairy at the base. Leaves flat, downy. Xigule long, acute. 



Avena pubescens, Linnceus. E. B. 1640 ; ed. 2. 163. Bahington. 

 Hooker and ArnoU. Trisetum pubescens, Lindley. Parnell. 



A native of dry, chalky, and limestone Mils and pastures. Stems 

 smooth, one or two feet in height. Leaves flat, rather broad, never 

 involute, flaccid, downy on both sides, and soft to the touch. Inflo- 

 rescence erect, more or less compact, often so much so as to appear 

 spicate. Panicle generally simple, the branches very short. Spikelets 

 smaller than those of A. pratensis, usually only two-flowered, but in 

 luxuriant specimens often four-flowered. Flowers hairy at the base, 

 frequently tinged with reddish-brown, or purple, variegated with the 

 silvery white margins of the palese. All the flowers awned. 



Perennial. Flowers in June and July. 



Independent of its marked pubescent character, this grass has little 

 to distinguish it from the others of its section, and when growing in 

 moist ground it is much less conspicuously downy ; while cultivated in 

 a rich soil, it becomes nearly smooth. Where forming a portion of the 

 promiscuous crop, it is eaten down by cattle with the rest, but they 

 dislike hay with which there is much of it mingled; and, like A. 

 pratensis, it has no claim to the attention of the agriculturist, being 

 equally deficient in quantity of herbage and foodful quality. 



* * * Outer glume one-veined ; inner one three-veined. Outer palea 

 five-veined, terminating in two bristles. Spikelets erect. Plants 

 perennial. Ligule short, obtuse. 



