26 BRITISH SPECIES 
very short, erect, and more or less adpressed to the rachis; it is 
instantly recognised by its dull violet colour. Spikelets about } 
inch long, 2- or 3-flowered, with a terminal rudimentary glume ; 
glumes awnless, the empty ones shorter than the flowering and 
I-nerved ; flowering glumes terete, acute, 3-nerved. Perennial, 
flowering in August. 
Avena pubescens, the Downy Oat, is frequent on downs and in 
the dry upland pastures of districts where the underlying rock 
is chalk or limestone; rather sparingly but widely distributed. 
Rootstock shortly creeping, stoloniferous. Leaves rather broad, 
flaccid, and clothed with soft hairs; lower sheaths also hairy. 
Culms about 2 ft. Panicle very narrow, with a few short, rarely 
divided branches. Spike- 
lets about 4 inch long, 
pale straw-colour tinged 
with violet, 2- or 3-flow- 
ered; flowering glumes 
hairy at the base, rounded 
on the back, and with a 
long bent and twisted 
dorsal awn. Perennial, 
flowering latter part of 
June. 
Avena pratensis, the 
Smooth Narrow - leaved 
Oat (fig. 20), also shows 
partiality for calcareous 
soil, and occurs in the 
same habitats. Itis rather 
common in Great Britain, 
but unknown in Ireland. 
Rootstock densely tufted, 
without stolons. Leaves 
narrow, often involute, 
_ Fic. 20.—Avena pratensis: et of panicle show- rigid and ribbed, margins 
a spaioe Ereseniag and 3 spikelets, one open and scabrid ; neither leaves 
nor sheaths are hairy. 
Culms about 2 ft. The inflorescence closely resembles that of the 
preceding species, but the spikelets are 4 to # inch long and 3- to 
6-flowered. In both these Oats the long geniculate awns are 
conspicuous. Perennial, flowering latter part of June. 
Agrostis canina, the Brown Bent (fig. 6), grows abundantly on 
moors and peaty heaths, and is distributed throughout Britain, 
although rather locally. Rootstock loosely tufted, producing 
trailing and rooting leafy shoots. Leaves extremely narrow, flat ; 
sheaths smooth. Culms 1-2 ft., decumbent. Panicle with 
numerous capillary branches, spreading at time of flowering, 
afterwards close. Spikelets 5 inch long, 1-flowered ; flowering 
glume hyaline, truncate and toothed at the apex, with a bent and 
twisted dorsal awn inserted a little below the middle, and usually 
