77 



AIRA PRECOX. 



LlNN^TTS. HoOKEE AND AeNOTT. J. E. SjIITH. PaBNELL. BaBINGTON. 



LlNDLEY. GeEVILLE. WlLLDENOW. 



CUETIS. KNAPP. GfiAVES. ScHRADEB. OEDEE. EHBHART. 



PLATE XXIII. B. 



The Early Hair-Grass. 



Air a — To destroy. Prcecox — Early. 



This is a very early Grass, and of but little value; it grows 

 on sandy hills and wall tops. 



Tolerably abundant in England and Ireland, less common in 

 Scotland. 



Found in France, Italy, Germany, and North America. 



This species is known from Aira caryopliyllea by the close 

 panicle, which does not exceed half an inch in width. 



Stem circular, smooth, upright, and carrying four or five 

 narrow roughish leaves, with rough, striated, somewhat inflated 

 sheaths. Uppermost sheath longer than its leaf, and having 

 at its apex a lanceolate membranous ligule. Joints smooth. 

 Inflorescence simple panicled; greenish silvery colour. Panicle 

 upright and close ; branches rough; rachis smooth. Spikelets of 

 two awned florets, enclosed within the calyx. Calyx composed 

 of two equal and acute glumes, minutely toothed on the keels, 

 but destitute of lateral ribs. Florets of two equal-sized pales; 

 exterior one of lowest floret bifid, base hairy, obscurely five- 

 ribbed, and having a lengthy, rough, slender awn rising from 

 slightly above the base, and extending half its length above 

 the apex of the palea. Inner one with margin minutely fringed, 







