171 



AVENA PRATENSIS. 



LisNxns. Hooker and Arnott. Smith. Willdenow. 



Knapp. Hudson. Hull. Sinclair. Schhader. 



Host. Leers. Koch. Withering. Relhan. Sibtiiorp. Ealfs. 



Kunth. Abbott. Lightfoot. Macbeight. Babington. 



LlNDLEY. DEAKIN. 



PLATE I.X. A. 



Trisetum pratense, 



Avena alpina, 

 " planiculmis, 

 " bronufirfes, 



Parnell. 



Smith. 



Smith. Hooker. 



LlNNTEUS. AVlLLDENOW. GoUAN. 



The Narrow-leaved Perennial Oat-Grass. 



Avena — Oat. 



Pratensis — A meadow. 



A common species, of scarcely any agricultural merit. 



Found in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, 

 Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, and Lapland. 



Stem upright, almost circular, smooth, and minutely striated, 

 having three or four linear-acute harsh leaves, with striated 

 sheaths, upper sheath twice the length of its leaf, rough, and 

 having a lengthy, narrow, membranous ligule; lower sheaths 

 smooth, and shorter than their leaves. Joints three, smooth. 

 Inflorescence compound-racemed, or simple-panicled. Panicle 

 upright, lengthy, and compact. Rachis and branches rough to 

 the touch. Spikelets large, oval in form, of four or five awncd 

 florets, and of the same length as the calyx. Calyx consisting 

 of two acute unequal glumes, three-ribbed, having rough keels, 

 and on the lower portion purplish. Floret of two paleaB, the 

 basal exterior one frequently bifid, five-ribbed, base hirsute. 



