TRIANDKI A, DIGVMA. 69 



. Avena, Gen. pi. 122. (Gramme*.) 



(Jul x 2-valved, 2, 3, or many-flowered. Co- 

 rolla, exterior valve lanceolate, somewhat te- 

 rete, furnished with a dorsal awn. Awn ge- 

 nieulate, and eontorted. " Seed for the 

 most part invested by the corolla." Sc/iradcr. 

 (Glumes of the ealix membranaceous, re- 

 sembling follicles.) Nutt. 



1. A. culm 3 feet high, jointed, joints oblong smoth. eiatior. 

 Leaves lanceolate. Branches of the panicle soli- 

 tary and ternate divided. Cal. 2-flowered, 2- 

 valved, valves unequal, with one flower awnless, 



the other awned. Cor. glume 2-valved, the awn 

 bearded at the base. Stam. 3 with yellow an- 

 thers. Fist. 2 white plumose. Muhl. 



Found frequenUy in cultivated fields, interspersed with 



trass and grain. Introduced; with grass-seeds from Europe, 

 ut now naturalized. Perennial. June. 



2. A. culm half a foot high jointed, joints smooth, paiusu-ii. 

 Leaves linear-lanceolate nerved smooth. Sheath 

 striate smooth. Ligula small bearded. Panicle 

 narrow ; branches unequal 4 — 6, 1-flowered and 

 many-flowered smooth. Cal. 2-valved acute 

 marginated 2-flowered, one flower sessile, the 

 other pedicellated, the pedicel pubescent. Cor. 

 2-valved, acuminated in the sessile flowers ; the 



awn of the pedicellated flowers oblique at the 



apex. Muhl. 

 Aira pallens. Muhl. 

 A. Pennsylvania. Sprengel. 



This beautiful grass occurs with and without awns. The 

 aristated variety is most common. In Jersey, in damp woods 

 ami moist low grounds, frequent. Also occurs on this side 

 of the river, but less often. Perennial. May. 



