522 THE GRASS FAMILY. [Aira. 



the spikelets much fewer than in A. ccespitosa, but larger, being usually 

 2 to 3 lines long, very shining, with the fine, hair-like awns protruding 

 beyond the glumes. Deschampsia flexuosa, Beauv. 



On heaths and hilly pastures, throughout Europe and temperate Asia, 

 North America, and in South Chili and Fuegia. Generally distributed 

 over Britain. Fl. summer, [A. montana, Huds., is a subalpine form with 

 larger purple glumes, and A. setacea, Huds. (uliginosa, Weihe, discolor, 

 R. and S. ), one with slender leaves.] 



3. A. canescens, Linn. (fig. 1195). Grey A. — A small, tufted 

 perennial, of a glaucous or slightly purplish tinge, seldom above 6 

 inches high, with fine convolute leaves. Panicle dense and narrow, 

 1 to 2 inches long. Spikelets above 2 lines long, the outer glumes 

 pointed, quite concealing the small flowering ones. These are remark- 

 able for their awns, which are jointed in the middle, with a tuft of 

 minute hairs at the joint, and slightly thickened towards the top, the 

 whole awn not projecting beyond the outer glumes. Corynephorus 

 canescens, Beauv. 



In sandy situations, in central and southern Europe, extending east- 

 ward to North Asia and the Caucasus, and northward to southern 

 Scandinavia. In Britain, only known for certain on the sandy sea- 

 coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk, and in the Channel Islands. Fl. 

 summer. 



4. A. praecox, Linn. (fig. 1196). Early A. — A slender, densely tufted 

 annual, 3 to 6 inches high, with short very fine leaves. Panicle con- 

 tracted, J to 1 inch long. Spikelets rather more than a line long, the 

 outer glumes very scarious. Flowering glumes small, cleft at the top, 

 and slightly hardening, as in Avena ; the short, hair-like awns shortly 

 protruding beyond the outer glumes. 



In sandy and hilly pastures, in central and southern Europe, and 

 western Asia, extending into Scandinavia, but not far to the north. 

 Generally spread over Britain, to the northern extremity of Scotland. 

 Fl. spring. 



5. A. caryophyllea, Linn. (fig. 1197). Silvery A., Hair-grass. — 

 A slender, graceful, tufted annual, seldom above 6 inches high, with 

 short, fine leaves, as in A. prcecox, but the panicle is loose and spread- 

 ing, with long, capillary branches, usually in threes, often occupying 

 half the whole height of the plant. Spikelets and glumes as in A. 

 prwcox. 



In sandy and hilly pastures, with the same area as A. prcecox, and 

 fully as common in Britain. Fl. summer, rather early. 



XVIII. AVENA. OAT. 



Spikelets several-flowered (usually with 3 to 5 flowers, rarely more, or 

 2 only), in a loose panicle. Glumes scarious, at least at the top ; the 

 outer empty ones lanceolate and tapering to a point ; the flowering one 

 smaller, 2-cleft at the top, each lobe tapering into a point, with a long, 

 twisted, and bent awn on the back of the glume. The terminal glume 

 of the spikelet often small and empty or rudimentary. Axis of the 

 spikelet hairy under the flowering glumes. 



A considerable genus, widely spread over the temperate and colder 



