GRAMINEJ!. 



967 



3. Narrow Smallreed. Calamagrostis stricta, Nutt. 



(Fig. 1.173.) 



{Jrundo, Eng. Bot. t. 2160.) 



A more erect plant than the purple S., 

 1£ to 3 feet high, with stiffer, narrow 

 leaves. Panicle very narrow, 4 to 6 

 inches long. Spikelets smaller than 

 in the last species, the outer glumes 

 broader. Hairs of the axis considerably 

 shorter than the flowering glume, which 

 has an awn inserted rather below the 

 middle, and reaching to about its own 

 length. There is also at the base of the 

 palea a rudimentary prolongation of the 

 axis, in the shape of a minute bristle, 

 with a tuft of hairs. 



In bogs and marshes, in northern and 

 Arctic Europe, Asia, and America, not 

 reaching southward of northern Ger- 

 many. Rare in Britain, having been 

 formerly found in Scotland, and more 



recently in the moors round Oakmere, in Cheshire, and the same or 

 a nearly allied species in Antrim County, Ireland. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 1173. 



XYII. AIRA. AIEA. 



Yery near Oat in all essential characters, but the spikelets are much 

 smaller, usually with two flowers only, or rarely a single one, the 

 flowering glumes thinner and more scarious, not projecting beyond 

 the outer glumes, and the hair- like awn on their back much shorter 

 than in Oat. 



The species are few, chiefly European and north Asiatic, a very few 

 extending into North America, or reappearing in the southern hemi- 

 sphere. 



Panicle very loose, with capillary, spreading branches. 



Stems 2 to 4 feet high. Leaves in large tufts, flat and rough. 



Awns shorter than the glumes 1. Tufted A. 



Stems 1 to H feet. Leaves rolled in on the edges. Awns 



projecting from the outer glumes 2. Wavy A. 



Stems 4 to 6 inches. Leaves fine and short. Awns shortly 



protruding 5. Silver?/ A. 



