290 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



Avena, (Linn.) Oat, Oat-grass. 

 Linn. CI. iii. Ord. ii. 

 Name. From (aveo) to desire, because cattle are fond of it. Oat, 

 from the Celtic word atan. 



1. A. flavescens, (Linn.) yellow Oat-grass. Engl. Bot. t. 952. 

 Trisetum-Zfe#wy. Tarn. Gr. t. 54. 



Locality. Dry meadows and pastures, and by road-sides in 

 chalky soils. P. Fl. July. Area, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Distributed 

 throughout all the Districts. Stems, smooth, glossy, about 1 foot 

 in height. Leaves yellowish-green, flat, roughish on both sides. 

 Inflorescence erect, bright yellow-green, changing to glossy golden 

 yellow. Panicle much branched, spreading widely while in flower. 

 This has the smallest flowers of all our species, and may readily be 

 distinguished by that circumstance as well as by the outer glumella 

 and the glumes. Terminal floret abortive, reduced to a stalked bristle, 

 hairy at the base. 



2. A. pubescens, (Linn.) downy Oat-grass. Engl. Bot. t. 1640. 

 Tarn. Gr. t. 53. 



Locality. Dry pastures, especially in chalky or limestone soils. 

 T. Fl. June. Area, I, 2, 3, 4, 5. Recorded in all the Districts. 

 Steins smooth, 1 or 2 feet in height. Leaves flat, rather broad, 

 never involute, flaccid, downy on both sides. Inflorescence erect, 

 more or less compact, often so much so as to appear spicate. Panicle 

 generally simple. Spikelets smaller than those of A. pratensis. 

 Flowers hairy at the base, frequently tinged with reddish-brown or 

 purple. All the flowers awned. 



3. A. pratensis, (Linn.) meadow or narrow-leaved Oat-grass. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 1204. Tarn. Gr. t. 52. 



Locality. In dry chalky or limestone pastures. P. Fl. July. 

 Area, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. In all the Districts, but local in Us distribution. 

 Stems smooth, from 12 to 18 inches high. Leaves usually involute, 

 finely serrated with minute cartilaginous teeth at the margins. 

 Ligule long, pointed. Inflorescence mostly a simple compact panicle, 

 with erect branches. Spikelets large, ovate, usually 4 or 5, flowered. 

 Glumes unequal, acute. Awn from above the middle purplish with 

 & white tip. A. pratensis much resembles A. pubescens. " 



