76 
ENGLISH BOTANY. 
spikelet. Lower pale gradually acuminate, terminated by 2 acute 
rough teeth, ultimately parchment -like, with scarious margins. Awn 
from a little above the middle of the pale, that of the lowest floret 
about twice as long as the upper glume. Axis bearded at the base of 
the florets, the hairs of the second floret less than a tenth the length 
of its pale. 
Yar. a, gcnuinum. 
Plate MDCCXXXIX. 
Beicl. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. I. Tab. CII. Fig. 207. 
A. pratensis, Sm. Engl. Bot. ed. i. No. 1204 ; and Engl. Fl. Vol. I. p. 164. 
Stem and sheaths cylindrical. Panicle-branches often soUtary (at 
least from the upper nodes of the rachis), short, usually simple, very 
rarely with even 2 spikelets. 
Var. 3, alphia. 
Plate MDCCXL. 
Eeicli. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. I. Tab. CIV. Fig. 212. 
A. alpina, Kunth, Emiin. Plant. Vol. I. p. 301. Reich. Ic. I.e. p. 22. Koch, Syn. Fl. 
Germ, et Helv. ed. ii. p. 918. 
A. planiculmis, 8m. Engl. Bot. ed. i. No. 2161 (non Schmd.). 
Stem and sheaths more or less compressed, the latter rouo-her and 
the leaves broader than in var. a. Panicle-Winches mostly in pairs, 
the longer one of each pair usually with 2 or even 3 spikelets, which 
are considerably larger than those of var. a. Awns of the florets 
usually longer from the bend to the apex than in var. a. 
Var. a on dry pastures, downs, and rocks, particularly of chalk or 
trap. Eather common, and generally distributed, ^'ar. 3 on ledges 
of rocks in mountainous and hilly districts. Apparently neither form 
has been observed in Ireland. 
England, Scotland. Perennial. Summer. 
Plant growing in dense tufts somewhat like those of Aira ctcspitosa. 
Leaves of the barren tufts 2 to 9 inches long, -^l to i inch broadj 
often with the sides folded totrether when growing in very dry places' 
and the same thing happens whenever the plant begins to wither after 
being gathered. Stems 6 inches to 2 feet high, bare of leaves towards 
the apex; the uppermost leaf | to 1 inch long, much shorter than its 
sheath. Panicle 2 to 6 inclies long. Spikelets |- to f inch lono- 
exclusive of the awns. °' 
Tar. a is a larger, taHer, and rougher plant. Leaves sometunes 
nearly ^ mch broad, and the stems usually 2 to 3 feet high. I»anicle 
