GRAMINA. 
83 
clepressed-subs})herical, the uppermost one much longer than broad, 
and gradually tapering upwjirds. 
False Oat-Grass. 
French, AnMnathere elevee. German, Boher WieserJiafer. 
op almost every- 
The variety hulhosum is interesting from the fact that the swollen nodes give the 
appearance to the qnasi roots of a string of small onions ; hence the name " Onion 
Couch." It is common in poor sand 
GENUS XXVL—B. O L O U S. Linn. 
Spikelets stalked, arranged in a rather loose panicle, with rather 
elongate branches which are spreading only during the time of 
flowering, laterally compressed, biconvex, open during flowering, each 
containing a single perfect floret, with a male floret above it. Glumes 
2, nearly equal in length, but the upper much broader than the lower, 
as long as or longer than the florets, compressed and keeled, not 
awned, parchmentlike. Pales 2, nearly equal, membranous, or ulti- 
mately parchmentlike, the lower one keeled, obtuse, entire, awnless or 
very rarely awned in the lower floret, but with a dorsal bent awn in 
the upper floret; upper pale truncate and dentate at the apex, 2 -ribbed. 
Lodicules 2, glabrous. Stamens 3. Stigmas 2, subsessile, plumose, 
protruded at the sides of the florets between the basal margins of the 
pales. Carj^ops free, glabrous, oblong-cylindrical, not furrowed. 
The name of this gemxs of grasses is derived from the Greek -words, oXkoc and 
I draw. A name given to plants that were supposed to have the quaKty of 
drawing thorns from the flesh. 
SPECIES I.-HOLCUS MOLLIS. 
Plate MDCCXLIII. 
Bei^h. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. I. Tab. XC^TEI. Fig. 101. 
Billof, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2174. 
Avena mollis, KoL I). C. Fl. Fr. Vol. III. p. 41. 
Perennial. Rootstock extensively creeping, producing scattered 
flowering stems and numerous shorter leafy barren stems, but no 
radical leaves. Leaves broadly linear, flaccid, thin, flat, with nume- 
rous unequal thick slightly prominent ribs, at first pubescent, at length 
subglabrous, slightly rough on the margins, dull green ; sheaths 
