TRIANDRIA. DIGYNIA. Avena, 
193 
Gram. Pasc. — Schreb. 1— Curt. 191 —(Hort. Gram. E. Bot. 813. E.)— 
H. Ox. viii. 7. 38— Park. 1176. 1—C B. Th. 18 —J.B. ii. 456 —Gem 
Em. 23 — FI. Dan. 165 —Leers 4. 4.— Scheuch. 4. 27 and 28. 
Root bulbous, sometimes a double pear-shaped bulb, one above the 
other. Straw about five feet high; knots woolly. Leaves (rather 
harsh, E.) not hairy. Blossom hairy at the base. The structure 
of the blossom agrees so well with that of Hahns, that some have 
thought it best placed under that genus, and Gmelin has called it 
H. avenaceus, under which name it will be found in this work; but 
its habit authorizes us to retain it as an Avena, especially when we 
subjoin the following remarks by which it may be distinguished from 
that variety of H. mollis which contains two or three floreta in each 
calyx, one of them barren. This species of Holcus has none of those large 
bulb-like knots at the root and the base of the straw which are so re¬ 
markable in A. elatior. The panicle of the latter is eight or ten inches 
long, in the former hardly half that length. In Avena the leaves and 
sheaths are free from hairs, the knots on the joints only are woolly, but 
in Holcus almost the whole plant is set with soft hairs. (Smith observes 
that the barren floret frequently contains an imperfect pistil. FI. Brit. E.) 
Tall Oat Grass. (Welsh: Maswellt ceirchaidd. A. elatior. Linn. Huds. 
With. Curt. Leers. Schreb. Holcus avenaceus. Gmel. Hook. Sine, and 
Sm.; though the latter author admits that “in natural affinity it is cer¬ 
tainly an Avena.” It is, in fact, a plant of very questionable position, 
and may be considered as a connecting link between Avena, Holcus, and 
Aira. E.) Wet and damp places. Meadows, pastures, and hollow 
ways. P. June—Aug.* 
Var. 2. Mutica. Awnless. Smaller than the preceding. Said to be a native 
of Scotland. Hort. Gram. E.)+ 
* Cows, sheep, and goat3 eat it.—It affords a large coarse crop, but is unpalatable 
to cattle, especially to horses, as are the Avence in general. Rev. G. Sw'ayne. (It is ex¬ 
cessively bitter. A var. with knobby roots (Gramen cardnum nodosum of Gerard, E.) 
is a most noxious weed in arable lands ; particularly on parts of the coast in Hampshire ; 
and by its introduction into the island of St. Kitt’s, a district has been rendered useless. 
Salisbury. To eradicate the bulbous rooted oat-grass requires as much fallowing as the 
common couch. Wherever it prevails, as in the north of England and East Lothian, it 
should he carefully rooted out even by paring and burning in clayey arable soils j for, 
being strong and cumbersome, it is capable of contending with any crop. Holdich. It 
appeals that if this grass be entitled to any place in permanent pasture, it should be in a 
very limited proportion. The whole plant is often affected by the disease termed Rust. 
Nevertheless, the animated description of Miss Kent confers no inconsiderable degree 
of interest, even on this plant. “ I have seen it,” observes that elegant writer, u six feet 
high, with leaves two feet long, and more than one inch wide ; with its panicle of 
flowers gently drooping to one side, at least one foot six inches in length, and so finely 
polished, that, but for their green colour, we might think it was composed of silver 
oats. Yet it is not green ; neither is it white, nor gold-colour, nor purple, but it is a 
union of all these : it is the offspring of silver and of gold, of the amethyst and the 
emerald. It is, indeed, very variable; but, in the full pride of its beauty, this grass is 
trufy magnificent. The light purple pyramids that quiver in every field and meadow, 
must be well known to every reader. In fine, the student who has time to investigate 
their beauties, will find the family of grasses peculiarly interesting, and much more 
various and beautiful than from the apparent homeliness of many, they might be sup¬ 
posed to be.” E.) 
f (Preferred by hares to the awned variety, but still inferior to that for general pur¬ 
poses. E.) 
VOL. II. o 
