AIRA CRISTATA. {*».«««■
Crested Hair-grass.
Spec. Char. Panicle spike-like; calyx longer than the foot-stalks.
A plant o f little note as to utility, and as insignificant in stature; it inhabits dry and elevated
places, generally local, but abounding where it has fixed its station: upon the Tor hill at Wells,
Somersetshire, it is found in great profusion: the leaves are flat, and hairy when young, scored on
the inner side, and of a glaucous hue; one or two only upon the straw, but several small tufts arise
from the roots: sheathing long and woolly: the panicle is compressed when young, and in age, but
when the antherae are projected, the lower branches are always expanded; this, with the exception
of A. canescens and A. precox, is the only British Aira whose panicle assumes a spike-like form.
.___ The general habits of this Hair-grass assuredly warrant its being classed with Aira, but yet we
cannot much wonder at its having been arranged with the Pose, as we have in very luxuriant natural
specimens found occasionally four, and even five florets, in the calyx! such a plant induced Linnaeus,
in the Syst. Natura, to associate it with, the genus Poa; but as it is far more common to find only
two florets within the calyx, in the Spec. Plant, of the same author we find it justly introduced with
the Airae.____The figure in Leers, meant as a representation of this plant, is like nothing we possess,
but more like a Festucae.
A, Florets in the Calyx.
B, the Calyx.
C, tire Valves o f the Floret.