A IR A PRÆCOX. {$«. p ^ ‘-
Unexpanding Hair-grass.
Spec. Char. Panicle upright, rarely expanding; leaves fine, short, and setaceous.
This out most diminutive Aira inhabits situations similar to, and is often found associating with,
the preceding species, but is rather an earlier plant: it is chiefly observable by its small and almost
spike-like panicle, which hardly ever manifests ally tendency to expand or become divaricated in that
temate maimer, so remarkable in the larger Aira caryophyUea, to which species it is nearly allied.
—— Of any utility at present attached to, or likely to be derived from, this little vernal Hair-grass,
we are perfectly ignorant, and perhaps constituting a species in the herbarium of the collector may be
the only notice it is calculated to obtain: the botanist bestows upon it a rank, and marks a character,
that it can but slightly claim from intrinsic value or apparent virtue.
A, a Floret.
B, the Calyx.
C, the Corolla.
