/ft} [ 1 I 2 7 1
KNAP PIA agroftidea.
Early Knapjiia.
TRIANDRIA Digynia.
G en. C har. Cal. of 2, obtufe valves, fingle-fiowered,
awnlefs. Car. of 1 hairy, abrupt, awnlefs valve.
Flowers alternate, on a ferpentine rachis.
Spe c . C har..................
Syn. Agroftis minima. Linn. Sj>. P i. 93. Sm. FI.
Brit. 82. Hudf. 32. With. 134. Hull. 19.
Gramen minimum Anglo-Britannicum. Raii Syn.
Indie. PI. Dub.
T h e elucidation o f a new fpecies o f grafs in the foregoing
page, and of a new genus in this, will we hope juftify our
publithing more of one tribe in the prefent number than ufual.
Many botanifts have doubted the propriety of referring the
prefent plant to Agrojlis, and our own fufpicions refpefting it
have at length been confirmed by the opinion of J. L . Knapp,
Efq. F.L.S.whofe Hiftory of Britifh Graffes, now preparing for
the prefs, and illuftrated with moft accurate figures, drawn by
himfelf from every fpecies in its native fituation, will abundantly
juftify our giving his name to the genus we have agreed
with him to eftablifh.
This curious little grafs very rarely occurs. It grows in
fandy maritime paftures, flowering in March and April. The
Rev. Mr. Davies, to whom we are obliged for wild fpecimens,
mentions its being frequent on the fouth-weft coaft of Angle-
fea. The root is annual, formed of a few long {lender fibres.
Herbage fmooth. Stems few, from 1 to 3 inches high, Ample,
{lender, ftraight. Leaves almoft entirely radical, linear, channelled,
blunt, enfolding the bafe of the ftem with their mem-
branous-edged {heaths. Spike terminal, {lender, compofed
of 7 or 8 fmall flowers, alternately placed on a zigzag rachis
or fpike-ftalk. Calyx of 2 equal, oblong, obtufe, ftnooth,
purplifti glumes, with green keels. Corolla of 1 thin very hairy
valve, broader upwards, and very obtufe or abrupt at its fum-
mit, fhorter than the Galyx, embracing the germen and 3
{lender {lamina, and quite deftitute of beard or awn. Seed
elliptical.
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