[ 1640 ]
AVENA pubescens.
Downy Oat-grass.
TRIANDRIA Digynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. o f 2 valves, containing several florets.
Outer valve of the corolla bearing a twisted awn on
its back.
Spec. Char. Panicle erect, nearly simple. Calyx containing
about three florets. Receptacles bearded.
Leaves flat, downy.
Syn. Avena pubescens. Linn. Sp. PI. 1665. Sm. FI.
Brit. 140. Huds. 52. With. 165. Hull. 26.
Relh. 42. Sibth. 49. Abbot. 24. Lightf. 105.
Knapp, t. 90.
A . sesquitertia. Linn. Mant. 1 . 3 4 ; the syn. o f
S ch eu ch ze r erroneous.
Gramen avenaceum 7, seu glabrum (potius hirsutum)
panicula purpuro-argentea splendente. Raii Syn. 406. t. 21. / . 2.
A N A TIV E o f limestone or chalky hills and pastures, in
which situations it is not uncommon, flowering in June.
Mr. W. Borrer sent it from Sussex.
Root perennial, somewhat creeping. Stem a foot or two in
height, erect, straight, unbranched, smooth, leafy. Leaves
flat, obtuse, spreading, short, except when luxuriant; clothed
on both sides, as are also the sheaths of the lower ones, with
soft spreading hairs. Stipula acute, triangular. Panicle upright,
scarcely subdivided, but bearing 3 or 4 flowerstalks
(which are rough to the touch) at each subdivision. Spikelets
purplish, generally containing 2 perfect florets and an abortive
one, on a long bearded stalk. Summit of the glumes shining
and transparent. Awns twice as long as the calyx, brown,
rough and twisted.
It is of no use in husbandry.
2 6 4 0