Molinia (molinia)

[NL. (Schrank, 1789), named after J. Molina, a writer upon Chilian plants and animals.] A genus of gra es of the tribe Festuceæ and the subtribe Eragrosteæ, characterized by an elongated narrow panicle, small spikelets with from two to four flowers, and awnle glumes, the empty ones being slightly smaller than the flowering ones. There is but a single species, M. cærule a, found throughout Europe, and variously named blue or purple melic - gra , purple moor- gra , and Indian gra . It is a rather coarse stiff perennial, often three feet high, having narrow flat leaves, which are chiefly radical and form large tufts. It is common in woods, on moors, and in wet heathy [ its resemblance to a mole in appearance and habits. The mole-rats are stout-bodied rodents, with short, strong limbs (of which the fore ones are fo orial), Troublesome; annoying; hara ing. But that [pride) which breaketh out to the disturbance and vexation of others is hated as molest full and mischie Barrow , Works, I. xxii. vous. IMG:content-0847.png:[blocks in formation] 2. A fo orial murine rodent of the family Mu ride and subfamily Siphneinæ. It resembles the preceding superficially and in habits to some extent. These mole-rats are confined to the pale arctic region, where they are represented by the genera Siphneus and Ellobius. The zokor, S. aspalax, is the best-known. 3. The Australian duck-mole or duck-billed platypus, Ornithorhynchus paradox us.