676 



Specific Distinction of 



that vagueness which has hitherto characterised the descrip- 

 tion of these species in our British floras. 



Rhyncho'spora a'lba. {fig. 74.) 



Spikelets in a compact corymb shorter than the outer brac- 

 teas ; stamens two, filaments scarcely broader than the 

 bristles ; bristles nine to twelve, with reflexed teeth ; fruit 

 obovate, compressed, distinctly margined, minutely reticu- 

 lated ; style without teeth ; leaves narrow, linear. 



Spikelets of flowers white or whitish, collected so as to form 

 a level surface at the top. Bristles with reflexed teeth, and a 

 few erect ciliae at the base, both in this species and in R. fusca 



a, Magnified representation of the frnit, style, stamens, and bristles, b, Magnified represent- 

 ation of one of the bristles, c, Diagram exhibiting the relative position of the bristles, 

 stamens, and fruit : the stamens are represented by the larger dots, and the fruit by a 

 straight line, d, Magnified representation of the plain style, e, Transverse section of the 

 fruit 



much longer than the germen, apparently arranged in whorls 

 of three, the stamens being situated immediately before the 

 exterior whorl, between that and the other whorls. Fruit 

 greenish, tapering at the base into a short stalk. Style per- 

 sistent, in texture and colour like the fruit, dilated at the base, 

 which is not articulated, nor so broad as the seed. Culm 



