Dactylis. triandria dioynia. 341 



a number of heaped, linear, acuminate, smooth spikelets, of 

 from twenty to fifty flowers each; as they advance from the 

 apex the lower florets drop, leaving the zigzag* rachis naked 

 as they ripen. Calyx, both valves smooth and obtuse. Seed 

 oval, smooth, brown. 



DACTYLIS. Schreb. gen. N. 117- 

 Calyx two-valved, compressed, one valvelet larger, keeled. 

 Seed fews. 



1. D. lagopoides. Linn. sp. pi. ed. W'dld. i. 410. Burnt. 

 Lid. 28. t. 12./. 2. 



Creeping. Leaves rigid, with spinescent points. Heads 

 globular. Calyces from six to eight-flowered, hairy, as are 

 also the corols ; anthers blue. 



It is geuerally found growing on a salt sandy soil near the 

 sea. 



Culms creeping to a great extent, with from four to eight 

 inches of the flower-bearing portions, erect, they are of a 

 firm, ligneous texture, round and smooth, every part of the 

 erect portions covered by the sheaths of the leaves. Leaves 

 numerous, small, approximate, firm, acute, resembling thorns. 

 Head, or spike terminal, short-pedicelled, globular, compos- 

 ed of many, closely crowded, sessile, roundish spikelets. 

 Calyx from six to eight- flowered ; glumes equal, shorter than 

 the flowers, obtuse and hairy. Corol two-valved, exterior 

 striated, hairy, and obtuse; inner membranaceous, involving 

 the stamens and pistillum. Stamens three. Anthers blue. 



2. D. brevifolia. Linn. sp. pi. ed. Willd. i. 410. 



Creeping, ramous. Leaves short. Heads sub-globular, 

 composed of three, secund spikes. Calyces acute, from six 

 to tweive-flowered. Corols hairy, acute. 



It is found on dry sandy ground at a small distance from 



the sea. 



V3 



