ON THE AWNS OF NEPAUL BARLEY. 39 
More than one effort to develop a bud may be noticed on some awns, 
as at fig. 39 to 43. In that which is nearest the base I retain the same 
letters, to denote the parts developed. Thus the depression marked (^) 
in fig. 59, indieates the position of the basial leaf, and the wings are 
reduced to small expansion (w): whilst the same letters with a dash 
over them (^), indicate analogous parts, in another bud somewhat 
higher on the awn. This second effort is generally slight, and the parts 
are developed ina confused manner, though some of them are often 
sufficiently distinct to be recognised. The change of direction in the 
pubescence (or else its partial absence) on the back of the awn, indicates 
the limits within which the respective influences of the separate buds 
are restricted. Fig. 42 is an inner view of the scale marked (2) in 
fig. 41, showing its tendency to form a distinct awn. Fig. 44 is the 
upper portion of fig. 43 somewhat enlarged. 
Although these buds are most frequently formed on the inner surface, 
I have met with one example, fig. 45, where it was evident a depression 
(Z) on the margin of the awn, was due to the imperfect development of 
a second basial leaf; and thus there seems to be good reason for sup- 
posing that buds might be developed all round the awn. 
pail (Ann. des Se. tom. iv. p. 277) has shown that the mid-ribs 
of both upper and lower palez are capable of becoming detached under 
the form of floriferous axes ; so that we may regard an imparinerved palea 
as a foliaceous expansion adhering toa developing axis. But it seems 
to be further possible to consider any of the nerves to be capable of 
assuming this same character, from an observation I made upon an 
inner palea ‘of one of the lateral spikelets. It is represented, cut in 
halves, at fig. 48, with two palew at the back attached to the mid-nerve, 
and another to a lateral nerve. Another remarkable monstrosity pre- 
sented the appearance at fig. 47, where the axis had become branched, 
and thus had produced two apices, on each of which a bud was deve- 
loped, whilst on only one of these the wings had become definitely 
extended. I have also figured (fig. 46) an appearance of one of the 
pales (in a lateral spikelet), which had produced an awn by the 
development of a nerve placed laterally with respect to the middle of 
the awn. As the mid-nerve is here wanting, I presume it has united 
with one of the lateral nerves, and that the usual amount of parenchyma 
between them has not been formed 
