S. AvENA.] 139. GRAMINE.^. 



1. A. sativa, L. The cultivated oat. 



An annual 1-3 ft. high with pendulous spikelets about 1* long 

 without the -S-'T" exserted awn. Gls. very long-acuminate. Bristly 

 hairs at the base of glume iii (in variety orientalis). Rhachilla tena- 

 cious or disarticulating below gl, iii. Ovary tip villous. 



Var. orientalis is frequently cultivated in the northern area in the cold season, 

 chiefly hy Europeans. Soane Valley', J.D.H. ! 



9. C(ELACHNE, Br. 



A small leafy variable marsh grass. Leaves short, flat or convolute. 

 Spikelets in open or contracted or spiciform panicles, not articulate 

 on the pedicels, Avith 2 flowers, upper sometimes imperfect. Rhachilla 

 jointed at the base and elongate between gl. iii and iv. Gl. i sub- 

 orbicular concave obtuse and delicately nerved : ii smaller, more 

 oblong, both persistent ; iii longest, with shortly bearded callus, 

 palea similar, rather coriaceous ; iv on the elongated rhachilla, 

 smaller, hairy, palea developed or small. Stamens 3, anthers long 

 narrow. Ovary ovoid, stigmas free. Grain free within the glume 

 and palea. 



1. C. pulchella, Br. Var. spicata, Hooker f. 



►Small, spreading from the root nvith branches 3-4" long only or 

 suberect. Leaves flat, -5-1" long, erect, linear-lanceolate, with many 

 equal nerves (without midrib), ligule a few hairs. Panicle sub-spici- 

 form with rather flexuous rhachis and very short branches in the 

 sinuses. Spikelets -08" long ; gl. i suborbicular suddenly contracted 

 to an obtuse tip, very concave, delicately 5-nerved ; ii oblong con- 

 cave 3-nerved, shorter ; iii longest, concave ovate, obtuse, nerveless 

 with a large similar palea ; iv on the •02--03"-long internode of the 

 rhachilla, pubescent, with imperfect flower. 

 Ranchi, Clarke] Fl. Nov.-Dec. 



10. ERAGROSTIS, Beauv. 



Annual, rarely perennial, with erect or geniculately ascending 

 usually slender stems, very rarely prostrate. Leaves narrow. Spike- 

 lets in open or contracted panicles, rarely in simple spikes, not articu- 

 late at the base (exc. cynosuroides), usually strongly laterally com- 

 pressed ; rhachilla firm or articulate, not produced beyond the upper- 

 most glume. Glumes many, sometimes very many, broad (when 

 unfolded), never awned, dorsally rounded or keeled ; i and ii equal 

 or unequal, usually separately deciduous, 1-nerved or ii 3-nerved; fig. 

 gls, imbricating, finally deciduous, 3-nerved, 2-sexual or uppermost 

 imperfect ; palea broad, membranous, concave towards the rhachilla 

 or margins reduplicate, sometimes persistent on the rhachilla, keels 2. 

 Lod. 2, very minute. Stamens 2 or 3. Ovary glabrous, styles 2. 

 Grain minute, globose, oblong, ovoid or obovoid, free in the glume 

 and palea. 



954 



