THE GRASS FAMILY. 425 



*• Awns absent or, if any, inconspicuous, 



1. Kaceme cylindrical, the spikelets projecting on every 



side, sometimes a little branched at the base. 

 Stems twelve to fifteen inches high ; flowers brownish- ) 3. Sweet-scented Ver- 



yellow, glossy ; stamens two, very conspicuous J nal-grass. 



Stems two to five inches high, densely tufted ; raceme 



dense, and contracted, scarcely an inch long, 



and shining 18. Vernal Hair-grass. 



2. Eaceme flat-sided or square, the spikelets being 



placed on opposite sides of the stalk. Stems two 

 to three feet high. 

 Spikelets cylindrical, linear-oblong, placed obliquely 



to the wavy stalk 38. Ray Fescue. 



Spikelets flat and very short. 

 Spikelets placed edgeways. 



Outer glume as long or longer than the spikelet. 30. White Darnel. 



Outer glume shorter than the spikelet 29. Common Eay-grass. 



Spikelets placed broadside to the stalk ; plant 



glaucous ; rootstock creeping 27. Couch-grass. 



3. Eaceme unilateral, the spikelets being all on one 



side of the stalk, and pointing in one direction, 

 or nearly so. 

 Herbage bristle-Uke, in coarse, short, rigid tufts, three 



to six inches high. Flowers inconspicuous. 



Anthers white 25. Wire-grass. 



Herbage scanty, green, flat, and succulent ; stems 



twelve to eighteen inches high ; flowers hand- 

 some ; spikelets resembling little combs. 



Eaceme close and compact, nearly flat down 



the back, full and convex in front. Anthers 



purple 41. Crested Dog's-tail. 



C. 

 Spikelets disposed in panicles, which are more or less compound, braiicMng, 



and open. 

 * Panicles of not more than three or four branches ; spikelets not exceeding 

 a dozen in all, and without awns. 

 Stems six to eight inches high, stifi", harsh, procumbent 

 below, but at the upper part erect. Panicle an 

 inch to an inch and a half long; spikelets green, 



generally about six 53. Teiodia. 



Stems fifteen to twenty inches high, very numerous, 

 leafy, slender, delicate, and inclined to droop at 

 the upper part ; the branches and spikelets all 

 bending one way. Panicle three to five inches 

 long ; spikelets ten to fifteen, egg-shaped, red- 

 dish brown v 52, Wood Melic. 



