12 HORTUS GHAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



(j. Ascending, (ascendeiis), when the lower part of the straw lays 

 on the ground, and the upper part of it grows upright, as in 

 Poa compressa. 



7. Decumbent, (decumbens), when the lower part of the straw 



rises in an oblique direction to the horizon, and the upper 

 part bends down towards it. See Festuca decumbens. 



8. Procumbent, (proawibeiis), is when the straw lies flat on the 



ground, without striking roots at the joints. See Pua 

 procumbens. 



9. Creeping, (repens), when the straw creeps on the ground, and 



sends out roots from the joints, as in Agrostis stoionifera. 



10. Naked, {niidiis), having very few leaves with short sheaths, 



as in Melica ccerulea and Festuca ovina. 



11. Bristle-shaped, (setaceus), with short sheaths and slender 



stem, as in Festuca temdfolia. 



12. Round, {teres), that is, cylindrical. See Festuca glabra. 



13. Half round, {semiteres), that is, flat on one side and round ou 



the other. See PoaJ'erti/is. 



14. Compressed, (compressus), when the stem is flat on both sides. 



See Poa compressa. 



15. Two-edged, {anceps), when a compressed straw is sharp on 



both edges. See Poa aquatica. 



16. Four-cornered, (telragonus), three or four round or obtuse 

 edo;es, but the sides flat. See Festuca ovina. 



17. Knee-jointed, (geniculatus), when the stem is bent at a joint, 



like the knee. See Fltjmus geniculatus. 



18. Bulbiferous, (bullnfer), having bulbs, or buds, fixed- at the 



joints. See Phleum nodosum. 

 The flower straw, (pedunculus), is the part which immediately 

 supports the flower ; it may be either a part of the principal straw, 

 as in wheat or barley, or composed of a number of partial straws 

 seated on the principal culm, (see Bromus sterilis) ; or these partial 

 straws again branched, as in Poa nervosa, and Tricodium rupestre : 

 in the two last cases, they constitute what is called a compound 

 panicle. 



III. 



Varieties in the form of the Leaves. 



The leaves of grasses are all quite simple, or undivided, and, on 



that account, afford but few obvious characters of distinction ; 



they vary, however, in respect of the form of their point or apex, 



circumference, situation, and surface-covering. 



