172 



TI1E TRUE GRASSES. 



2°. Empty glumes very small or none. 



289. Asprella. 

 /3. Stamens 10-40 in eacli $ flower. 290. Pariana. 



Sub-tribe A.— Nardeae. 



Spikes unilateral; stigmas one; starch-grains compound. 



272. (271) Nardns L. Both series of spikelets very 

 close together, apparently united on the inner side of the 



continuous rachis. Spikelets 

 one-flowered ; empty glume 

 one, very small, grown to 

 the rachis, often indistinct ; 

 flowering glumes arranged in 

 the median line of the rachis, 

 awned. Spikelets not open- 

 ing in flower. (The glumes 

 remain almost embracing 

 each other, only at the apex 

 <>f the spikelet is a small 

 opening for the stigma and 

 anthers.) 



Species one {N. stricta L.) 

 (Fig. 90). Leaves subulate, 

 rigid. By the distichous ar- 

 rangement of the short 

 branches of the rhizome this 

 grass forms a very thick and 

 dense turf. It grows in moist 

 calcareous soils throughout 

 Europe and Northern Asia. 

 ex of It is a useless grass, crowding 

 out better sorts. 



Fig. 90.—Nardux stiicta 

 Nees, Gen. Germ., I. 80.) 

 a stigma. 



(After 



Sub-tribe B. — Lolieae. 



Spikelets standing in the median line of the rachis; starch-grains usu- 

 ally compound. 



273. (265) Lolium L. Rachis not articulate, terminal 

 spikelets with two empty glumes ; lateral spikelets with 

 the upper (outer) one only, or at most a rudiment of the 

 lower. 



