108 CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO [CH. 
has a conspicuously notched rachis and the spikelets arranged in the 
other plane. 
Poa loliacea, Huds., an uncommon sea-shore weed, may also be 
placed here; as also Festuca elatior, var. loliacea, Curt. and some 
forms of Bromus arvensis, var. mollis, L. 
_ No other British grasses resemble Brachypodium: any superficial 
likeness remarked in species of Hordeum, Festuca, &c. disappears 
at once on examination. 
(6) Spike compound—i.e. with clusters of two or 
more sessile or sub-sessile spikelets arranged 
along the rachis. — 
(1) Spike elongated, fertile spikelets with 3—5 flowers. 
*  Pasture-grass with wiry rachis, on which the spikelets 
are secund and sessile in clusters: in each cluster a 
comb-like group of barren glumes subtends one of 
fertile spikelets. 
Cynosurus cristatus, L. 
The rare C. echinatus has the pectinate groups of barren glumes 
even more prominent. 
** Stout glaucous sand-binder with pairs of spikelets 
sessile in the notches of the rachis, and all fertile. 
Spike cylindrical. Not common. 
Elymus arenarius, L. 
For other sand-binders see p. 102. The only grass likely to be 
confounded is Agropyrum, in which the spikelets are not paired. 
Lolium, Brachypodium, &c. are easily distinguished. 
(ii) Spike short and ovoid: spikelets sub-sessile and im- 
bricate, in clusters. Bluish. 
Sesleria cwrulea, Ard. 
Not easily mistaken for any other grass. As some of the 
spikelets are shortly stalked, the inflorescence is strictly pani- 
culate, but the fact is not obvious. The glume-like bract at 
the base of the spike, and the general appearance suggest resem- 
