vit] FLORAL CHARACTERS 109 
blances to certain moor-sedges at first sight. The only other 
grasses with similarly shaped spikes are species of <Alopecurus, 
Phleum, and the rare Lagurus, Polypogon, Phalaris, Panicum, all 
with very different spikelets and easily distinguished. 
(2) Inflorescence a panicle or raceme—i.e. the spikelets 
on evident stalks, simple or branched, from the 
main axis. 
It does not follow that every spikelet is distinctly stalked, and 
cases occur where the stalks are very short and stiff: when this 
happens to the stalks arising from the main axis, and the latter is 
elongated, the type of the spike is closely approached, and the 
inflorescence resembles that of Brachypodium, Lolium, &c. In 
some depauperated varieties of Poa, Festuca, &c., an actual spike 
results (see note, p. 111): the number of flowers in the spikelet is 
important. 
(a) Panicle short, contracted and tuft-like, owing to 
the shortness and stiffness of most of the stalks 
and their tendency to remain erect, at least until 
anthesis. Glumes keeled and ending in a point. 
() Panicle with a few branches, at first erect, 
ending in tuft-like secund clusters. Spikelets 
harsh, with 3—5 flowers. Coarse meadow-grass. 
Dactylis glomerata, L. 
Not easily confounded with any other grass if attention is 
paid to the folded coarse leaves, the tufted perennial habit, and 
the harsh inflorescence, the glumes on the spikelets being stiffly 
hairy on the keel. 
(11) Panicle contracted, more or less ovoid or cylin- 
droid, but most of the spikelets stalked, and not 
aggregated into dense clusters, spikelets silvery, 
containing 2—3 flowers. 
Keeleria cristata, Pers. 
