Ix] “ SEEDS ” 147 
*  Palea acuminate—i.e. taper pointed. 
+ Not compressed or obviously keeled. 
Festuca ovina. 
F. sylvatica. 
Cynosurus cristatus. 
It is doubtful whether these should not be regarded as awned : 
if so they come near Vardus—see p. 130. 
Festuca ovina, L. (Fig. 59). 
Palea rounded on the back, narrow, terete-lanceolate 
and five-nerved, tip scaberulous and drawn out to a stiff 
Fig. 59. Festuca ovina. a, spikelet, x about 34. 6, ‘ seed,” 
nat. size and x about 7. c, caryopsis, nat. size and x 7. 
scabrid point half as long as the palea, or less. About 
3—4 mm. long without the tip-point, 4—5°5 mm. with it. 
Rachilla obliquely truncate and concave at its apex. 
Caryopsis oblong, somewhat flattened, dark-brown. 
The numerous varieties of /. ovina cannot be distinguished by 
the “seed”: the allied varieties F. rubra, F. duriuscula, and F’. hete- 
rophylla, &c. are sometimes more distinctly awned (see p. 172). But 
difficulties will be found with the whole group, which needs revision. 
This group comprises the grasses so valued on downs and dry hill- 
pastures for sheep-feeding. 
Festuca sylvatica, Vill., not a common plant, is also with 
difficulty separable (Fig. 51). 
10—2 
