ON CERTAIN FORMS OF THE COMMON RYE-GRASS. 7 
in this place. The variations from it which form. the subject of the 
present. notice, may for convenience sake be arranged under the follow- 
ing heads. 
Deviations affecting— 
A. The rachis or axis of the inflorescence. 
D. The arrangement of the spikelets. 
C. The axis of the spikelets. 
D. The disposition of the flowers. 
E. The structure of the flowers. 
A. Affecting the main rachis of the inflorescence. 
. 1l. Increased length of the internodes of the main rachis, so that 
the spikelets become separated one from the other by much longer in- 
tervals than usual. This form is usually accompanied by atrophy of 
the spikelets, which are smaller than usual, and some of the constituent 
florets are imperfectly developed. The whole plant is feeble in habit and 
undersized, and is usually met with in situations and under circum- 
stances that seem sufficient to account for its starved appearance. This 
is probably what has been called Z. tenue, L. l 
2. The converse of the preceding is shown in the variety cristatum, 
where the spikelets throughout the whole length of the inflorescence 
are as closely packed as they are at the uppermost portion of the rachis 
of the ordinary form. Here, then, each spikelet is in contact with the 
one above and below it, on the same side of the rachis, throughout its 
entire length. What has been termed the Battledore Ray-grass is 
merely a modification or less perfect form of this variety, and is cha- 
racterized by the presence of an egg-shaped spike of not more than one- 
fourth the usual length. 
3. Branching of the rachis, so as to form a dendi "dus as in 
the var. sometimes called compositum, or at other times paniculatum. 
The degree of branching varies very much in different specimens, and 
is carried to such an extent in one specimen in the Hookerian h 
rium, as to constitute a noble-looking plant. A similar variation is 
common enough in other Grasses, such as Triticum, Maize, etc., and 
is the normal state in several species. In the species in question, the 
branching of the inflorescence seems to result from good living, as the 
more perfect specimens of it occur in rich soils and cultiyated fields, 
rather than by the wayside. 
