8 ON CERTAIN FORMS OF THE COMMON RYE-GRASS. 
B. Deviations affecting the arrangement of the spikelets. 
In vars. 1 and 2, the arrangement of the spikelets is necessarily in- 
terfered with, but in a manner which is consequent upon the lengthening 
or shortening of the stem. There are other variations in the disposition 
of the spikelets not necessarily connected with any alteration in the 
stem, thus :— 
4. Spikelets arranged in pairs on each notch of the rachis, as in 
Hordeum or Elymus, not singly as usual, var. geminatum, while M. 
Fournier* (of whose observations I have availed myself in writing this 
notice) has described a 
5. Variety in which the spikelets are arranged spirally round the stem 
—var. speirostachyum. 1 have not met with perfect instances of this. 
C. Deviations affecting the axis of the spikelets. i 
6. Lengthening of the axis of the spikelet, by which means the 
florets are more widely separated one from the other than they are under 
ordinary eireumstances. This may occur to a varying degree, and may 
be unaccompanied by any other change, although it is not unfrequently 
met with in conjunction with var. 3. When well marked, it alters the 
general aspect of the plant very much. A specimen in my possession, 
where every spikelet is thus affected, and where the axis is not only 
lengthened but flexuose, has a very elegant appearance. The converse 
of this, where the interfloral Spaces are shorter than usual, is neces- 
sarily so slight in amount, as practically to be of little importance. 
7. Branching of the axis of the spikelet. Instances of this kind 
D. Deviations affecting the arrangement of the florets. 
_ 8. The florets. are usually arranged on either side of the axis of the 
spikelets, after the same fashion as the spikelets themselves are placed 
on the sides of the main rachis; but sometimes it happens that, owing 
to the arrested growth in length of the axis, the florets are tufted, i. e. 
they are arranged in circles or whorls, In this very curious variety, the 
shape of. the spikelet is much changed ; in place of being flattened and 
somewhat pointed at its free end, it becomes in this variety almost 
spherical, hence this variety might be called var. spheerostachyum. It 
* Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr., 1858. p. 85, 
