CH. I] 



The Morphology of Grasses 



11 



(6) The position of the hairs (when present) ; whether these 

 are most abundant on the sheath, or on the upper or lower surface 

 of the blade, and whether they are uniformly scattered over the 

 surface or confined to the ribs, margins, etc. 



(c) The particular shade of green normally possessed by 

 the foliage. . 



Fig. 14. Panicle of Avena nuda. About ^ nat, size. 



In the Oat plant note that the blades are expanded, broad, 

 almost ribless, and without auricles. The ligule is white, mem- 

 branous, and ragged at its margin. The foliage is entirely 

 glabrous except for a few hairs usually on the lower margins of 

 the blade. In Couch-grass note the auricles clasping the stem; 

 the short, blunt, and rather thick ligule ; and the scattered hairs 

 (occasionally absent) on the blade chiefly on its upper surface. 



