CH. vn] Botanical Description of Species 



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young shoot. Sheath split. Leaf-blades rather narrow, dry and 

 scabrous on the upper surface; generally tending to fold or 

 roll up, ribless, but keeled below. In outline they are very 

 similar to those of Poa pratensis. Upper ligule long; ligule to 

 basal leaves short; auricles wanting. Two or three varieties 

 occur varying chiefly in the length or breadth of the leaf-blades. 



A 



Fig. 54. Tuft of Arrhenatherum avenaccum, Beauv. var. bulbosum. 

 " Onion Couch." 



Flowers about June; culms erect, smooth, finely striated, 

 from 18-24 inches high. Panicle erect, rather close and almost 

 simple. Spikelets large, oval, 3-6 flowered; empty glumes 

 unequal, acute, and keeled, with a prominent nerve on either 

 side of the keel. The upper and larger glume is of a purple 

 colour below, and silvery-white and membranous above and along 

 its margins. 



