90 Botanical Section [PT i 



the base of the "seed" is a tuft of fine silky hairs longer than the 

 outer palea. 



Calamagrostis lanceolata, Roth. (Purple Small-reed.) (Fig. 84.) 



Very similar to the last species. It is chiefly distinguished by 

 its looser and more spreading panicle, and its sub-terminal awn- 

 points which are less than half the length of the outer palea. 

 Not common. 



C. slricta is very rare. In bogs and moors. 



Catabrosa aquatica, Beauv. (Whorl-grass.) 



A small aquatic perennial occasionally found in shallow water. 

 Stems procumbent, often creeping and forming adventitious roots 

 at the nodes. In deeper water the stems float. Blades short, 

 broad, blunt, flaccid, and ribless, of a light-green colour. Not 

 common in Britain. 



Flowers about June. Panicle erect and spreading, from four 

 to six inches long. Spikelets small, numerous, and two-flowered. 

 Empty glumes much smaller than the palea, very unequal, mem- 

 branous and blunt. Outer palea with a distinct lateral nerve 

 on either side of the keel, and with a notched apex. Inner palea 

 divided at the top, with marginal nerves. Rachilla long, cylin- 

 drical and outstanding. 



Cynodon Dactylon, Pers. (Creeping Finger-grass.) 



A prostrate and creeping perennial growing on sandy sea-shores. 

 It occurs on the southern coast of England. Flowering culms 3 to 

 6 inches high; inflorescence digitate, purplish, of from 3-5 slender 

 spikes each from 1 to 1J inches long. Spikelets compressed, one- 

 flowered. Empty glumes about equal, acute. Outer palea awn- 

 less, hairy on its dorsal nerve and at the margins. Flowers in 

 July and August. 



Cynosurus cnstatus, L. (Crested Dog's-tail.) (Figs. 85, 157.) 

 See also p. 142. 



A small perennial grass growing in close tufts. The young 

 shoots may be either partially flattened or nearly cylindrical. 

 Sheaths split (though this is not always obvious when young), 

 and almost keelless, becoming of a canary-yellow or yellow-brown 

 colour at the base as they age. Blades normally short, dark green 

 in colour, the margins upturned and forming a semi-cylindrical 

 trough towards the base; apex acuminate; the lower surface 



