CH. vn] Botanical Description of Species 



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high altitudes. Shoots quadrangular in cross-section. Sheaths 

 entire. Blades rolled in the shoot, long, narrow, thin, dry, flaccid, 

 and of a light-green colour ; sparsely hairy, showing ribs on lower 

 surface only. Ligule distinct. 



Fig. 127. Melica uniflom (left) and 

 Melica nutans (right). About ^ 

 nat. size. 



Fig. 128. Molinia 

 ccerulea. About 

 nat. size. 



Flowers in May or June; culms from 1 to 2 feet high. In- 

 florescence racemed, of about ten spikelets on short branches. 

 Spikelets ovate, pendulous, containing two perfect flowers and 

 one imperfect flower. Empty glumes reddish-brown, five-nerved. 



"Seed" 4-6 mm. long. Outer palea broad, rounded at the 

 apex, awnless, distinctly 5-7 nerved. Rachilla somewhat flattened 



