118 Botanical Section [PT i 



and smooth. Grain elliptical in outline, flattened ; about 2-5 mm. 

 long, shining, and of a dark-brown colour. (Fig. 126.) 



Melica uniflora, L. (Wood Melick.) (Fig. 127.) 



A perennial species occurring in similar situations to the last 

 species, but at lower elevations, and is more frequent in the 

 British Isles. 



Sheaths and blades as in M. nulans, but the ligule is practically 

 wanting, and a slender bristle projects from the sheath near 

 the point of insertion of the blade. 



Flowers about June ; culms from 1 to 2 feet high. Inflorescence 

 a simple panicle or raceme, with only a few spikelets on long, 

 slender, and somewhat nodding branches. Spikelets ovate, con- 

 taining one perfect and one rudimentary flower. The empty 

 glumes and palese are similar to those of M. nutans. Outer palea 

 4-5 mm. long. 



Milium effusum, L. (Spreading Millet-grass.) 



Occurs in damp shady woods in many parts of the British Isles. 

 A somewhat creeping glabrous perennial. Sheaths split ; leaf -blades 

 broad, flat, of a glossy light-green colour. Ligule long and mem- 

 branous. Auricles absent. 



Flowers about June; culms from 3 to 4 feet high. Panicle 

 large, erect, open and spreading. Spikelets on long slender 

 branches, numerous, small, ovate, and one-flowered. Glumes 

 equal, broad, membranous and three-nerved. 



"Seeds" Outer palea membranous, smooth, glossy, awnless 

 and nerveless ; about 3 mm. long, light- coloured. Inner palea 

 glossy, without marginal hairs. No rachilla. (Fig. 129.) 



Molinia ccerulea, Moench. (Purple Melick- grass.) (Fig. 128.) 



This plant is common on damp moors, peaty soils, woods, etc. 

 in Britain. It is a perennial, with tough cord-like roots, and forms 

 conspicuous tufts. Sheaths smooth and split. Leaf-blades rolled 

 in the shoot, long, narrowing below, and tapering above to a long 

 fine point; thin, dry, almost ribless, and more or less hairy on 

 the upper surface. There are no auricles and the ligule is either 

 very short or represented by only a tuft of hairs. 



Flowers about July; culms usually 2-3 teet high but varying 

 much with the situation. Panicle erect, long, and close. The 

 slender branches arise in alternate tufts on the wavy rachis. 



