Panicum.] LXXXIX. GRAMINE^l. 511 



bent, rather broad-leaved annual. Panicle 4 to 6 inches long, irregu- 

 larly pyramidal, and rather one-sided ; the spikelets larger than in the 

 preceding species, crowded or clustered along the spike-like branches, 

 the lowest of which are 1 to 2 inches long, diminishing gradually to 

 the top. Lowest glume very short and broad, the next about the 

 length of the flower, empty and awnless, the third about as long, 

 ending in either a short point or a long, coarse awn, and has often 

 thin palea in its axil. Flowering glume awnless, smooth and shining. 

 Echinochloa Crus-gaili, Beauv. 



A common and widely-spread weed of hot countries, especially in 

 the Old World, and abundant in temperate Europe and Russian Asia, 

 extending northwards to southern Scandinavia. In Britain, occasion- 

 ally only, as a weed of cultivation in southern England. PI. summer 

 and autumn. 



IV. HIEROCHLOE. HOLYGRASS. 



Panicle loose and spreading (in some exotic species narrow and 

 crowded). Spikelets with 1 perfect terminal flower and 2 lower flowers 

 male only, with 3 stamens. Glumes 6, all scarious, boat-shaped, keeled, 

 and pointed ; the 2 outer empty ones as long as the flowers, below the 

 articulation of the rachis and persistent, 2 intermediate ones enclosing 

 the male flowers ; the upper pair smaller, but both keeled, without any 

 2-nerved palea. 



A genus of several species, spread over the colder regions of both the 

 northern and southern hemispheres, and closely allied to Anthoxanthum, 

 differing only in the intermediate glumes enclosing male flowers. 



1. H. borealis, Roem. et Sch. (fig. 1166). Northern H.A perennial, 

 from | to 1 feet high, with a creeping rootstock, and flat leaves, 

 usually short, scented like Anthoxanthum. Panicle spreading, about 

 2 inches long, with slender branches. Spikelets ovate, of a shining 

 brown ; the outer empty glumes very pointed, nearly 3 lines long, and 

 glabrous. Two intermediate glumes attaining to the length of the 

 outer ones, but rough on the outside with short hairs, and each 

 enclosing a 2-nerved palea and 3 stamens. Uppermost pair of glumes 

 smaller and nearly glabrous, the innermost enclosing 2 stamens and 

 the pistil. 



In mountain pastures and waste places, at high latitudes, in northern 

 and Arctic Europe, Asia, and America, descending southwards to 

 northern Germany, and to the mountains of south-eastern Germany. 

 In Britain, only near Thurso, in Caithness. Fl. summer. 



V. ANTHOXANTHUM. ANTHOXANTH. 



Spikelets 1 -flowered, narrow, pedicellate, but crowded into a cylin- 

 drical spike or spike-like panicle. Glumes 6, all boat-shaped and 

 keeled, the 2 outer ones unequal, pointed but not awned ; the 2 next 

 also empty, shorter than the outer ones, narrow, hairy ; one with a 

 small awn on its back, the outer with a longer awn arising from its 

 base ; the upper pair still shorter, obtuse and awnless, without any 

 true palea. Stamens only 2. 



