iOa CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO [CH. 



has a conspicuously notched rachis and the spikelets arranged in the 

 other plane. 



Foa loliacea, Huds., an uncommon sea-shore weed, may also be 

 placed here; as also Festuca elatior, var. loUacea, Curt, and some 

 forms of Bromus arvensis, var. mollis, L. 



No other British grasses resemble Brachypodimn : any superficial 

 likeness remarked in species of Hordewn^ Festuca, &c. disappears 

 at once on examination. 



(6) Spike compound — i.e. with clusters of two or 

 more sessile or sub-sessile spikelets arranged 

 along the rachis. 

 (i) Spike elongated, fertile spikelets with 3 — 5 flowers. 



* Pasture-grass with wiry rachis, on which the spikelets 

 are secund and sessile in clusters: in each cluster a 

 comb-like group of barren glumes subtends one of 

 fertile spikelets. 



Cynosurus cristatus, L. 



The rare (7. echinatus has the pectinate groups of barren glumes 

 even more ^jrominent. 



** Stout glaucous sand-binder with pairs of 



sessile in the notches of the rachis, and all fertile. 

 Spike cylindrical. Not common. 



Elymus arenarius, L. 



For other sand-binders see p. 102. The only grass likely to be 

 confounded is Agropyrwm, in which the spikelets are not paired. 

 Lolivm,^ Brachypodium, &c. are easily distinguished. 



(ii) Spike short and ovoid: spikelets sub-sessile and im- 

 bricate, in clusters. Bluish. 



Sesleria ccerulea, Ard. 



Not easily mistaken for any other grass. As some of the 

 spikelets are shortly stalked, the inflorescence is strictly pani- 

 culate, but the fact is not obvious. The glume-like bract at 

 the base of the spike, and the general appearance suggest resem- 



