IX] 



" SEEDS " 



137 



Melica is rarely met with as " seed." When it is, it lias to be 

 distinguished from the other " Millet-seed " types which readily fall 

 as naked fruits— see Phleum^ Milium, &c. Agrostts, Ghjceria and 

 other corn-shaped " seeds " are easily distinguished. 



Melica nutans, L. (Fig. 53). 



*' Seed " coracle-shaped. Palea broad, parchment- 

 like, elliptic convex, 5 — 6 mm. long, 5—7 nerved and 



Fig. 53. Coracle- shaped " seed " of Jlelica nuttois, showing the broad, 

 ribbed and keeled palea (c), and small rachilla (d). a, the "seed," 

 nat. size ; c and d, ditto, x 8 ; 6, the caryopsis, nat. size ; e and /, 

 ditto, xlO. Nobbe. 



keeled, awnless, loose, purplish. Caryopsis ellipsoid-acute, 

 2 — 3 mm. long, and easily separating, wrinkled, dark 

 shining brown as if lacquered. 



J/, uniflora, Eetz. is commoner and very similar, but neither is 

 often met\vith in "seed" grass, except as impurities among Fescues. 



The rare Panicum Crus-galU and allies, and the rice-like Leersia 

 oryzoides as well as Cynodon Dactylon, come here. 



Panicums may occur in grass " seed " from America : Burchard 

 describes them in detail. 



