IX] "seeds" 147 



* Palea acuminate — i.e. taper pointed. 

 + Not compressed or obviously keeled. 



Festuca ovina. 

 F. sylvatiea. 

 Cynosurus cristatus 



It is doubtful whether these should not be regarded as a^vned : 

 if so they come near Sardus — see p. 130, 



Festuca ovina, L. (Fig. 59). 



Palea rounded on the back, narrow, terete-lanceolate 

 and live-nerved, tip scaberulous and drawn out to a stiff 



Fig. 59. Festuca ovina. a, spikelet, x about 3J. b, "seed," 

 nat. size and x about 7. c, caryopsis, uat. size and x 7. 



scabrid point half as long as the palea, or less. About 

 3 — 4 mm. long without the tip-point, 4 — do mm. with it. 

 Rachilla obliquely truncate and concave at its apex. 

 Caryopsis oblong, somewhat flattened, dark-brown. 



The numerous varieties of F. ovina cannot be distinguished by 

 the " seed " : the allied varieties F. rubra, F. duriuscula, and F. hete- 

 rophylla, &c. are sometimes more distinctly awned (see p. 172). But 

 difficulties will be found with the whole group, which needs revision. 

 This group comprises the grasses so valued on downs and dry hill- 

 pastures for sheep-feeding. 



Festuca sylvatiea, Vill., not a connnon plant, is also with 

 difiiculty separable (Fig. 51). 



10—2 



