12 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



6. Ascending, (ascendens) , when the lower part of the straw lies 

 on the ground, and the upper part of it grows upright, as in 

 Poa compressa. 



7. Decumbent, . (decumbens}, when the lower part of the straw 

 rises in an oblique direction to the horizon, and the upper 

 part bends down towards it. See Festuca decumbens. 



8. Procumbent, (procumbens), is when the straw lies flat on the 

 ground, without striking roots at the joints. See Poa 

 procumbens. 



9. Creeping, (repens), when the straw creeps on the ground, and 

 sends out roots from the joints, as in Agrostis stolonifera. 



10. Naked, (nudus), having very few leaves with short sheaths, 

 as in Melica ceerulea and Festuca ovina. 



11. Bristle-shaped, (setaceus), with short sheaths and slender 

 stem, as in Festuca tenuifolia. 



12. Round, (teres), that is, cylindrical. See Festuca glabra. 



13. Half round, (semiteres), that is, flat on one side and round on 

 the other. See Poafertilis. 



14. Compressed, (compressus) f when the stem is flat on both sides. 

 See Poa compressa. 



15. Two-edged, (anceps), when a compressed straw is sharp on 

 both edges. See Poa aquatica. 



16. Four-cornered, (tetragonus) , three or four round or obtuse 

 edges, but the sides flat. See Festuca ovina. 



17. Knee-jointed, (geniculatus), when the stem is bent at a joint, 

 like the knee. See Elymus geniculatus. 



18. Bulbiferous, (bulbifer), having bulbs, or buds, fixed at the 

 joints. See Phleum nodosum. 



The flower straw, (pedunculus) , is the part which immediately 

 supports the flower ; it may be either a part of the principal straw 

 as in wheat or barley, or composed of a number of partial straws 

 seated on the principal culm, (see Bromus sterilis); or these partial 

 straws again branched, as in Poa nervosa, and Trichodium rupestre; 

 in the two last cases, they constitute what is called a compound 



panicle. 



III. 



Varieties in the form of the Leaves. 



The leaves of grasses are all quite simple, or undivided, and, on 

 that account, afford but few obvious characters of distinction ; 

 they vary, however, in respect of the form of their point or apex, 

 circumference, situation, and surface-covering. 



