Order GRAMINE/E. 



GENUS II. MICROL^NA, Brown. 



Spikelets racemed or panicled, i -flowered. Empty glumes 4 : two lower- 

 most opposite, minute ; two following awned, much larger. Flowering 

 glume terminal, acuminate, or awned. Palea short, linear, hyaline. 

 Scales 2. Stamens 2 4. Ovary sessile. Styles short. Stigmas 

 feathery. Grain free within the hardened glumes. DISTRIBUTION OF 

 GENUS : AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, NEW ZEALAND. Etymology : 

 Named from two Greek words meaning "small" and a "covering," in 

 allusion to the small outer glumes. 



ARRANGEMENT or THE SPECIES : 



I. Two lowest glumes distant from the following ... i. M. stipoides. 

 II. Two lowest glumes close to the following (Diplax) 

 Spikelets panicled. Leaves scaberulous, \ J-inch 



broad. Stamens 2 2. M. avenacea. 



Spikelets racemed. Leaves smooth,! 1 ., J-inch 



broad. Stamens 4 3. M. polynoda. 



1. MICROL.ENA STIPOIDES. 



MEADOW RICE GRASS. 

 (Plate II.) 



MICROL/ENA GUNNII. Hook. fil. Fl. Tasm., II., 105, t. 155. A. ; 

 EHRHARTA STIPOIDES, Brown. Labill. Fl. Nov. Roll., I., 16, t. 118; 

 F. Muell. Fragm. VII., 90 ; MICROL^ENA STIPOIDES, Brown. Hook. fil. 

 Fl. Tasm., II., 105, Fl. N.Z., I., 289; Handb. N.Z. Flora, I., 320; 



A SLENDER grass, on low grounds. flowers November January. 

 Perennial. Root fibrous. Stems 12 24 inches high. Leaves glabrous 

 or sparingly hairy, 2 6 inches long ; ligule very short, obtuse, entire or 

 lacerate ; mouth of sheath with silky hairs. Panicle slender, upright or 

 inclined; branched below. Lower spikelets on long pedicels, upwards 



