48 Mr. Woods un the Gênera of European Grasses. 



Secale seems better separated from Trificum on the small and iiicflicient 

 glumes, and on tlie taperiiii;- form of the outer paiea, than on the nundjer of 

 llorets. 



I have not before me a sufficient number of species to affix new limits to 

 the genera ElyxMUS and IIordeum, but I am inclined to find the distinction in 

 tlie setaceo-aristate glumes, and perhaps in the long awns or setae of the latter 

 genus. Tlie number of florets does not seeui to afford a satisfactory line, 

 since E.europceus, which is described as two-flowered, is certainly more com- 

 monly met with, as is observed by Sir W. Hooker, having only one, and indeed 

 I iiave never fonnd in the specimens I have examined two perfect florets. The 

 rudiment of the second is usually a mere stalk, and the wiiole structure of 

 tlie flower exactly like tliat of Hordeum pratense. E. crinifas has usually a 

 distinct palea, perhaps two, to the second floret, but as tar as I have seen, it 

 is always empty. These two species, and probably two or three more, not 

 niitives of Europe, would on my scheme be joined to Hordeum; but I do not 

 know how far it would be possible to draw a line throughout the genus in ac- 

 cordance witii the habit of the plants. 



Pappophorr/e. 



This is a very small tribe, containing ni the whole only 7 genera, and 28 

 species. In Europe we have only 1 species, which is particularly interesting, 

 as it enables our Flora to yield an example of every tribe into whicli the 

 Grasses have been divided. The leading characters seem to be the thin and 

 entire glumes united to coriaceous and many pointed palese. 



Echinaria. Spicukc sessile, crowded, placed all round the rachis, 2 — 4-flovv-- 

 ered, of which not more tlian the two lower are perfect. Glumes ending 

 in a seta. Outer palea with five, inner with two points. Seed hairless. 



ROTTBOELLIACE/E. 



These differ from the Hordeaceœ in liaving only one perfect floret placed 

 edgewise on the spike, which is sometimes one-sided, sometitnes equal all 

 round. According to Kunth, the second imperfect floret, where it occurs, 

 is in some genera above, and in some below the perfect one. Is this to be 

 considered as an indication that he has united two tribes into one } or that 



