88 BRITISH GRASSES. 



shaped, keeled, nearly closed, generally fringed, the 

 outer broader and the same length as the inner ; palea 

 absent ; scales lanceolate, acute ; stamens two, three, or 

 six, short ; anthers oblong ; germen ovate, compressed ; 

 styles two, capillary, short, stigmas feathery ; panicles 

 loose; spikelets one-flowered ; seed obovate, compressed. 

 Species 1 : — oryzoides. 



Genus 2. Milium. Spikelets single-flowered; empty 

 glumes two, nearly equal, tumid, ovate, pointed ; flower- 

 ing glume smaller, ovate, permanent, finally cartilagi- 

 nous and glassy, enclosing the seed ; scales two, ovate, 

 obtuse; stamens three, thread- shaped, short; ovary 

 roundish ; styles two, capillary ; stigmas tufted. Spe- 

 cies 1 : — effusum. 



Genus 3. Panicum. Inflorescence panicled; panicle 

 compact or spike-like, or more or less spreading; spike- 

 lets small, naked or awned, one-flowered, or at any rate 

 containing only one perfect flower ; outer glumes gene- 

 rally three, the first minute, the second larger and 

 empty, the third either empty or containing a male or 

 neuter floret ; flowering glume concave, embracing with 

 its margins the palea, which like itself is cartilaginous 

 and glossy, and of similar shape but rather flatter, and 

 with two slight ribs ; scales minute, inflated ; ovary 

 roundish ; seed invested with the flowering glume and 

 palea, flattened on one side. Species 6 : — 1. sangui- 

 nale ; 2. glabrum ; 3. verticillatum ; 4. glaucum ; h.vi- 

 ride ; 6. Crus-galli. 



Genus 4. Hierochloe. Panicle more or less spread- 

 ing; spikelets three-flowered, only one of three being 

 perfect; outer glumes ovate, acute, membranous, keeled ; 

 inner and flowering ones ovate and coriaceous ; stamens 

 three in the male florets, and two only in the perfect 



