136 



Fig. 105. Koeleria cristata Pers. — a, A spikelet; b, a spikelet expanded. 



105. KOELERIA Pers. Syn. 1:97. 1805. Spikelets 2- to 4-flovvered, com- 

 pressed; rachilla articulated above the empty glumes. Empty glumes 2, un- 

 equal, keeled, somewhat shorter than the flowering glumes; flowering glumes 

 membranaceous, more or less scarious, faintly 3- to 5-nerved, obtuse, acute or 

 mucronate-pointed. Palea hyaline, acute, 2-nerved, about as long as its glume. 

 Stamens 3. Styles very short; stigmas plumose. Annual or perennial csespitose 

 grasses, with narrow, usually flat leaves, and densely flowered spikelike 

 panicles. 



Species about 12, in the temperate regions of both hemispheres. 



