8 INTRODUCTORY. 



Hairs numerous, long, silky. 



Leaves broad and light green ; nodes purple. 



Dig? 'aphis. 

 Leaves narrow and green ; nodes green. Cala- 

 magvostis. 

 Hairs few and short. Agrostis. 



Spikelets with 2 or more florets. 

 Awned. 



Florets 2, both perfect. Air a. 



Florets 2, lower imperfect. Arrhenatherum. 



Florets 3 or more. 



Panicle tufted. Dactylis. 

 Panicle diffuse. 



Awn dorsal. A vena. 



Awn sub-terminal; style sub -terminal. Bromus. 



Awn terminal ; style terminal. Festuca. 



Awnless. 



Florets enveloped in silky hairs of axis. Arundo. 

 Glumes 6, leaf and sheath netted. Hierochlce. 

 Glumes 2, truncate. Catabrosa. 

 Glumes 2, short, obtuse or pointed. Poa. 

 Glumes 2, long and lanceolate. Festuca as regards 

 F. ovina and F. elatior). 



Though this key has been found to work satisfactorily at 

 every trial, it is as well to be able to identify our grasses in a 

 more orthodox manner. Let us then take another specimen and 

 trace it to its species in the usual way. 



To do this we must begin by referring to our fifth chapter, 

 wherein the distinctions between the thirteen tribes of grasses are 

 given in tabular form. Comparing our specimen with the first 

 analysis, we find that : 



1. It does not belong to the Bamboos, as its stem is not 

 woody and its leaves are not joined to their sheaths by 

 a petiole, that is a leaf -stalk. 



