INTRODUCTORY. 5 



any pistil, it would be Arrhenatherum. But it has several florets. 

 Then if the panicle be tufted it can only be Dactylis (Cocksfoot) ; 

 but it is gracefully diffuse, and we can tell it by its awn. Is 

 the awn terminal, that is, does it start from the apex of the outer 

 palea ? No. Then it is not Festuca. Does it start from just 

 below the apex, that is, is it sub-terminal ? No. Then it is 

 not Bromus. Is it dorsal, that is, does it start from the back ? 

 Yes. Then it is Avena. But which species ? Are the spikelets 

 erect and the ligule truncate, that is, cut off short ? No. Then 

 it is not the Yellow Oat. Are the spikelets erect and the ligule 

 pointed ? No ; the spikelets droop, the ligule is short, and the 

 species is the Wild Oat, A. fatua. 



Now let us take a spike. Is it digitate, that is, is it a group 

 of spikes, diverging like fingers ? No. Are the spikelets placed 

 in little cavities or notches in the stem ? Yes. Are they in ones, 

 twos, or threes ? Threes. Then the genus is Hordeum. If they 

 had been in pairs, it would have been Elymus ; if in ones, either 

 Nardus, Lepturus A g ropy rum, or Lolium. The one style (instead 

 of two) distinguishes Nardus ; the axis jointed at each notch 

 marks off Lepturus ; the spikelets close together characterise 

 Agropyrum, as the spikelets with well-marked intervals between 

 indicate Lo iu n. 



Next we will have a spike in which the spikelets are not in 

 notches. Are the spikelets on one side only ? No. Then the 

 genus is neither Cynosurus in which the spikelets are rounded, nor 

 Spartina in which they are flattened. Are the spikelets alternate 

 in two opposite rows ? No. Is the spike ovoid, that is, almost 

 globular ? No. Then it is neither Phalaris nor Lagurus. Does 

 the spike taper from the base upwards ? No. Is it fusiform, 

 that is, spindle-shaped, or cylindrical ? Yes, probably cylindrical. 

 Let us make sure. Is the ligule very long and cleft into two, 

 that is bifid ? No. Then it is not Psamma. Is the spike 

 interrupted near the base. No. Then it is not Koeleria. Is 

 the base of the leaf auricled, that is, has it rounded ears ; and are 

 there only two anthers ? No. Then it is not Anthoxanthum 

 Are the spikelets imbricated, that is do they overlap one another 

 like the tiles on a house ? No, Then it is not Sesleria. Is the 



