46 THE ORDER AND ITS TRIBES. 



Panicles. 



Spikelets with a terminally awned male floret above 

 an awnless perfect floret, or with all the outer 

 paleae dorsally awned, and the rachilla hairless or 

 having short hairs. AVENEZE. 

 Spikelets otherwise. FESTUCE7E. 



These are our eight British tribes, and we can get our best 

 description of them by re-assembling Hackel's key "with additions. 



Paniceje. Spikelets in spikes, racemes or panicles, axis 

 usually continuous. One-floret ; occasionally two florets, lower 

 floret, when present, male or very rarely perfect, in the axil of the 

 third glume. Spikelets falling from the pedicel entire or together 

 with certain joints of the rachis at maturity. Rachilla not 

 produced beyond the florets. Internodes between the different 

 glumes or flowers not measurable. Spikelets not flattened 

 laterally, but usually somewhat dorsally compressed or else 

 perfectly round. Paleae of the perfect floret firmer in texture 

 than the glumes, and unawned. Glumes, one, two, or three, 

 rarely awned. Seed unfurrowed, embryo nearly half as large 

 as fruit. Starch grains simple, polyhedral to roundish. Hilum 

 punctiform. 



Represented in Britain by only one genus, Panicum 3-8. 



Oryzem. Spikelets with one floret, which falls from the 

 pedicel entire or together with certain joints of the rachis at 

 maturity. Rachilla not produced beyond the florets. Inter- 

 nodes between the different glumes or florets not measurable. 

 Spikelets laterally compressed. Florets enclosed by paleae, inner 

 palea usually with a single nerve. Glumes two or more, very 

 rarely numerous. Stamens, one, two, three, or frequently six, 

 Stigmas elongated. Fruit with a small embryo. Starch grains 

 compound. Hilum linear. 



Represented in Britain by only one genus, Lcersia 1 



Phalaride*. Spikelets with one floret or with one perfect: 

 and one or two male florets. Rachilla frequently produced 

 beyond the florets, and generally articulated above the glumes, 



