54 



THE TRIBES AND THEIR GENERA. 



Melica. Panicle narrow. Spikelets few and large, containing 

 one or more florets and a club-shaped 

 glume enclosing one or more rudimen- 

 tary florets. Glumes ovate, concave, 

 thin, nearly equal, with lateral ribs. 

 Outer palea ovate, concave ; inner palea 

 ovate, flat. Lodicules single, fleshy, 

 horizontal. Ovary turbinate. Stigmas 

 long, feathery. Stamens three, fila- 

 ments capillary, thickened at base; 

 anthers oblong. Styles two, bristle- 

 shaped, spreading. Paleae hardening on 

 grain, which is ovate and grooved. 



Species. 



M. nutans, 96. 

 M. uni flora, 97. 



Melica unijlora. 



Floret. 

 For Spikelet see p. : 



Briza. Panicle loose. Spikelets purplish or pale green, 

 ovate or triangular, broad, short, distichous, pendulous. 

 Florets three to eight, densely imbricate. Outer glumes nearly 

 equal, longer or shorter than the lowermost floret, broad, 

 blunt, membranous, margin scarious, concave, ribs five, or 

 more. Outer palea blunt, cartilaginous, boat -shaped, cordate 



at base, rounded on back, with- 

 out lateral projections, veins separate 

 throughout. Inner palea much 

 shorter than outer palea, very small, 

 flat and roundish. Lodicules two, 

 narrow, notched. Stamens three, 

 filaments capillary, anthers oblong. 

 Ovary roundish. Styles two. 



Stigmas feathery. Grain very flat, 

 dorsally compressed and adherent to 

 paleae. 



Species. B. media, yj 



Briza minor. ,_ . n 



Floret, tor Spikelet see p. 83. ■ / 



