THE GENERA AND THEIR SPECIES. 83 



than internodes, uppermost longest ; ligule short, sheathing, 

 truncate. Panicle erect, triangular, wide spreading, branches 

 filiform, long, distant, paired. Spikelets ovoid, smooth, glossy, 

 pendulous, florets about seven, imbricated, sessile, green and 

 purple. Glumes nearly equal, glabrous, concave, blunt, slightly 

 keeled, outer with three ribs, inner with five ribs. Outer palea 

 smooth, broad, blunt, ribbed, concave, border membranous ; 

 inner palea membranous, a green rib on each side. 



Quake Grass is interesting as possessing the rudiment of 

 a posterior style. It is best appreciated as an ornament, but 

 its nutritive qualities are considerable, and it is freely eaten 

 by horses, cows, and sheep. Poor, tenacious ground suits it 

 best, and it thrives as a sort of advance guard on rocky, shallow 

 soil, where its graceful, pendulous spikelets are frequently the 

 only flowers. It was from the drooping, balancing habit of 

 the inflorescence that its name, Briza, was given to it. It has 

 an easily recognisable seed, ovoid and dark brown. 



78. B. minor. Fields and wastes in the south of England and 

 Ireland ; ranging through Southern and Western Europe. May 

 and June. Root annual, small, tufted, fibres compressed. Stem 

 erect, striated, rough to the touch ; nodes five. Leaves erect, 

 short, broad, tapering, glabrous, margins and keel rough, sheath- 

 ing. Sheaths open, striated, smooth, 

 uppermost rather longer than leaf ; 

 ligule long, thin, white, decur- 

 rent, embracing stem. Panicle 

 widely spreading, roundish, bran- 

 ches filiform, distant, and paired. 

 Spikelets ovoid, smooth, pendulous, 

 florets five or more. Glumes nearly 

 equal, concave, blunt, outer with 

 three ribs, inner with five ribs. 

 Outer palea smaller than glumes, 

 deep, concave, lobed, rough, three- 

 ribbed ; inner palea thin, flat, con- 



Briza minor. * 



Spikeiet. For Floret see p. 54. cealed in outer palea. 



