122 THE GENERA AND THEIR SPECIES. 



compact, not exceeding an inch in length, generally purple. 

 Spikelets oblong, small, spreading. Outer glume truncate, keel 

 continued into an awn. Outer palea ovate, keel hairy, awned ; 

 inner palea shorter than outer, fringed at edge. Anthers short 

 and broad. 



15. P. boehmeri. Pastures, east of England, ranging through 

 Europe and Northern Asia. July and August. Root perennial, 

 fibrous, tufted. Stem purple in colour, glossy, leafy below, 

 bare above, occasionally bulbous. Leaves linear, short, ribs 

 rough ; upper leaves very short ; glaucous. Upper sheaths long, 

 slightly tumid ; ligule shorter than broad, truncate. Spike com- 

 pact, slender, cylindrical, about two inches long. Spikelets flat, 

 curved, small, crowded. Glumes equal, tapering, fringed with 

 bristles and pointed or slightly awned. Outer palea small, mem- 

 branous, elliptical, ribbed ; inner palea smaller than outer, and 

 having a small bristle at the base. Anthers long and purple. 



This is rather a rare species, growing in dry, sandy places and 

 chalky districts in the eastern counties. It is recognisable by the 

 violet colour of the upper part of the stem. It affords but a feeble 

 yield of herbage, and at flowering time consists almost entirely 

 of stems. It was first noted in 1780 near Swaffham. Sinclair 

 pointed out that its inflorescence looks like a spike until pressed 

 between the fingers, when it proves to be a panicle. 



16. P. aspenim. Waste places, East of England ; ranging 

 through Central and Southern Europe. July and August, 

 Root perennial, fibres much branched. Stem smooth, branched, 

 leafy. Leaves flat, acute, ribbed, rough, bright green. Sheaths 

 slightly tumid, uppermost long ; ligule tapering and prominent. 

 Spike compact, cylindrical, noticeably rough. Spikelets flat, 

 numerous, not glaucous. Glumes equal, wedge-shaped, slightly 

 rough, ribbed, mucronate, green and white. Outer palea short, 

 elliptical, obtuse, not crenate ; inner palea shorter than outer 

 palea, edges folded. Anthers short ; filaments long. 



17. P. arenavhim. Sandy shores of Western Europe. June 

 and July. Root annual, fibres long, simple and downy. Stem 



