128 THE GENERA AND THEIR SPECIES. 



rough above, smooth below, turning brown with age. Sheaths 

 ribbed, smooth ; ligule long, acutely triangular. Panicle lanceo- 

 late, dense, two-ranked, turning one way, branches rigid and 

 wavy, rachis angular. Spikelets compressed, cylindrical, florets 

 seven to ten. Glumes unequal, acute, keeled, apex of inner glume 

 level with base of third floret. Outer palea broad, pointed, with 

 two marginal green ribs having a white median stripe ; inner 

 palea short and bordered with green. 



85. P. loliacea. Sandy shores of the Mediterranean, and 

 Western Europe. June and July. Root annual, tufted, fibrous. 

 Stem curved, ascending, branching from base, rigid, stout. 

 Leaves linear, pointed, thin, flat, short, convolute when dry, 

 turning reddish brown with age. Sheaths long, smooth, upper- 

 most as long as leaf ; ligule oblong. Panicle racemose, close, 

 erect, slender. Spikelets oblong, usually solitary, in two alter- 

 nate rows, unilateral, stalks short and thick, florets six or more. 

 Glumes nearly equal, pointed, keeled, ribless, inner glume ex- 

 tending to base of fourth floret. Outer palea keeled, blunt with 

 a small point, ribs five ; inner palea with keel fringed and well 

 defined marginal ribs. 



S6. P. annua. Widely distributed in both Hemispheres, 

 mostly in waste places, and flowering at any time of the year. 

 Root annual, fibres numerous. Stems several, tufted, spreading, 

 decumbent, or ascending, rooting from nodes. Leaves folded in 

 bud, thin, tapering from near apex, rounded at apex, flaccid, 

 transversely wrinkled, rough at edges, ribless, median lines 

 yellow. Sheath long, smooth, compressed, edges rounded, upper- 

 most longer than leaf ; ligule conspicuous, long, rounded at apex. 

 Panicle triangular, loose, erect, more or less one-sided, branches 

 thin. Spikelets ovate, not webbed, stalked, glossy, florets five 

 or more, variegated green and white. Glumes unequal, three- 

 ribbed, middle rib toothed, inner glume extending to base of 

 third floret. Outer palea five-ribbed, smooth ; inner palea short, 

 with green marginal rib. Anthers colourless. 



