Calamagrostis, Roth. 



Spikelets very narrow, lanceolate, acuminate, in contracted much divided 

 panicles ; rhachiUa disarticulating above the, glumes, not or very shortly continued 

 beyond the floret. Floret 1, perfect, much shorter than the glumes. 



Glumes equal or subequal, -^^ery narrow, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, membranous, 

 keeled, lower 1-, upper 3-nerved. Valve narrow, lanceolate in profile, membranous, 

 glabrous, more or less shortly bifid, .5-3-nerved with a fine short dorsal, rarely sub- 

 terminal awn ; callus small, long hairy, hairs usually much exceeding the valve. 

 Pale 2 -nerved, as long as the A-alve or somewhat shorter. Lodicules 2, hyaline. 

 Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous, styles distinct, short ; stigmas plumose, laterally 

 exserted. Grain enclosed by the hardly changed valve and pale, free, subterete ; 

 hilum basal, small ; embyro small. 



Perennial, usually rather robust ; blades long, linear, flat ; ligules scarious. 



Panicle more or less contracted, narrow, rather dense, with much divided branches 

 and short branchlets and pedicels. Florets surrounded by long, fine hairs. 



Species few, in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, 2 also in 

 South Africa. 



