ch. Ail] Botanical Description of Species 



63 



and acute, slightly hairy, yellowing as they age; the inner pair 

 nearly equal, hairy, of a rich brown colour when the "seed" 

 is ripe. Two stamens only are present in each flower. Flowers 

 protogynous. 



The "seed" (3-4 mm. long) consists of the inner pair of 

 glumes (covered with dark-brown hairs), and enclosing the paleae 

 and the caryopsis. The lower glume bears a straight dorsal 

 awn, and the other glume bears a longer, "kneed," sub-dorsal or 



Fig. 45. "Seed" of Alopecurus pratensis, L. x 10. Tt consists of the empty 

 glumes (gl. 1) and (gl. 2), and the outer palea (O.P.) enclosing the grain. 

 St. remains of the stigmatic plumes. 



almost basal awn. The upper margins of both glumes are silvery- 

 white and membranous. The outer and inner paleae are of a 

 brownish colour, thin, smooth, and shining. (Fig. 52.) 



A. Puelii, a closely allied annual species, only occurs as a weed 

 of cultivation in Britain. 



Arrhenatherum avenaceum, Beauv. (False or Tall Oat-grass.) 

 (Fig. 53.) Common in Britain. See also p. 140. 



A tall perennial, with loose, erect tufts of bitter foliage. Roots 

 numerous and of chrome-yellow colour. Basal nodes of culms 



