ch. vn] Botanical Description of Species 



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A tufted perennial, with numerous fibrous roots which are 

 often of a yellowish colour. Shoot cylindrical. Sheaths split, 

 covered with numerous silky and usually reflexed hairs. Leaf- 

 blades rather thin, narrow, and acuminate ; with silky hairs on 

 both surfaces, but more especially on the upper surface which is 

 also distinctly ribbed. No auricles. Ligule blunt, but distinct. 

 The foliage is generally of a pale or mid-green colour. 



Fig. 52. " Seed " of Anthoxanihum odoratum, L. x 10. A. " Seed " consisting of 

 the inner pair of hairy empty glumes enclosing the palese and grain. B. The 

 outer palea (O.P.) and inner palea (I.P.) enveloping the grain. 



Flowers about midsummer; culms erect about 15-20 inches 

 high. Panicle symmetrical, open, and erect; of a golden-yellow 

 hue, very delicate and graceful in appearance. Spikelets small, 

 numerous, 2-3 flowered. Empty glumes very unequal, the upper 

 one often nearly twice as long, and 3-4 times as broad as the 

 other ; both are very thin, acute and keeled, but the lateral nerves 

 are indistinct. 



