ch. vii Botanical Description of Species 73 



kvaaafatua, L. (Wild Oat.) (Fie;. 60.) Abundant in Britain. 



A tall annual, occurring especiallv among cereal crops, forming 

 close tufts. Shoot cylindrical, sheaths split, glabrous or occasion- 

 ally with a few hairs. Leaf-blades linear, broad, acuminate, 

 glabrous or slightly hairy. Ligule membranous, relatively short. 

 and blunt. Auricles wanting. 



I 



Fig 56. Inflorescence of 

 Amnio Phragmites. 



About \ nat. size. 



Fig. 57. Panicles of Avena flavescens, L. 

 a. Pre-flowering stage. 6. In full 

 flower. About S nat. size. 



Flowers in June or July; culms erect. 3-5 feet high. Panicle 

 large, open, and spreading equally on all sides. Spikelets large, 

 ovate-lanceolate, hanging, each of two to three flowers. Empty 



