CH. vn] Botanical Description of Species 



75 



of a pale sap-green colour, making the plant very conspicuous. 

 Shoot round, sheaths split and hairy. Blade thin, long, narrowing 

 towards the base, and tapering above into a long point (Fig. 12) ; 

 ribless, with scattered hairs. Ligule prominent, blunt, and ragged. 

 Flowers about midsummer ; culms erect, 1-2 feet high. In- 

 florescence spikate, the spikelets being almost but not quite sessile 



Kg. 59. Panicle 

 of Avena pra- 

 tensis. About 

 I nat. size. 



Fig. 60. Panicle of Wild Oat, 

 Avenafal.ua. About -£ nat. 

 size. 



on the main axis. Spikelets long, cylindrical, somewhat drooping, 

 with from 3 to 10 flowers. Empty glumes rather unequal, seven- 

 nerved, and more or less hairy. 



"Seeds." Outer palea distinctly nerved above and hairy, 10 



