ch. vn] Botanical Description of Species 



89 



\i 



unequal in length, the upper one longer and nearly twice as broad 

 as the other. Both glumes have prominent keels and nerves. 



"Seeds" large and usually well filled; 14-22 mm. long and 

 about 2-6 mm. across broadest part. Outer j)alea straw-coloured, 

 acutely keeled and ending in a short terminal and barbed awn- 

 like point. The lateral nerves 

 number five or six on either side 

 of the keel, and are sometimes 

 scabrid. The keel is markedly 

 scabrid near the awn-point. The 

 margins of the outer palea are 

 slightly rolled back. The inner 

 palea is about 10 mm. long, 

 folded at the margins to entrap 

 the grain, and fringed with hairs 

 at the folds. The rachilla is 

 cylindrical, stout, thickening up- 

 wards, and usually rough. The 

 grain is about 7 mm. long, and 

 1-7 mm. broad. It is hard and 

 glutinous, and has a shallow 

 longitudinal groove in front, and 

 a few hairs at the upper end. 

 (Fig. 83.) 



Calamagrostis Epigeios, Roth. 

 (Wood Small-reed.) (Fig. 84.) 



A perennial growing in moist 

 shade. Sheaths striated, split. 

 Young shoots round, blades nar- 

 row, acuminate and acute. Ligule 

 long with bifid apex. No auricles. 

 Most common in the south of 

 England. 



Flowers in July ; culms 3 to 5 feet high. Panicle erect, and 

 rather close except during flowering. Empty glumes equal, 

 narrow, and acute, with dorsal nerve only, enclosing one flower. 



"Seeds." Outer palea about 3 mm. long, deeply bifid at 

 apex. Awn dorsal, slender, about as long as the palea. At 



Fig. 84. Panicles of Calamagros- 

 tis lanceolata (left) and 6'. Epi- 

 geios (right). About -J- nat. size. 



