ch. vn] Botanical Description of Species 



itl 



smooth, glossy, with a fairly prominent keel; the upper surface 

 distinctly ribbed and dull. There are no auricles, and the ligule 

 is extremely short and blunt. The entire plant is glabrous. 

 Abundant in Britain. 



Fig. 86. "Seed" 

 of Gynosurus 

 cristatus. /. 10. 

 Front view. 



Fig. 85. Spike-like inflorescences of Gynosurus 

 cristatus shown in full flower. About twice 

 natural size. 



Flowers late in June or early in July. The culm is thin, smooth 

 and wiry, from nine to fifteen inches high. Panicle spikedike, 

 1 to 2 inches long, simple, bearing the spikelets in clusters on its 

 wavy axis. About one-fourth of this axis (rachis) is left exposed 

 owing to the clusters of spikelets being all turned towards one 

 side. Spikelets, 3-5 flowered, each subtended by a group of 



