ch. yii] Botanical Description of Species 117 



high altitudes. Shoots quadrangular in cross-section. Sheaths 

 entire. Blades rolled in the shoot, long, narrow, thin, dry, flaccid, 

 and of a light-green colour ; sparsely hairy, showing ribs on lower 

 surface only. Ligule distinct. 



5 



Fig. 127- Melica uniflora (left) and 

 Melira nutans (right). About J- 

 nat. size. 



Fig. 128. Molinia 

 cwrulea. About 

 A nat. size. 



Flowers in May or June ; culms from 1 to 2 feet high. In- 

 florescence racemed, of about ten spikelets on short branches. 

 Spikelets ovate, pendulous, containing two perfect flowers and 

 one imperfect flower. Empty glumes reddish-brown, five-nerved. 



"Seed" 4-6 mm. long. Outer palea broad, rounded at the 

 apex, awnless, distinctly 5-7 nerved. Rachilla somewhat flattened 



