118 Botanical Section [pt i 



and smooth. Grain elliptical in outline, flattened ; about 2-5 mm. 

 long, shining, and of a dark-brown colour. (Fig. 126.) 



Melica uniflora, L. (Wood Melick.) (Fig. 127.) 



A perennial species occurring in similar situations to the last 

 species, but at lower elevations, and is more frequent in the 

 British Isles. 



Sheaths and blades as in M . nutans, but the ligule is practically 

 wanting, and a slender bristle projects from the sheath near 

 the point of insertion of the blade. 



Flowers about June ; culms from 1 to 2 feet high. Inflorescence 

 a simple panicle or raceme, with only a few spikelets on long, 

 slender, and somewhat nodding branches. Spikelets ovate, con- 

 taining one perfect and one rudimentary flower. The empty 

 glumes and palese are similar to those of M. nutans. Outer palea 

 4-5 mm. long. 



Milium effusum, L. (Spreading Millet-grass.) 



Occurs in damp shady woods in many parts of the British Isles. 

 A somewhat creeping glabrous perennial. Sheaths split ; leaf-blades 

 broad, flat, of a glossy light-green colour. Ligule long and mem- 

 branous. Auricles absent. 



Flowers about June; culms from 3 to 4 feet high. Panicle 

 large, erect, open and spreading. Spikelets on long slender 

 branches, numerous, small, ovate, and one-flowered. Glumes 

 equal, broad, membranous and three-nerved. 



"Seeds." Outer palea membranous, smooth, glossy, awnless 

 and nerveless; about 3 mm. long, light- coloured. Inner palea 

 glossy, without marginal hairs. No rachilla. (Fig. 129.) 



Molinia ccerulea, Moench. (Purple Melick-grass.) (Fig. 128.) 



This plant is common on damp moors, peaty soils, woods, etc. 

 in Britain. It is a perennial, with tough cord-like roots, and forms 

 conspicuous tufts. Sheaths smooth and split. Leaf-blades rolled 

 in the shoot, long, narrowing below, and tapering above to a long 

 fine point; thin, dry, almost ribless, and more or less hairy on 

 the upper surface. There are no auricles and the ligule is either 

 very short or represented by only a tuft of hairs. 



Flowers about July ; culms usually 2-3 teet high but varying 

 much with the situation. Panicle erect, long, and close. The 

 slender branches arise in alternate tufts on the wavy rachis. 



