136 



CLASSIFICATION OF 



[CH. 



caryopsis, which easily falls out and is ovoid-acute, about 

 2 mm. long by 1 broad, and finely punctate. 



The much rarer P. arenarium and the very rare P. Boshmeri. and 

 P. asperum also come here. 



Phleum is not easily confounded with any other of our grasses, 

 and Briza and Olyceria are almost the only other common grasses of 

 about the same size of which the caryopsis often falls free from the 

 palea ("naked fruits"). Olyceria is longer and corn-shaped, and 

 Briza usually larger. Anthoxanthiim and Phalaris are easily dis- 

 tinguished. Agrostis is smaller and " corn-shaped." Certain species 

 of Panicum present resemblances, but the enveloping palese, &c. are 

 very different. Melica also occurs as " naked fruits," but is rarely 

 seen, and its colour and brilliant lustre distinguish it. 



B. Glumes not cuspidate. " Fruit " not yellow. 



(a) " Fruit " white, owing to the closely investing 



palea. 



Milium effusum. 



A common grass, but not often met with in " seed " grasses, 

 is eagerly eaten by birds. 



Milium effusum, L. (Fig. 52). 



Palea about 3 mm. long, with 

 few nerves, closely investing the 

 caryopsis : the seed is ellipsoid- 

 acute, slightly compressed, and 2'2 — 

 2'7 mm. long. The inner pale be- 

 comes hard and shines like porcelain. 



It 



(6) " Fruit " dark-brown shin- 

 ing ; slightly flattened and 



grooved. 



Melica. 



Fig. 52. Milium effu- 

 sum. " Seed," a, 

 nat. size; h and c, 

 X 7. Nobbe. 



