IX] 



" SEEDS " 



137 



Melica is rarely met with as " seed." When it is, it has to be 

 distinguished from the other "Millet-seed" types which readily fall 

 as naked fruits — see Phleum, Milium, &c. Agrostis, Glyceria and 

 other corn-shaped "seeds" are easily distinguished. 



Melica nutans, L. (Fig. 53). 



" Seed " coracle-shaped. Palea broad, parchment- 

 like, elliptic convex, 5 — 6 mm. long, 5 — 7 nerved and 



Fig. 53. Coracle-shaped " seed " of Melica nutans, showing the broad, 

 ribbed and keeled palea (c), and small rachilla (d). u., the "seed," 

 nat. size ; c and d, ditto, x 8 ; 6, the caryopsis, nat. size ; e and /, 

 ditto, X 10. Nobbe. 



keeled, awnless, loose, purplish. Caryopsis ellipsoid-acute, 

 2 — 3 mm. long, and easily separating, wrinkled, dark 

 shining browa as if lacquered. 



M. tiniflora, Eetz. is commoner and very similar, but neither is 

 often met with in "seed" grass, except as impurities among Fescues. 



The rare Panicum Crus-galli and allies, and the rice-like Leersia 

 oryzoides as well as Gynodon Dactylon, come here. 



Panicums may occur in grass "seed" from America : Burohard 

 describes them in detail. 



