142 CLASSIFICATION OF [CH. 



* Palea inflated, round-backed and somewhat 



winged, membranous. 



Briza media. 

 B. minor. 



Briza media, L. 



PalesB blunt, 2"5 — 3 mm., without lateral projections, 

 markedly convex — almost conduplicate ; nerves several. 

 Caryopsis ovoid, 1"5 — 2'5 mm., dark brown. 



Sometimes called a good grass, but meagre and only found in 

 poor meadows in this coimtry. 



It should perhaps go with the " MiUet-seed" type and should be 

 compared with Pkleum, Melica, Panicum, &c. " Seed " seldom met 

 with. 



B. minor is smaller. 



** Palese not inflated or winged. 



t PalecE hroad, flat and truncate, m-ominently three- 

 ribhed. Caryopsis 2 m7n. long. 



Catabrosa aquatica, Beauv. 



Cattle like it, but it only grows in ditches &c. in water-meadows : 

 distinction from Olyceria aquatica easy if the palese are examined. 



+t Paleoe acute or sub-acute, boat-shaped. 



© Palece and " seed " at least 6 — 8 mm. long. 



= Rachilla flattened or angular, and tapering 

 below. 



Lolium perenne. 



Occasionally awned, and then less easily distinguished from 

 L. temidentum. One of our most valuable grasses. It forms a 

 distinct type of boat-shaped "seeds."' 



Lolium perenne, L. (Fig. 57). 



Palea distinctly five-ribbed, glabrous, oblong-lanceolate, 

 obtuse or sub-acute, awnless, about 7 mm. long. Margins 



