44 BRITISH SPECIES 
Apera Spica-veniti, the Spreading Silky Bent, should be sought 
for in sandy cultivated fields, particularly those which are occa- 
sionally flooded ; but it is very rare, and almost confined to S.E. 
England. Culms tufted, about 2 ft. Panicle with numerous 
capillary branches, diffuse at time of flowering. Spikelets }, inch 
long, shining, and tinged with purplish-brown, containing one 
flower and a pedicel-like rudiment ; lower empty glume smaller 
than the upper; flowering glume membranous, entire, with a 
slender, wavy, subterminal awn 3-4 times its length; anthers linear. 
Annual, flowering June, July. 
Afera interrupta, the Dense-flowered Silky Bent, is a sub- 
species or variety with a contracted and 
interrupted panicle, the branches short 
and adpressed, not spreading. Spike- 
lets green; anthers oval. Extremely 
rare ; Cambridge, Suffolk, Norfolk. 
Panicum sanguinale, the Cocksfoot 
Finger-grass (fig. 30), is a scarce corn- 
field casual, found in S.E. England. 
Culms about a foot, ascending ; leaves 
and sheaths somewhat hairy. Spikes 
about five on each culm, radiating so 
as to appear digitate or fingered, 2-3 
inches long. Spikelets in pairs along 
one side of the rachis, 4 inch long, 
acute, purple; glumes awnless, the 
flowering one smooth. Annual, flower- 
ing July, August. 
Panicum Crus-galli, the Loose Panic- 
grass, is equally rare. The leaves are 
harsh, glabrous, and without a ligule. 
Spikelets 4 inch long, crowded on the 
: . alternate partial spikes which thus re- 
Fig. 30.—Panicum sauguinale semble lobes, green or tinged with pur- 
showing radiating spikes: figures f . 3 
on left enlarged, the lower apair Ple; third glume tipped with a mucro 
of spikelets (one of them pedi- or short awn. Annual, flowering July, 
celled); upper figure, the two 
basal empty glumes (one minute). August. In both these grasses, the in- 
florescence consists of several spikes 
either fingered or forming a lobed panicle; the spikelets are 
flattened dorsally, and contain one perfect flower together with a 
staminate one beneath, or a third empty glume ; the lowest empty 
glume is very minute ; fruiting glume indurated and polished. 
Briza minor, the Small Quaking-grass, occurs in dry sandy 
fields, generally among corn, in the extreme south of England, 
from Hants to Cornwall, but is very rare; in Jersey and Guernsey 
frequent. Culms 6-10 inches, tufted; leaves short, yellowish- 
green; ligule long and pointed. Spikelets similar to those of 
B. media, but smaller, barely 4 inch long and pale green ; empty 
glumes longer than the flowering ones. Annual, flowering July. 
