940 THE GRASS FAMILY. 



pAwns to all the glumes 12. Beardgrass. 



21 -{ Awns (often very small) to the flowering glume only or none. Outer 



L glumes pointed, but not awned 23 



9 p f Awns jointed with a tuft of hairs at the joint 17. Aira. 



I Awns not jointed 23 



oo f Outer glumes swollen and very shining at the base . . 14. Nitgrass. 



I Outer glumes not enlarged at the base ...... 13. Agrostis. 



{Spikelets all sessile in a simple spike (branched only in accidental luxu- 

 riant specimens) 26 

 Spikelets single or clustered, in a loose and spreading or close and spike- 

 like panicle 25 



2 k f Awns to some or all the glumes 31 



I Spikelets entirely without awns 40 



Spikelets 2- or more flowered, sessile in a simple spike. 



rTwo spikelets to each tooth of the spike . . . ■ . . 25. Lymegrass. 

 26 J Spikelets all solitary 27 



L Spikelets clustered along the axis of the spike 41 



„y J Spikelets with their sides to the main axis of the spike 28 



I Spikelets with one edge (the backs of the glumes) to the main axis . 29 



rOuter glumes nearly equal. Spikelets very closely sessile or indented. 

 28 <j 27. Triticum. 



LOuter glumes unequal. Spikelets almost sessile . . 29. False-Brome. 



{One empty glume at the base of each spikelet (except the terminal one). 

 Spikelets indented in the axis 28. Lolium. 

 Two empty glumes at the base of each spikelet. Spikelet3 almost 

 sesssile 30 



o n f Perennial. Spikelets 6 lines long or more .... Meadow Fescue. 

 I Annual. Spikelets not above 3 lines long Darnel Poa. 



Spikelets 2- or more flowered, panicled, awned. 



o-, f Flowering glumes all awned 32 



1 Spikelets with 1 awnless perfect flower, and 1 awned male flower . . 38 

 r "Awns inserted on the back of the flowering glumes near or below the 



centre. Hairs on the axis between the flowers short 33 



32 <{ Awns terminal. Flowering glumes surrounded by hairs longer than 



themselves 42. Beed. 



h Awns terminal or nearly so. Axis of the spikelet without hairs . . 35 



oo f Spikelets 2-flowered 34 



1 Spikelets 3- or more flowered 18. Oat. 



{Spikelets 2 lines or less. Awn fine, scarcely protruding beyond the 

 glumes 17. Aira. 

 Spikelets 3 or 4 lines long. Awn exserted. One of the flowers male only. 

 19. False-Oat. 



