pressed, open during flowering, each containing 1 to 3 perfect florets, 
with a clavate rudimentary one above them. Glumes 2, slightly 
unequal, as long as or a little shorter than the florets, concave, not 
awned, 3- to 7-ribbed, scarious. Pales 2, the lower one rounded on 
the back, entire, not awned, strongly ribbed, parchmentlike; upper 
pale 2-toothed, 2-ribbed. Lodicules 2, entire. Stamens 3. Styles 
2, terminal, very short ; stigmas plumose, protruded at the sides of 
the flower between the basal margins of the pales. Caryops free, 
glabrous, elliptical, flattened and furrowed on the inner face. 
The name of this genus of grasses is derived from the word Mel, honey, on account 
SPECIES I— ME Lie A NUTANS. Lmn. 
Plate MDCCXLYIII. 
FpkJi. le. FI. Germ, et Heir. Vo\. I. Tab. CLXVII. Fig. 437. 
BHIoi, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2974. 
11. Montana, Huds. D.C. Fl. Fr. Vol. III. p. 31. 
PiOotstock slender, scarcely ca^spitose, shortly creeping, stoloniferous. 
Stems slender, erect, the flowering ones slightly arching towards the apex. 
Leaves linear, tapering towards each end, flat, with numerous very 
slender ribs, slightly pubescent above, bright green; sheaths slightly 
pubescent-scabrous, the lowest with undeveloped laminje, split at the 
very apex only, the uppermost one about as long as its leaf; ligide 
very short, truncate, without appendages. Panicle drooping, linear, 
nearly >iinple, racemose, rather lax, secund. Panicle-branches finely 
pubescent, all simple and arching-spreading, or the lower ones, ^vith 
2 to 4 racemed spikelets and applied to the rachis. Pedicels mostly 
shorter than the spikelets, ultimately obovate-ovoid, with 2 to 3 fertile 
florets, and a terminal neuter floret. Glumes a little shorter than the 
s[>ikelet, oval, obtuse, maroon-red, with pale scarious edges, the upper 
one a little longer than the lower. Lower pale oval, subobtuse, 
with 5 or more very strong ribs, faintly punctate-scabrous, glabrous, 
straw-coloured, often more or less suifused with purple. 
In woods, and on shady banks, and ledges of rocks, Kather scarce 
exten.ling from Hereford. Stafibrd, Derby, and York north to Aber- 
EnglunVl. Scotland. Perennial. Summer. 
^ Stvriis 1 to 21 high, curved or bent and dull purplish at the 
Kadical L:av..\s none. Longest leaves on the flowering stems 
2 to h inches, on rhe barren stems 3 to 8 inches, i to 1 inch broad. 
Panicle shghtly drooping, 1 to 5 inches long, the lowest branches J to 
