GRAMINA. 
109 
late base. Leaves narrowly linear, thin, not at all fleshy, nearly flat, 
tapering to the apex, mth numerous slender prominent cartilaginous 
ribs; sheaths smooth, the uppermost one shorter than its leaf; hgule 
elongate, narrowly triangular, acute, often lacerate. Panicle distich- 
ously unilateral, racemose in the upper half, rather dense, triangular- 
oblong or linear-oblong. Rachis with approximate nodes, ancipitate- 
triquetrous. Panicle-branches rigid, solitary at each node of the 
rachis, the lowest ones forked from the base, the upper ones simple, 
ascending-erect in flower, ascending-spreading in fruit. Spikelets 
rather numerous, unilaterally, distichously, and racemosely disposed 
on and slightly diverging from the lower branches of the panicle, 
solitary and terminal on those in the upper half of the panicle ; the 
lateral ones on pedicels about as long as the glumes ; all 5- to 
10-flowered, but usually 6- or 7-flowered. Glumes acute, scarcely 
hooded, 1 -ribbed, rarely the upper one 3-ribbed, the upper one cover- 
ing half the second floret and reaching up nearly to the base of the 
fourth floret. Florets separated from each other by a portion of the 
rachis as long as the width of the lower pale. Lower pale narrowly 
scarious at the apex, oblong-lanceolate in profile, gradually tapering 
to the apex, sub-obtuse, faintly mucronate, obsoletely 3-ribbed, the 
lateral ribs scarcely distinguishable, the midrib slender, i 
On dry barren ground, wall tops, and rocks. Common and generally 
<listributed in England, more rare in Scotland, where it appears to be 
confined to the eastern coast, reacliing to the shores of the Dornoch 
Firth, Rosj«-shire. Rather local, but widely distributed in Ireland. 
England, Scotland, Lxland. Annual. Summer. 
Plant gregarious. Stems rather few in each individual tuft, 2 to 
12 inches high. Leaves 1 to 4 inches long. Panicle inch to 
4i inches, about 4 times as long as broad. Spikelets green, fre- 
