H ulcus.'] 
CVII. GRAMINEjE. 
543 
18. Melica Linn. Melic-grass. (Tab. VII. f. 16.) 
Panicle lax. Spikelets ovate, awnless, with 1 — 2 perfect 
florets and a club-shaped rudimentary neuter one. Glumes 2, 
nearly equal, shorter than the florets, several-nerved. Glu- 
mellas 2 ; outer one convex on the back, entire at the end, ulti- 
mately cartilaginous and enclosing the free caryopsis. — Name: 
Melica or Melliga, given in Italy to the Sorghum vulgare on 
account of the sweet flavour of its stem ( mel , honey), was applied 
by Linna3us to this somewhat allied genus. 
1. M. nutans L. ( Mountain M.) ; panicle a nearly simple lax 
secund raceme, spikelets drooping ovate 2-flowered. E. B. 
t. 1059 : Pam. Gr. t. 18. 
Woods in somewhat mountainous countries, especially in the north 
of England and Scotland. I/.. 5, 6. — One foot or more high, leafy. 
Leaves linear-lanceolate, flat; lipule short and obtuse. Glumes ovate, 
convex, nerved, deep purple-brown, margin pale. Outer glumellas 
large, cartilaginous, unequal, nerved. Between the two perfect florets 
is the rudiment of a third, which is pedicellate, consisting of 2 hardened 
glumellas without either pistil or stamen. 
2. M. uni flora Retz ( Wood M.) ; panicle branched slightly 
drooping, spikelets erect ovate with only one glabrous perfect 
floret. E. B. ,t. 1058 : Pam. Gr. 1. 18. 
Shady woods, frequent. 1 L. 5 — 7- — Imperfect floret on rather 
a long stalk. I.eaves broader than the last, and whole plant larger. 
Scale of one piece, orange-coloured, thick, “ covered by the outer 
glumella : ” Wilson. 
19. Holcos Linn. Soft-grass. (Tab. VII. f. 17.) 
Panicle lax. Spikelets laterally compressed, 2-flowered. 
Glumes 2. Lower floret perfect, triandrous : glumellas 2, outer 
one awnless or very rarely avvned. Upper floret barren, trian- 
drous : glumellas 2 ; outer one awned. Caryopsis covered by 
the indurated glumellas. — Named o\koc, from t\icw, to extract; 
because it was supposed to have the property of drawing out 
thorns from the flesh ! 
1. II. mdllis L. ( creeping S.) ; glumes acuminate, awn of 
barren floret exserted at length geniculate scabrous all over, 
culm with spreading hairs at the nodes, rhizome creeping. E. 
B. t. 1170: Pam. Gr. tt. 21, 22. 
Pastures and hedges, common, "if.. 7. — Mr. Wilson well observes 
that this species is distinguished by the acute (or almost acuminate) 
glumes and bearded nodes of the culm. 
2. II. landtus L. ( Meadow S.) ; glumes rather obtuse mucro- 
nate, awn of barren floret included within the glumes ultimately 
