33 
Colorado Weed Seeds 
17. Manna Grass, Meadow Grass 
(Panicularia Fahr., Olyceria R. Br.) 
Grains free at maturity, flattened, napiform to obtusely wedge-shaped, 
distinctly pointed at one end, usually smooth, shiny, or dull shiny, sometimes 
marked with fine longitudinial lines ; grains black to blackish-brown in color. 
Key to Species 
Seeds .5-. 6 mm. long, .5 mm. wide, shiny black 1- P- nervata 
Seeds 1.5-25 mm. long, .6-1 mm. wide, dull-shiny to oily 2..P. grandis 
1. Fowl MeixVdow Grass {Panicularia nervata (Willd.) Kuntze., Olyceria 
nervata {Willd.) Trin.) (Fig. 37).— Seeds flattened, napiform, pointed at 
one end, shiny black, uniform in size and shape. 
2. Reed Meadow Grass {Panicularia grandis {S. Wats.) Nash., Olyceria 
grandis Wats.) (Fig. 38).— Seeds napiform to obtusely wedge-shaped, black- 
ish-brown in color, variable in size and shape, more flattened than P. nervata. 
Fig. 37. Fowl 
Meadow-grass (Fani- 
cularia nervata). A. 
Top view. B. Bottom 
view. C. Caryopsis. 
X 18 . 
Fig. 38. Reed Meadow-grass (Pani- 
cularia grandis). A. Bottom view. B. Top 
view. C. Caryposes. x 10. 
II. SEDGE FAMILY 
(Cyperaceae) 
In all sedges the 1-celled ovary bears a single, erect ovule. 
The matured ovary forms an ach^ne (a small, dry, hard fruit which 
does not split open at maturity). The fruit (seed) is flattened and 
either 3-angled or the shape of a double-convex lens (lenticular). 
The achene is completely surrounded by the perigynium (the 
inflated sac-like, beaked organ surrounding the ovary) rarely 
rupturing it in ripening. 
Owing to the scarcity of herbarium material for comparison 
and the large number of species in this family, generic and specific 
characters have been omitted. 
The accompanying illustration shows several species of sedge 
