276 
W. O. Howarth. 
Each axis of the panicle is terminated by a spikelet. The 
spikelet is shortly stalked and bears two basal sterile glumes, of 
which the lower shorter one is narrow, somewhat keeled, one- 
nerved, and the higher larger one broader and three-nerved. Both 
are mucronate. Above these in regular alternation are borne from 
five to seven or eight fertile glumes, the last one terminating the 
spikelet axis. Each is five-nerved ; in grandiflora , aristate, the 
awns up to 3 mm. long ; in tenuifolia the lower ones are mucronate, 
the upper aristate with awns up to 2*5 mm. long. The upper 
edges of the glumes of grandiflora are more broadly scarious, and 
more abruptly narrowing into the awn than in tenuifolia. In both 
U3J 
Fig. 6. Panicles of (a) grandiflora 
and (b) tenuifolia. x 
the awns and margins the glumes are covered with minute 
upwardly directed prickles. The spikelets are green at first, but 
may become slightly tinged with violet in tenuifolia, more so in 
glaucescens where they are covered with minute hairs and a 
“ bloom.” 
The apex of the superior palea is rather pilose in grandiflora, 
more hispid in tenuifolia and glaucescens. The lodicule forks above 
unequally; in grandiflora one prong is thicker than the other and 
each has a blunt apex (Fig. 7 a), in tenuifolia and glaucescens the 
