≡ ≡ Awn dorsal, kneed, longer than the palea.
Holcus mollis, L. (Fig. [66]).
Palea 2·5 mm., fruit 3·1 mm. long; glumes with stiff hairs or serrulæ on keel.
The seeds of Holcus often fall from the glumes, but may bring them away.
Fig. 66. Holcus mollis. Type of “double seed,” which really consists of the entire spikelet (a, nat. size; c and d, × 8) comprised of the two glumes enclosing two pairs of paleæ and their enclosures (b, nat. size; e, × about 8). The lower pair of paleæ are devoid of awns and enclose the caryopsis: the upper pair have stamens only, and the outer palea has a dorsal kneed awn, not twisted or hooked. Nobbe.
Holcus is of little use. The two-flowered spikelets and peculiar awns sufficiently distinguish it among the smaller forms. It is said to occur as an adulterant in “seed" of Alopecurus.
⊙⊙ Awn bent and twisted, basal or nearly so; glumes very hairy.
Δ Glumes golden brown: one awn straight, one “kneed."
Anthoxanthum odoratum.
The grass which gives the scent to new-mown hay. The “seed" is often impure, containing a continental species A. Puelii and other hairy forms.
Fig. 67. Anthoxanthum odoratum. a, “seed" and caryopsis, nat. size; b, the “seed," and c, caryopsis, × about 7. The “seed" consists of the inner hairy glumes, each with a dorsal awn—one kneed—enclosing the paleæ and caryopsis. The outer pair of unawned glumes has been removed. Nobbe.