Sometimes called a good grass, but meagre and only found in poor meadows in this country.

It should perhaps go with the “Millet-seed" type and should be compared with Phleum, Melica, Panicum, &c. “Seed" seldom met with.

B. minor is smaller.

✲✲ Paleæ not inflated or winged.

† Paleæ broad, flat and truncate, prominently three-ribbed. Caryopsis 2 mm. long.

Catabrosa aquatica, Beauv.

Cattle like it, but it only grows in ditches &c. in water-meadows: distinction from Glyceria aquatica easy if the paleæ are examined.

†† Paleæ acute or sub-acute, boat-shaped.

⊙ Paleæ and “seed" at least 6-8 mm. long.

≡ Rachilla flattened or angular, and tapering below.

Lolium perenne.

Occasionally awned, and then less easily distinguished from L. temulentum. One of our most valuable grasses. It forms a distinct type of boat-shaped “seeds."

Lolium perenne, L. (Fig. [57]).

Palea distinctly five-ribbed, glabrous, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or sub-acute, awnless, about 7 mm. long. Margins membranous. Inner palea nearly as long, delicate, ciliate.

Rachilla short, flattened and angular, tapering below (see Festuca elatior).

Caryopsis about 3·5 mm. long, obovate, yellowish brown.

Fig. 57. Lolium perenne with typical boat-shaped “seed." a, natural size; b and c, × about 8. d, caryopsis, × 8. The rachilla, in c, is broader upwards and flatter than in Fig. [58]. Nobbe. Fig. 58. Festuca elatior, var. pratensis. Lettering and sizes as in Fig. [57]: compare the more cylindrical and slender rachilla. Nobbe.

Although Bromus mollis, Holcus lanatus, &c. occur as impurities, they are easily distinguished: the real difficulties are with Festuca elatior and F. pratensis.

≡ ≡ Rachilla cylindrical.

Festuca elatior.

This is an important grass, and should be thoroughly mastered as a type of the boat-shaped “seed."

This, with Lolium, Agropyrum, other Fescues, and even some Bromes and Poas, will give trouble until the student thoroughly masters the importance of the minute characters of size, nervature, of the rachilla, awn, palea, &c.

Festuca elatior, L. (var. pratensis) (Fig. [58]).