when resting on a level surface and thus appear lance-shaped or 

 broadly awl-shaped, tapering uniformly to a sharp, short-awned 

 point. In contrast, the chess seeds are from little more than one- 

 fourth to one-half as long, more robust, not evidently flattened, 

 nearly cylindrical, 

 grooved along one side, 

 abruptly pointed, the 

 apex with a very short 

 or somewhat longer 

 awn, orawnless. When 

 resting on a level sur- 

 face they may lie slight- 

 ly at one side of the 

 midvein of the back, ex- 

 posing to view the grooved face and a part of one side, or they may 

 lie on the grooved face, showing the back. The}* more rarely rest 

 directly on the back. Furthermore, the general color of a sample of 

 chess is much darker brown than one of rescue grass seed. 



a b c a 



Picas. Seeds of chess (Bromus aecalinvs): o and '*, front 

 views; c, edge view; d, back view of seeds; e, seeds, natural 

 size, 'i he first three show the palea and pedicel. 



Bromus racemosus L. 



Upright Chess. 



Florets about 9 nun. (' inch) long, exclusive of the slender awn, 

 which varies from 4 to 9 mm. in length, similar to those of Bromus 

 secalinus in general form. The glume is broader than in B. seca- 

 linus and usually more arched at the margins; edges sometimes 



membranous, especially at 

 the apex, which is notched 

 above the insertion of the 

 awn and often flaring; 

 veins sometimes distinct ; 

 palea shorter than the 

 glume, broadly hollowed 

 or grooved, its keels more 

 or less exposed and hispid- 

 ciliate; grain shorter than 

 the palea or at least cov- 

 ered by it, more broadly 

 grooved than in Bromus 

 secalinus. The florets are smooth or finely roughened and straw- 

 colored or light brown. (Fig. 3.) 



These seeds are as easily distinguished from rescue grass seeds as 

 are those of chess. They are most readily distinguished from chess 

 seeds by the broader glume, longer awn, and shorter palea and 

 grain. 



Fig. 3.— Upright chess (Bromus vacemosus): a, hack 

 view; bandc, front views, and d, side view of seeds; 

 e, seeds, natural size. Views /< and c showthe palea 

 and pedicel. 



