250 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



L. perenne. L, Darnel Grass. Culm 18 inches high, smooth, 

 with broad-linear leaves ; spike 6 inches long, with spikelets 

 7 — 9-flowered ; meadows and roads ; cultivated for hay in Eng- 

 land. 



L. temulentiim. L. Is attributed to New England by Dr. 

 Torrey ; a troublesome weed, having poisonous seed ; introduced. 



L. Italicum. Ray Grass. Recently introduced and recom- 

 mended. 



Triticum. L. 3. 2. 



Derived from the Latin for wear^ because worn or ground into 

 an eatable substance. As embracing wheat, this genus contains 

 one of the most important vegetables. 



T. repens. L. Quake, or Quack, or Couch Grass. Some- 

 times, from its resemblance to wheat, it is called Wheat Grass. 

 This is a troublesome grass of gardens and fields, difiicult to 

 eradicate, as it sends out many and long roots, creeping under 

 ground, exceedingly tenacious of life. It grows 2 or more feet 

 high, with an erect culm, stiff, leafy, terminating in crowded spike- 

 lets. It is probably from Europe. 



T. (Bstivum. L. Summer Wheat. 



T. hybernum. L. Winter Wheat. 



T. turgidum,lj., and T. Poloincum, Ij., and T. compositum, L., 

 Egyptian Wheat. 



These are perhaps varieties of one or two species. Besides 

 these, there are many varieties of wheat, as white, red, bearded, 

 beardless, woolly, &c., seeming to run into each other. Even 

 the Egyptian wheat, with its branched spikes, has changed to the 

 single spike in England. Loudon. The last three species, just 

 mentioned, are said to be from Egypt ; also T. spelta, W., and 

 T. nionococcum^ L., which deserve attention. 



As wheat is so important an article of food, and extends over 



