M OXOCOTYLEDONS ' 29 



Gramineae. — Tl>e general appearance of tlie ^'usses is 

 familiar to everyone, and no attempt need be made to 

 particularize their characteristics. Of the British gi*asscs 

 there is only one Avhich has medicinal properties of any 

 importance. 



Couch-grass (Agropyron vepeMs), — "We used to im- 

 port, chiefly from Germany, 4-5 tons of tliis plant per 

 annum. Its pi'ice lias gone up from 256-. a cwt. to 50.s-. 

 a cwt. At present our supplies are home-grown, but 

 the quality is poor. The Couch-grass is recognized by 

 the following characteristics: — 



1. Flat leaves with short hairs on ribs of upper surface. 



2. Flower-bearinjof stalks elonofated. 



3. Flowcr-gi'oups arranged on a zigzag centrcxl stalk 



(fig. 13). 



4. Plant extends 1-4 feet above the oTound. 



5. Underground stem ^V ^^^^^ ^^ diameter and of a dark 



sti'aw colour; it be^irs 5-6 prominent longitudinal 

 ridges. 



-the underground stem contains a substance called triticin 

 (a carbohydrate), as well as certain sugars. 



Medicinal Prajm-ties. — Couch - grass has been em- 

 ployed as a diuretic in certain affections of the bladder. 



Distrihiition. — Very common in our hedges and fields, 

 "vvhere it is exceedino;ly difficult to exterminate it. The 

 underground stems (suckers) of the Couch-grass are 

 arranged in short segments like a bamboo cane or a 

 drain-pipe, and a single segment if left in the ground 

 can reproduce the whole plant. 



Collection. — It is the underorround segmented suckers 

 that are used in medicine. 



Cidtivatiirn.-^Ji will be apparent from wliat has been 

 stated that tliere sliould be no difficulty in cultivating 

 tbis plant. Our present supply, drawn from our native 



