SPERMATOPHYTA— GRAM INEAE— GRASSES 361 



Fig. 150. Awned Bromegrass (Bromus ted- 

 orum). a. Sterile or outer glumes, b. Spike- 

 let. U. S. Dept. Agr. 



10. Lolium, L. Darnel and Rye Grasses 



Annual or perennial grasses with flat leaves and terminal spike ; spikelets 

 many-flowered, solitary on each joint of the continuous rachis placed edge- 

 wise; empty glumes except in the terminal spikelets; only one flowering glume, 

 rounded on the back, 5-7 nerved, palet 2-keeled; stamens 3; grain adherent to 

 the palet, 6 species, 2 more or less naturaHzed in the eastern states. Natives 

 of the Old World. Two species, the Italian rye grass and the common rye grass, 

 are valuable forage plants. Darnel is a troublesome, poisonous grass. 



Lolium tcmulentum, L. Darnel, Poison Darnel 



An annual with smooth stout culm, 2-3 feet high; leaves with scabrous 

 sheaths and short ligule ; spike 6-12 inches long; spikelets 5-7 flowered; empty 

 glumes sharp pointed, as long as the spikelets; flowering glume awned or awn- 

 less. Commonly found in grain fields. 



