THE GEASS FAMILY. 435 



is the aivnless state of the plant, called, by some botanists, white dar- 

 nel, or Lolium arvense. The country people thereabouts believe it to 

 be degenerated wheat. (Mr. Holland.) Fl. July. Annual. 

 E. B. xvi. 1124: {Lolium arvense, E. B. xvi. 1125). 



31. Common False-bkome — {Brachypodium sylvdticum.) 

 On moist shady hedgebanks, and in woods, common everywhere. 

 Abundant about Cheadle. Fl. August, September. 

 E. B. xi. 729 (as Bromus sylvaticus). 



32. Upkight Brome-grass — (Bromus erectus.) 

 In a meadow between Werneth Lowe and Compstall Bridge, plen- 

 tiful. (Mr. Sidebotham.) Fl. June. 



E. B. ni. 471. 



33. KouGH Drooping Brome-grass — (^Bromus asper.) 

 Moist woods and doughs, common. Fl. summer and autumn. 



Annual or biennial. 



Curtis, i. 80 (as Bromus hirsutus) ; E. B. xvii. 1172. 



34. Hedge Drooping Brome grass — [Bromus sterilis.) 



Dry hedgebanks and by waysides, common. Plentiful about Lymm 

 and Bowdon. Fl. summer and autumn. Annual or biennial. 

 Curtis, i. 9 ; E. B. xv. 1030. 



Called " sterilis," not because unproductive of seeds, but by reason of its use- 

 lessness to cattle. 



35. Common Brome-grass — [Bromus mollis.) 

 Eveiywhere in meadows and pastures, and by waysides. Fl. the 

 whole season, but especially in spring and early summer. Annual 



and biennial. 



Curtis, i. 8 ; E. B. xv. 1078 ; Baxter, v. 348. 



The Proteus of English grasses, and well named by Scopoli polymdrphus. 

 Several supposed species have been made out of it, three of the principal forms, 

 besides the normal one, occurring in our own neighbourhood. 



1. The common condition of the plant, or genuine Bromus mollis of authors, 

 has a nearly erect panicle, which is either short and compact, or long and slender, 

 and is in every part softly downy. This occurs everywhere. 



2. The next commonest form is distinguished by its rather glossy, gray-green 

 spikelets, acquiring a brownish tinge in sunny spots ; and by its having longer 

 and harsher peduncles than those of the ordinary mollis, while the panicle, instead 

 of a strong tendency to the erect position, is rather disposed to droop. Authors 



30 a 



