HORTUS GRAiMlNEUS WOK U R N EN S IS. 199* 



BROMUS diandrus. Upright Annual Bronie-grass. 



Specific character: Panicle erect, a little spreading, scarcely 

 subdivided ; florets lanceolate, with two close marginal 

 ribs, and only two stamens. 



Native of Britain. Root annual. 



Experi?nents. — At the time of flowering, the produce from 

 a rich brown loam is 20,418 lbs. per acre. 



This, like the preceding species of bromus, is strictly 

 annual. It is much less common than the bromus sterilis : 

 Hudson informs us that it grows on old walls in the neigh- 

 bourhood of London and Oxford. 



It flowers in the third week of June, and the seed is ripe 

 about the middle and latter end of July. 



BROMUS tectorum. Nodding Panicled Brome-grass. 



Specific character : Panicle branches drooping ; spikelets 



linear, pubescent ; florets distant, awned, awn as long 



as the glume ; leaves pubescent. 

 Native of Britain, discovered by Mr, Taunton. It is 



found in most parts of Europe. Root annual. 

 Experirne/its. — At the time of flowering, the produce from 



a light sandy soil is 7,486 lbs. per acre. 



This is another of the annual bromes which is compara- 

 tively of no value. Dambourney, indeed, says, that at the 

 time it approaches to a state of maturity, it may be useful in 

 dyeing, when it can be collected in sufficient quantity. Birds 

 are fond of the seed, and the plants require protection before 

 the seed be perfected, in order to secure a sufficient supply 

 for the next year's sowing. 



It may be remarked from the facts that have been brought 

 forward respecting the annual bromes, that most of tiiem, 

 comparatively, afford more nutritive matter at the time they 

 are in flower, than some of the best perennial grasses at the 

 same stage of growth. The reason of this appears on con- 

 sidering, that the whole of the nutritive matter which is 

 accumulated in one year by these annuals, is present in the 



