52 



GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



characteristics of this genus (br'omus) are, spikelets from five 

 to many flowered, panicled, ghimes not quite equal, shorter 

 than the flowers, mostly keeled, — the lower, one to five, the 

 upper, three to nine nerved, — palca3 herbaceous, lower one 

 convex on the back, or compressed, keeled, five to nine nerved, 

 awned or bristle pointed from below the tip, upper palea at 

 length adhering to the groove of the oblong grain, fringed on 

 the keel, stamens three, styles attached below the apex of the 

 ovary. The grasses of this genus are coarse, with large spike- 

 lets, somewhat drooping generally when ripe. 



The specific characteristics are, a spreading panicle slightly 

 drooping, spikelets ovate, smooth, of a yellowish green tinge, 

 showing the rachis when in seed, and holding from six to ten 

 rather distinct flowers. In the spikclet exhibited in the cut, (Fig. 

 50,) seven can be distinptly counted, the eighth or ninth imper- 

 fectly developed can often be found ; stems erect, smooth, 

 round, from two to three feet high, bearing four or five leaves 

 with striated sheaths ; the upper sheath crowned with an obtuse, 

 ragged ligule, the lower sheaths soft and hairy, the hairs point- 

 ing downwards ; joints five, slightly hairy, leaves flat, soft, linear, 

 more downy on the upper than on the under side, points and 

 margin rough to the touch. Sianmit of the large glume mid- 

 way between its base and the summit of the second floret, a 

 constant mark of distinction from bromtis racemosus and bromus 

 mollis. (Fig. 50,) (b.) Fig. 51 shows the form of the spike- 

 let a few days before coming to maturity. Flowers in June and 

 July. It has no relation to Italian rye grass. 



Fig. 49. 



Fig. 60. Fig. 61. 



Distinguished from bromus arvensis in the spikelets having 

 fewer florets, and the outer palea being rounded at the summit. 



Nothing more clearly illustrates the want of accurate knowl- 

 edge of subjects intimately connected with agriculture, and 

 immediately affecting the farmers' interests, than the history of 



