56 GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



mit of the large glume midway between its base and the apex 

 of the third floret, by which it is always distinguished from 

 Willard's bromus. Flowers in June. Birds are fond of the 

 seed, which are large and ripen early. Of no value for culti- 

 Yation. 



The Wild Chess, (bromus kahnii,^ is another species, found 

 often in dry, open wood-lands. It has a small, simple panicle, 

 with the spikelets drooping on hairy peduncles, seven to twelve 

 flowered and silky ; awn only one-third the length of the lance- 

 shaped flower, stem slender, eighteen inches to three feet high, 

 leaves and sheaths hairy. Flowers in June and July. Of no 

 value for cultivation. 



Fringed Brome Grass, (bromus ciliatus,') is often found in 

 woods and on rocky hills and river banks. It has a compound 

 panicle, very loose, nodding, spikelets seven to twelve flowered, 

 flowers tipped with an awn half to three-fourths their length, 

 stem three to four feet high, with large leaves. Flowers in 

 July and August. Of no value for cultivation. 



The Meadow Brome Grass, (bromus pratensis,') is a peren- 

 nial weed in the corn fields of England, and is only recom- 

 mended in any part of Europe for dry, arid soils, where nothing 

 better will grow. Fig. 52 represents this grass, and Fig. 63 a 

 magnified spikelet. 



Not one of the brome grasses is worthy of a moment's 

 attention as a cultivated agricultural grass, and the cleaner the 

 farmer keeps his fields of them the better. 



The Common Reed Grass, (phragmites communis,^ is a very 

 tall, broad-leaved grass, with the flower in a large terminal pani- 

 cle. It looks at a little distance very much like broomcorn ; 

 stem five to twelve feet high. It grows on the borders of 

 ponds and swamps. It is said to be the largest grass in the 

 United States. It occurs in several localities in Franklin 

 County, and it is not uncommon in the eastern part of the 

 State. Flowers in September. 



Perennial Rye Grass, common Darnel, (lolium perenne.') 

 Generic characters — spikelets many flowered, solitary on each 

 joint of the continuous racliis, placed edgewise. Specific charac- 

 ters — stcjn ej.-ect, smooth, fifteen inches to two feet high, root pe- 

 rennial, fibrous, joints four or five, smooth, often purplish, leaves 

 dark green, lanceolate, acute, flat, smooth oli the outer surface 



