GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 141 



five of which are rather indistmctly seen (Fig. 1 ) : longer than the 

 spikelet, smooth, and somewhat roughish at the edges. Florets of two 

 paleae (Fig. 2) ; the outer palea of lowermost floret *vfe;2 -ribbed, the 

 marginal ribs the broadest ; bifid at the summit, and furnished with 

 a white rough awn, rather more than half the length of the palea (oc- 

 casionally the awn is much longer), arising immediately behind the 

 bifid extremity. Imier palea with two green marginal ribs, minute- 

 ly finnged. Seeds elliptical, somewhat flattened. 



Obs. — Lolium teinulentiim differs horn Loli urn perenue. in the glume 

 being longer than the spikelet. and the outer palea furnished with a 

 delicate awn : — whereas in L. perenne, the glume is shorter than the 

 spikelet, and the florets have no awn. 



This grass is found principally in cultivated fields, especially amono- 

 com, where it is a noxious weed. The seeds, it is said, when eaten 

 produce vomiting, purging, violent colic, and death ; and Linnjeus 

 states that the seeds when mixed with bread produce but little effect 

 unless when eaten hot : but if malted with barley, the ale soon occa- 

 sions intoxication. 



It is occasionally found in Scotland and Ireland, but more frequent- 

 ly in England, especially in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, 

 York, Notts, Anglesea, Carnarvon, Worcester, Beds, Cambridge, 

 Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Devon; also a native ofNorwav. 

 Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, North Africa, Japan, South Ame- 

 rica and the United States. 



Flowers in the first week of July, and ripens its seed in the begin- 

 ning of August 



94. LOLITM PEREXXE.* 



Rye- Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Florets not awned. Glume shorter than the 

 spikelet. (Plate LXV. ) 



Description. — It grows from fifteen inches to two feet hio-h. The 

 root is perennial, fibrous. Stem erect, round, smooth, and finelv 

 striated, bearing sLx or seven leaves with smooth striated sheaths ; 



* Lolium pertnnc, Linn. Hooker, Smith, Lindlev, Gre^^Ue, Koch. 



