304 GRASSES OF BRITAIN. 



LOLIUM TEMULENTUM (variety) LONGIARISTATUM. 



Long-mvned Poisonous Rye- Grass. 

 Plate CXLII. 



This grass is a variety of the one already described in page 140, 

 differing only in the awns of the florets being longer, and the whole 

 plant of a stouter habit of growth. It grows in the same situations, 

 and equally common, and the seeds possess the same deleterious pro- 

 perties. Of late a case of poisoning caused by this grass has been re- 

 corded. The symptoms produced were somnolency, convulsive tre- 

 mor, and coldness of the extremities. M. Ruspini says that the 

 adulterated flour may be detected by digesting in alcohol, which, when 

 Lolium temulentum is present, assumes a characteristic green tint. 



This grass is known from the Italian rye-grass, to which it bears 

 some resemblance, especially in the young state, in the spikelets bear- 

 ing two glumes ; the inner glume short and thin, (see Fig. 2) ; the 

 outer glume long, equal in length to the spikelet, (see Fig. 1); — 

 while in the Italian rye-grass the spikelets have but one glume, (the 

 terminal spikelet excepted), and that not more than half the length 

 of the spikelet. 



The accompanying figure was drawn from a specimen gathered in 

 Cantire. 



Explanation of Plate CXLII. Lolium temulentum (variety) lon- 

 giaristatum, natural size. 



Fig. 1. Spikelet on the rachis, showing the glume and seven florets. 



2. Inner glume small and thin. 



3. Outer glume. 



4. Outer glume, showing the ribs. 



5. Inner glume, showing the ribs, which are of a light green. 



6. Inner glume, sometimes cloven. T g) 



7. Outer i^alea oi^ened, showing the five ribs. ^ 

 n. Inner palea minutely fringed. 

 9. Ligule very short. 



] 0. Ovarium, pistils, stamens, and scales. 

 11. Seed, natural size. 



4 



