LOLIUM, Linn. 



SPIKELETS usually more or less compressed, 2-rankerl, alternate, sessile in the 

 hollows of the rhachis of a simple spike ; rhachilla glabrous, disarticulating above 

 the glumes and between the valves. Florets 3 to 11, or sometimes more, perfect 

 or the uppermost reduced. 



GLUMES of terminal spikelets equal and similar, lower suppressed in the lateral 

 spikelets, upper linear to oblong obtuse to acute, flat or slightly rounded, coriaceous 

 prominently 7 to 9-nerved. ' Valves oblong, rounded on the back, subobtuse, 

 minutely 2-toothed (or acute in profile), more or less chartaceous except at the 

 short hyaline tips, glabrous, 5-nerved, muticous or awned ; awn a straight bristle 

 from close to the tip. Pales equalling the valves or nearly so, 2-keeled, keels more 

 or less crested. Stamens 3. Lodicules 2, lanceolate with a lateral tooth. Ovary 

 glabrous, truncate ; styles distinct, very short ; stigmas laterally exserted, plumose. 

 Grain elliptic-oblong to linear-oblong, tightly enclosed by the valve and pale, 

 adhering to both ; embryo short ; hilum linear almost as long as the grain. 



ANNUAL OR PERENNIAL Blades linear, flat ; ligules hyaline ; spikes terminal ; 

 spikelets more or less erect, 2 -ranked, with the (upper) glume opposite the hollow 

 of the rhachis. 



Species 6-8 in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa ; else- 

 where introduced. 



PLATE 463. 



LOLIUM TEMULENTUM, Linn. (Fl. Cap., Vol. VII., p. 738). 

 Nat. Order Graminese. 



ANNUAL. CULMS fascicled or solitary, erect, rather stout, straight, 1 to l 

 foot long, glabrous, rough, at least in the upper part, 2 to 4-noded, uppermost 

 internode usually long exserted. 



LEAVES glabrous ; sheaths rather tight, strongly striate ; ligules very short, 

 truncate ; blades linear, acute, J to 1 foot by 2 to 3 lines, flat, rough ali over or 

 only on the upper side and along the margins. Spikes erect, J to 1 foot long, of 

 rather numerous (10 to 20) spikelets ; axis rather stout, slightly rough or smooth 

 on the back. 



SPIKELETS about the length of the internodes, or the lower shorter and more 

 distant, the upper more approximate, laterally compressed, 5 to 9 lines long, 5 to 

 9-flowered Florets turgid. 



GLUMES, upper oblong, equalling or somewhat exceeding the uppermost floret, 

 subobtuse to acute, very rigid, flat, glabrous, smooth, 7 to 9-nerved. Valves 

 elliptic-oblong, obtuse or subobtuse, muticous or usually awned, 3 to 3| lines long, 

 rounded on the back, herbaceous-chartaceous, smooth, 5-nerved, tips rather broad, 

 hyaline, obscurely 2-toothed ; awn subterminal, straight, rather stout at the base, 

 scaberulous, up to 8 lines long. Pales broad, keels green, stout. Anthers ovsr 1 

 line long. Grain elliptic-oblong, semiterete, grooved in front, slightly shorter than 

 the pale. 



Habitat : NATAL. Buchanan 50. 



An imported noxious weed, commonly known as " Darnel." The fodder is 

 useless, and the seeds are undoubtedly poisonous to cattle, and also to human 

 beings ; they are said to be more poisonous in wet than in dry seasons. 



Fig 1, Glume; 2, valve ; 3, pale; 4, pistil, stamens, and lotlicnles. All cnlitryed. 



