FRINGED BROME GRASS. 85 



FRINGED BROME GRASS (Bromus ciliatus L.) 

 Seed, Plate 27, Fig. 22. 



Botanical description: Fringed Brome Grass is perennial 

 with short rootstocks and grows in loose tufts. The stems are from 

 two to four feet high, rather slender and generally covered with stiff 

 hairs below. The leaves are broad, bright or almost yellowish green 

 in colour, soft in texture, and covered with soft, short hairs on both 

 sides. The panicles are generally one-sided, their long, over-hanging 

 branches carrying the spikelets chiefly at their ends. The spikelets 

 are usually green and readily distinguished from those of all other 

 species of Bromus by having their glumes fringed with long, out- 

 standing hairs. The lemma (see page 10) has a rather short, 

 straight awn. 



Geographical distribution: Fringed Brome Grass is a native 

 of North America. It is common in the eastern parts of Canada. 



Habitat: It occurs in moist woods, in thickets, on riverbanks, 

 etc., and prefers shady localities. 



Its agricultural value is little known. 



The gardeners, look, are hoeing vines to keep them clean and free of weeds; but they hoe so 

 sorrily that the loose stuff grows ranker and more plentiful. Can you call such a hoer aught but an 

 idle loon? Xenophon, The Economist, 434-355 B.C. 



Straight mine eye hath caught new pleasures 



Whilst the landscape round it measures; 



Russet lawns, and fallows gray, 



Where the nibbling flocks do stray, 



Mountains, on whose barren breast 



The lab'ring clouds do often rest; 



Meadows trim with daisies pied, 



Shallow brooks, and rivers wide. Milton, L' Allegro, 1634. 



It is the Seed, and the Nature of it, which locketh and boundeth in the Creature, that it doth not 



expatiate Therefore you must make an account, that if you will have one Plant change 



into another, you must have the Nourishment over-rule the seed. And therefore you are to practice 

 it by Nourishments, as contrary as may be, to the Nature of the Herb; so nevertheless as the Herb 

 may grow; and likewise with Seeds that are of the weakest sort, and have least vigor. You shall do 

 well therefore to take Marsh-Herbs, and plant them upon the top of Hills and Champaigns; and such 

 Plants as require much moisture, upon Sandy and very dry grounds. Bacon, Natural History, 1625. 



