160 WILD FLOWERS OF SUMMER. 



oats have been derived from the Wild Oat (A.fatua), 

 the flowers of which have been used instead of arti- 

 ficial flies in angling. 



The Darnel family (Lolium), of which the Eye or 

 Eay Grasses are a branch, has many flowered little 

 spikelets seated on either side of the stem. There 

 are but one glume and two herbaceous pale. The 

 two styles are very short, and the stigmas are feathery. 

 The Bearded Darnel (Lolium temulentum) has a some- 

 what evil reputation. It is supposed to be the original 

 of the plant translated " tares," which Satan sowed 

 amongst the wheat, for the seed produces poisonous 

 effects on the svstem, such as headache, vertigo, and 

 drowsiness. It has long glumes, with the awn longer 

 than the paleae. Its leaves are rough, and it frequently 

 grows to the height of two feet. The Perennial 

 Darnel or Eye Grass (L. per c. me) is well known. 



There is also the Hard Grass (Rottbolia incurvata) 

 with a tapering spike, and a stem twisted into angular 

 elbows, which inhabits salt marshes; and the Lyme 

 Grass (Elymus), whose spikes adorn the sandbanks, 

 whilst its roots mat the shores into sea barriers. Ere 

 we leave this portion of the subject, we should men- 

 tion the Barley Grass (Hordeum), whose respectable 



