156 TRITICUM. [CLASS in. ORDKR n. 



French veterinary surgeon, that exhausted and worn-out horses are 

 very speedily restored to strength and condition by giving them, daily, 

 one or two bundles of Couch-grass, of ten or twelve pounds each, 

 mixed with carrots. The expressed juice of these stems was recom- 

 mended by some of the ancient physicians to be taken liberally as a 

 drink in obstructions of the bowels, &c. The leaves, which Sinclair 

 says contain an excess of bitter extractive and saline matter, are eaten 

 by dogs to excite vomiting. 



3. T.jun'ceum, Linn. (Fig. 198.) rushy Sea Wheat-grass. Glumes 

 obtuse, many-ribbed ; florets four or five, awuless ; leaves with the 

 margins rolled inwards ; root with creeping underground stems. 



English Botany, t. 814. English Flora, vol. i. p. 182. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 56. Agropy'rum jun'ceum, Beauv. Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 298. 



Root with downy fibres, and numerous long, creeping underground 

 stems. Whole plant a pale glaucous-green, rigid. Stem bent at the 

 base, and sometimes purplish, erect above, from one to three feet high, 

 round, quite smooth, finely striated, leafy. Leaves linear, with a long 

 narrow point, the under side quite smooth, the upper with numerous 

 prominent rough striae, the margins rolled inwards. Sheaths close, 

 quite smooth, finely striated. Ligula very short, obtuse, crenated. 

 Inflorescence an erect spike, from two to four or five inches long. 

 Spikelets compressed, distant or crowded. Glumes oblong, nearly 

 equal, with three obtuse teeth at the extremity, quite smooth, many- 

 ribbed, and containing from three to six awnless^/Zorete. Glumelles 

 nearly equal : the outer quite smooth, keeled, and with four more or 

 less distinct lateral ribs ; the apex with three obtuse teeth, most dis- 

 tinct in the upper florets ; inner valve obtuse, with two lateral roughish 

 ribs. Glumellules lanceolate, ciliated. Stigmas feathery. Fruit 

 downy at the apex, furrowed on one side. 



Habitat. Sandy banks on the sea-shore ; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in July. 



The long, tough, creeping, underground stems of this grass are use- 

 ful, like Elymus arenarius, &c., in binding the loose sands of the sea- 

 shores, and are much sought after by pigs, who eat them with an appa- 

 rent relish. 



4. T. crista'tum, Schreb. (Fig. 199.) crested Wheat-grass. Glumes 

 awl-shaped, with a prominent keel, terminating in a rough awn, 

 obscurely ribbed ; florets about four, awned ; spikelets much 

 crowded. 



English Botany, t. 2267. English Flora, vol. i. p. 184. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 56. Sinclair, Hort. Gram. Woburn. p. 316. 

 Agropy'rum crista'tum, Beauv. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 298. 



Root of strong woolly fibres. Stem bent at the base, becoming erect, 



