Triticum. GRAMINE/E. 323 



58. LOLIUM, Linn. DARNEL or RAY-GRASS. 



Inflorescence a simple spike with the spikelets solitary in notches, excavated alter- 

 nately on opposite sides of the rhachis. " Spikelets placed edgewise to the rhachis, 

 3 - several-flowered. Lower glume wanting, except in the terminal spikelet, the 

 upper facing the rhachis and persistent. Lower palet 5-nerved, awned from the tip 

 or awnless ; the upper ciliate. Stamens 3. Scales 2, rather fleshy, usually with a 

 lateral tooth and as long as the ovary. Ovary smooth or slightly downy at tip : 

 stigmas mostly sessile. Grain adherent to the palet. 



A small genus of probably 4 species, natives of northern Europe; as they have been introduced 

 by agriculture and naturalized in nearly all parts of the world, several times that number of species 

 are described. The genus differs from Triticum only in wanting the lower glume, and in the 

 position of the spikelet with respect to the rhachis. 



1. L. perenne, Linn. Culms from a perennial rootstock, about 2 feet high : 

 spike rather slender ; spikelets 8 1 5-flowered, the strongly ribbed glume much 

 shorter than the spikelet, often but little longer than the floret next to it : lower 

 palet obtuse, merely cuspidate or short awned. Eeichenb. Fl. Germ. t. 112. 



San Francisco (Bolander) ; Oregon, Howell. Varies greatly as to the number of florets in the 

 spikelet and in the length of awns. L. Italicum, a cultivated variety of this, not known in the 

 wild state, is a valued pasture grass, known as " Italian Ray-grass " ; it has more numerously 

 flowered and generally long-awned spikelets. L. multiflorum, another variety of cultivation, has 

 very handsome spikes crowded with long many-flowered spikelets ; this was collected by Mr. 

 Howell at Sauvies Island, Oregon. Each of these varieties has several subvarieties known to cul- 

 tivators. 



2. L. temulentum, Linn. Annual, with a stout culm, sometimes 3 feet high : 

 spikelets 5 - 7-flowered, equalled by the sharp-pointed spreading glume : florets 

 usually very turgid and with the glumes bearing an awn longer than themselves, 

 sometimes awnless. Eeichenb. Fl. Germ. t. 111. 



San Francisco (Bolander) ; Walnut Creek (Brewer) ; San Diego, Thurber. As with the pre- 

 ceding, varieties of this have been described as species ; a short-awned form is L. arvense, With., 

 and an awnless one is L. linicola, Sonder. A specimen from Punta Arenas has branches in place 

 of several of the lower spikelets. The seeds of this grass have long had a reputation for poisonous 

 qualities, but experiments recorded a few years ago in the "Gardener's Chronicle" of London 

 would show that they are innocuous, or at least not poisonous to all persons. 



59. TRITICUM, Linn. WHEAT. 



Inflorescence in a simple continuous or more or less notched spike. Spikelets 

 3 - several-flowered, placed singly flatwise to the rhachis, i. e. with the edges of the 

 florets against it. Glumes nearly equal, shorter than the florets, opposite, several- 

 nerved. Lower palet much like the glumes, rounded on the back, 3 7-nerved, 

 tapering to a point or awned. Upper palet flattened, bristly-ciliate on the nerves. 

 Stamens 3. Scales ovate, entire, ciliate. Ovary ovate, hairy at top : stigmas sessile, 

 distant. Grain grooved, hairy at apex, adherent to the palet. 



A genus of probably 20 species, some of which are found in all temperate climates. The grain- 

 producing Triticums are annuals with turgid ovate-oblong boat-shaped glumes, and are by some 

 supposed to be derived from JEgilops. Botanists who hold this view place the perennial species 

 in Agropyrum, Beauv. 



* Plant multi2)lying by long jointed creeping rootstocks: awn, when present, 



not longer than the palet. 



1. T. repens, Linn. Culms 1 to 3 feet high : leaves flat or convolute and with 

 the sheaths very variable, from smooth to scabrous or pubescent : spikelets 4 8- 

 llowered, in an erect mostly rigid spike : glumes 5 - 7-nerved, obtuse or notched, 

 with a rigid short point or awn of variable length : lower palet similar, but nerved 



