LXXXIX, GRAMINE^. 629 



extending northward to Denmark, but not into the Baltic. Abundant 

 on several of the eastern and southern English coasts, absent in Wale 

 Scotland, and Ireland. Fl. summer. 



XXVII. AGROPYRUM. AGROPYRUM. 



Spikelets several-flowered, closely sessile, and single in each notch 

 of a simple spike, the side of the spikelet or edge of the glumes being 

 next the axis of the spike. Outer empty glumes 2, similar to the 

 flowering ones. 



The genus consists of few species, all perennials, widely spread over 

 the temperate regions both of the northern and southern hemispheres. 

 They were formerly included in Triticum, a genus founded on the 

 cultivated Wheats, all annuals, supposed to have been of Oriental 

 origin. These are allied to Agropyrum, but, it is believed, still nearer 

 so to jftgylops, a Mediterranean genus believed to have been the parent 

 of the Wheats. 



Rootstock creeping . . . . 1. A. repens. 



No creeping rootstock 2. A. caninum. 



1. A. repens, Beauv. (fig. 1213). Couch or Quitch. A perennial, 

 with an extensively creeping rootstock, and stiff, ascending or erect 

 stems, 1 to 2 or even 3 feet high ; the whole plant varying from a 

 bright green to a pale glaucous colour. Spikelets 8 to 10 or more, at 

 regular distances on alternate sides of a spike varying from 2 or 3 

 inches to twice that length, each one containing 5 or 6 flowers. 

 Glumes all alike in shape, narrow and stiff, marked with 5 or more 

 nerves, and usually pointed or terminating in an awn, sometimes 

 exceedingly short, sometimes as long as the glume itself ; the outer 

 empty glumes about 4 lines long ; the flowering ones gradually shorter, 

 with less prominent nerves ; the terminal one usually small and empty 

 or quite rudimentary. 



In fields and waste places, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, 

 from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, and in North and South 

 America. Abundant in Britain. FL. summer. Triticum junceum, Beauv., 

 and T. laxum, Fries. (T. acutum, R. and S., and T. pungens, R. and S.) 

 appear to be maritime varieties of the same species, much stiffer and 

 more glaucous, with the leaves almost pungent, and the glumes often 

 obtuse. They are frequent on seacoasts throughout the range of the 

 common A. repens, and have been often observed to pass gradually into it. 



2. A. caninum, Beauv. (fig. 1214). Fibrous A. In the structure of 

 the spikelets and their arrangement this species closely resembles A. 

 repens, but the stems are tufted, without any creeping rootstock, more 

 leafy, and not so glaucous. Glumes rather thinner, with 5 very pro- 

 minent ribs, and terminating in a rather long awn ; the outer empty 

 ones usually smaller than the flowering ones, with shorter awns, and 

 often only 3 ribs. 



In woods and shady places, in Europe and temperate Asia, from the 

 Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, and in North America. Generally 

 distributed over Britain. PI. summer. 



a L 



