Triticnm. GRAMINE.E. 323 



68. LOLIUM, Linn. DAiiNia, or RAY-flnASH. 



Inflorescenco a simple spike willi the spikclets solitary in notches, excavated alter- 

 nately on opposite sides of the rhachis. 8i)ikelets placed edgewise to the rhachis, 

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

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

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

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

 stigmas mostly sessile. Grain a<lhcrent to the palet. 



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

 by am icultnre and naturalized in nearly all jwrts of the world, several times tliat number of species 

 are described. Tlic genus differs from Triticnm only in wanting the lower glume, and in the 

 position of the spikelet with resjiect to the rhachis. 



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

 spike ratlier slender; spikelets 8- IS-flowered, the strongly rihbed glume much 

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

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



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

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

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

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

 very handsome spikes crowded witli 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-llowered, e(iualled by the sharp-pointed spreading glume: florets 

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

 sometimes awnless. — Reichenb. Fl. Germ. t. 111. 



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

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

 Inflorescenco in a simple continuous or more or loss notclnMl spike. Sijikolots 

 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 gi-aiu- 

 producing Triticums are annuals with turgid ovate-olilong bont-sbaped glumes, and are by some 

 supposed to be derived from yEgi/nps. Botanists wiio liold this view place tlie perennial species 

 in Agrojjyrum, Beauv. 



* Plant mult'qyli/ing hy long jointed rrerp'nirj roofstoclcs: awn, when j^resent, 

 not longer than the palet. 

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

 the sheaths very variable, from smooth to scabrous or i)ul)cscent : spikelets 4-8- 

 flowered, in an erect mostly rigid spike: glumes 5 - T-nervcd, obtuse or notcJied, 

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



