LOLIUM. 181 



43. LOLIUM Linn. DARNEL, 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Spikelets many-flowered, solitary on each joint of 

 the continuous rhachis, placed edgewise ; the glume, 

 except in the terminal spikelet, only 1 (the upper) 

 and external, otherwise nearly as in Triticum. 



Ancient Latin name. 



1. Lolium Perenne (Perennial Rye grass) See p. 30. 



2. L, Italicum (Italian rye grass). See page 32. 



3. L. Annum (Annual Rye grass). See page 34. 



4. L. Temulentum (Bearded Darnel). 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Root annual ; culm taller, glume fully equalling 

 the 6 to 7-flowered spikelet ; awn longer than the 

 flow r er (one-half inch long). Grain fields, rare. Grain 

 noxious, almost the only instance of the kind among 

 grasses. 



Gray. 



5. L. Multiforum (the Many-flowered Darnel). The 

 most showy of the rye grasses. 



Cultivated to some extent in France ; introduced 

 into England, but not much attention given its culti- 

 vation. Very rare .in this country. 



There are many varieties of the perennial rye grass 

 grown in England, amongst the best of which may 

 be enumerated Russell's, Whitworth's, Pacey's, 

 Ruck's, and many others of considerable merit. 



