﻿GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. Ill 



Hum obtuse, hairy on the upper half. Styles distinct, arising from 

 the side of the ovarium. Stujjnas feathery. 



Obs. — Bromus mollis is distinguished from Bromus racemosus in 

 the glumes and florets being hairy, with their central ribs not toothed, 

 — whereas in B. racemosus the glumes and florets are not hairy, but 

 slightly roughish, and their central ribs are distinctly toothed on the 

 upper half. 



From Bromus secalinus and Bromus arvensis, in the spikelets being 

 hairy, and the summit of the large glume being half-way between its 

 base and the summit of the third floret ; — whereas in B. secalinus and 

 B. arvensis, the spikelets are not hairy, and the summit of the large 

 glume is half-way between its base and the summit of the second floret 

 of the same side. (Fig. 3.) 



This grass seems to prevail on poor or exhausted grass lands, and 

 is often an unwelcome intruder in corn-fields and mowing grounds. 

 Its being an annual, producing a scanty supply of herbage, which is 

 not relished by cattle, are disadvantages which are not compensated 

 by its early growth. Small birds are fond of the seeds, which are 

 rather large, and ripen early. It is a frequent grass in Scotland, 

 England, and Ireland ; also a native of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, 

 Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, North Africa, and North 

 America. Its limit of altitude is about 1000 feet above the sea. 



Flowers in the last week of May, and ripens its seed in the middle 

 of June. 



74. Bromus racemosus. * 

 Smooth Brome- Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Large glume seven-ribbed. Panicle erect- 

 Upper part of the central ribs of the glumes toothed. (Plate 

 XLVIII.) 



Description. — It grows from fifteen inches to two feet high. The 

 root is annual, fibrous. Stem erect, round, slightly pubescent, (the 

 hairs pointing mostly upwards), bearing four or five leaves with striated 



* Bromus racemosus, Koch, Smith, Hooker, Lindley, Greville. 



