﻿GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 137 



equal acute glumes (Fig. 1 ), generally four-ribbed, with two or three 

 smaller intermediate ones ; the dorsal rib running to a side (Fig. 4.) 

 Florets of two palea? (Fig. 2), the outer palea of lowermost floret, 

 acute, five-ribbed ; slightly roughish to the touch. Inner palea with 

 two green marginal ribs, minutely toothed. 



aristatum, a common variety with the florets awned ; 



the awn about half the length of the palea, very seldom as long as 

 the palea. (Plate LXIII.) It is frequently mistaken for Triticum 

 caninum ; but differs from it in the glumes having five distinct ribs 

 with two or three small intermediate ones, the dorsal rib running very 

 much to a side. Awn seldom more than half the length of the palea, 

 (but never longer than the palea.) Pedicle of second floret rough 

 but not hairy, and the root creeping ; — whereas in Triticum caninum 

 the glumes have but three ribs, the dorsal rib passing immediately 

 down the centre. Awn longer than the palea. Pedicle of second 

 floret hairy, and the root fibrous. 



Triticum repens is distinguished from Triticum caninum, in the 

 root being extensively creeping ; glumes more than three-ribbed ; 

 outer palea acute, not awned (except in variety aristatum) ; — where- 

 as in T. caninum the root is fibrous ; glumes three-ribbed ; outer 

 palea tipped with an awn longer than the palea. 



From Triticum junceum, in the rachis being rough; glumes acute 

 and roughish on the upper part of the central rib ; spikelets easily- 

 detached without the rachis breaking ; — whereas in T. junceum the 

 rachis is perfectly smooth; glumes smooth and obtuse; spikelets 

 with difficulty detached without breaking the rachis. 



This grass is regarded by farmers as a most troublesome weed, be- 

 ing with difficulty eradicated when it once gets possession of the 

 ground, as its long creeping root branches out in every direction, 

 when it becomes a great impoverisher to the soil. It is frequent in 

 neglected gardens and rich cultivated soil. Horses and cows eat it 

 when young, but dislike it when in flower. Dogs eat the leaves me- 

 dicinally to excite vomiting. It is a common grass throughout Scot- 

 land, England, and Ireland ; also a native of Norway, Sweden, Ger- 

 many, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, and Ice- 

 land. It is found also in the United States, but is supposed to have 



