﻿GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 141 



five of which are rather indistinctly seen (Fig. 1 ) ; longer than the 

 spikelet, smooth, and somewhat roughish at the edges. Florets of two 

 paleae (Fig. 2) ; the outer palea of lowermost floret seuera-ribbed, the 

 marginal ribs the broadest ; bifid at the summit, and furnished with 

 a white rough awn, rather more than half the length of the palea (oc- 

 casionally the awn is much longer), arising immediately behind the 

 bifid extremity. Inner palea with two green marginal ribs, minute- 

 ly fringed. Seeds elliptical, somewhat flattened. 



Obs, — Lolium temulentum differs from Lolium perenne, in the glume 

 being longer than the spikelet, and the outer palea furnished with a 

 delicate awn ; — whereas in L. perenne, the glume is shorter than the 

 spikelet, and the florets have no awn. 



This grass is found principally in cultivated fields, especially among 

 corn, where it is a noxious weed. The seeds, it is said, when eaten 

 produce vomiting, purging, violent colic, and death ; and Linnaeus 

 states that the seeds when mixed with bread produce but little effect 

 unless when eaten hot ; but if malted with barley, the ale soon occa- 

 sions intoxication. 



It is occasionally found in Scotland and Ireland, but more frequent- 

 ly in England, especially in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, 

 York, Notts, Anglesea, Carnarvon, Worcester, Beds, Cambridge, 

 Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Devon; also a native of Norway, 

 Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, North Africa, Japan, South Ame- 

 rica and the United States. 



Flowers in the first week of July, and ripens its seed in the begin- 

 ning of August. 



94. Lolium perenne.* 

 Rye- Grass. 



Specific Characters. — Florets not awned. Glume shorter than the 

 spikelet. (Plate LXV.) 



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

 root is perennial, fibrous. Stem erect, round, smooth, and finely 

 striated, bearing six or seven leaves with smooth striated sheaths ; 



* Lolium perenne, Linn. Hooker, Smith, Lindley, Greville, Koch. 



