86 THE GENERA AND THEIR SPECIES. 



longer than glumes, glabrous, ribs seven, rough on back and 

 awned ; inner palea shorter than outer with two green fringed 

 marginal ribs. Styles lateral and short. 



This handsome but useless grass is very local in fields, and 

 consequently gives little trouble as a weed. It is heavy in crop 

 owing to the large size of the panicle, but nearly all the nutritive 

 value is in the stems and leaves when it flowers, and disappears 

 from them as the seed ripens. 



65. B. maximus. A Mediterranean species established in 

 Jersey. June and July. Root annual, fibrous. Stem erect 

 from a curved or geniculate base, leafy, downy ; nodes four. 

 Leaves flat, pointed, downy, margins rough. Sheaths almost 

 entire, small, lower downy, upper ribbed ; ligule prominent, 

 square, torn. Panicle inclined, slightly branched, branches and 

 rachis downy. Spikelets (including awns) three inches in length, 

 florets eight, distant, rounded, with a sharp conical point at 

 base. Glumes lanceolate, pointed, inner the larger. Outer 

 palea larger than glumes, lanceolate, rough, bristles deflexed, 

 ribs seven, with a very long awn from the bifid apex ; inner palea 

 shorter than outer, thin ; fringed on folds. Stamens frequently 

 only two in number. 



66. B. madritensis. Rocks and walls and other dry places ; 

 ranging through Southern and Western Europe. June and 

 July. Root annual, small, fibrous, Stem erect, geniculate, 

 slender, stiff, smooth, striated, leafy ; nodes three or thereabouts. 

 Leaves flat, linear, pointed, hairy or downy on both sides. Sheaths 

 ribbed, smooth, slightly keeled, split half-way, uppermost downy ; 

 ligule prominent, short and blunt. Panicle small, erect, rather 

 close, tufted ; rachis rough. Spikelets erect, linear-lanceolate, 

 lower in pairs, peduncles short, florets about eight, purplish. 

 Glumes unequal, inner the larger, three-ribbed, midrib toothed at 

 apex. Outer palea longer than glumes, ribs seven, two lateral 

 ribs close together, edged with thick hairs, cleft at apex, 

 awn as long as palea ; inner shorter than outer palea, linear- 

 lanceolate. 



