164 BEOMUS SECALINUS. 



exterior one of basal floret oval, seven-ribbed, the dorsal rib 

 ending in a roug;li awn. Inner palea linear oblong, having two 

 green marginal ribs fringed with colourless hairs. 



Length from eighteen to twenty-four inches. Root annual 

 and fibrous. 



Flowers in the first week, and becomes ripe in the last week 

 in June. 



There are two well-known varieties: — 



Variety Velutinus having large spikelets of from ten to fifteen 

 florets. 



Variety Vulgaris is frequently more than thirty-six inches in 

 length. 



The illustration is from a specimen gathered in Chorlton 

 fields, near Manchester, by Mr. Joseph Sidebotham. 



