173 



BEOMUS MAXIMUS. 



Desfontaines. Smith. 

 HooKBE AND Aenott. Paenbll. Kunth. Babington. Ealfs. 



PLATE LVIII. 



The Great Brome Grass. 



Bromus — Food. Mciximus — Great. 



A RARE British species, of no agricultural value. 



Found in Jersey. France, Spain, and Africa. 



Stem upright, circular, and hollow, having four or five flat, 

 acute, downy leaves, with rough margins, and with striated 

 sheaths, the upper one extending slightly beyond its leaf, and 

 having a conspicuous ragged ligule. Joints four, usually naked. 

 Inflorescence racemed, and upright in habit. The footstalks and 

 rachis downy. The form of the spikelets lanceolate; length an 

 inch and a quarter, and having awns an inch and a quarter 

 in length; consisting of eight awned florets, and two unequal, 

 lanceolate glumes. Florets of two paleae, the exterior one of 

 basal floret exceedingly rough and lanceolate, and having seven 

 conspicuous rough ribs. Awns straight and rough. Styles two. 

 Stigmas plumose. Filaments three, and anthers notched at either 

 extremity. Length from twelve to twenty-four inches. Root 

 annual and fibrous. 



It is known from B. sterilis by the soft downy footstalks. 



Comes into flower in the middle of June. 



