CLIII. GRAMINE^. 1919 



90. *LOLIUM, Linn. 

 (Said to be from the Celtic name.) 

 Spikelets several-flowered, singly sessile in the alternate notches on opposite 

 sides of a simple spike, the edge of the spikelet (the backs of the glumes of one 

 ro<v) next the common rhachis, the rhachis of the spikelet glabrous. Glumes 

 nearly similar, one outer one in the lateral spikelets empty and rather larger, or 

 sometimes longer than the whole spikelet, in the terminal spikelet 2 outer ones 

 empty. 



A genus o£ very few species, natives of the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. 

 Outer glume shorter than the spikelet. Flowering glumes narrow, lanceo- 

 late, without any or with very short awns 1. L. perenne. 



Outer glume usually as long as or longer than the spikelet. Flowering 

 glumes ohlong, some or all usually with an awn as long as or longer than 

 themselves 2. L. temulentum. 



1. Ii. perenne (perennial), LtwM,; Kunth, Enum. i. 436; Henth. b'l. Austr. 

 vii. 666. Perennial Rye Grass. An erect or slightly decumbent glabrous grass 

 of 1 to 2ft., sometimes annual but usually lasting several years. Spikes distichous, 

 from a few inches to 1ft. long. Spikelets at a considerable distance from each 

 other on alternate sides of the rhachis. Outer glume of the lateral spikelets and 

 2 outer ones of the terminal one, empty, rigid, strongly nerved, longer than the 

 others but much shorter than the spikelet. Flowering glumes 8 to 16 or even 

 more, narrow, obtuse or acute, with the keel and 2 lateral nerves prominent, 

 sometimes produced into a very short awn. In cultivation there are sometimes 

 several outer empty glumes. — Reichb. Ic. Fl. Germ. t. 6 ; F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 

 127. 



Hab.: Only niet with as a stray from cultivation in the most southern parts. 



2. ^. temulentum (drunken), Linn. ; Kunth, Enum. i. 437 ; Bentli. Fl. 

 Austr. yi\. Q&l . Drunken Darnel. Usually taller than L. perenne and always 

 annual. Outer glume of the lateral spikelets usually as long as or longer than 

 the whole spikelet. Flowering glumes shorter- and broader than in L. perenne, 

 oblong, usually obtuse, with an awn as long as or longer than the glume itself. 

 In some specimens however most of the glumes are awnless or very rarely the 

 whole spikelet without awns.— Reichb. Ic. Fl. Germ. t. 5 ; F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 

 127. 



Hab.: Only met with as a stray from cultivation. The Tares of Scripture. 



91. LEPTURUS, R. Br. 



(Referring to the axis of the spikelet being produced into a point.) 



Spikelets 1-flowered, sessile and half embedded in the alternate notches of a 

 more or less articulate simple spike. Outer empty glumes 2, one slightly over- 

 lapping the other on one side, or 1 only, appressed and covering the cavity, rigid 

 and nerved. Flowering glume and palea shorter thin and hyaline, embedded in 

 the cavity, the axis of the spikelet produced behind the palea into a minute point 

 or bearing a small terminal empty glume. Styles short. Grain free from the 

 glume. 

 A genus of few species, chiefly from the Mediterranean region. 



1. T*. repens (creeping). It Br. Prod. 207 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 668. A 

 perennial creeping in the- sands sometimes to a considerable extent, with 

 divaricately Ranching stems. Leaves spreading, glaucous and glabroiis or ciliate 

 at the orifice of the sheaths. Spikes close upon the last leaf -sheath, 2 to 3in. 

 long, the arlioulate rhachis breaking much more readily than in some other 

 species and tnerefore very, rarely perfect in dried specitnens. Spikelets usually 



