SOFT BEOME GRASS. 107 



it is very much like chess, but may always be distin- 

 guished from it, as well as from Bromus arvensis, in the 

 summit of the large glume being half way between its 

 base and the summit of the third floret, on the same side ; 

 whereas, in chess the summit of the large glume is half 

 way between its base and the summit of the second 

 floret. This character is constant, and offers the surest 

 mark of distinction. It is common in grain-fields. It 

 is worthless for cultivation except for green manuring. 



Soft Chess, or Soft Brome Grass {Bromus mollis), 

 is sometimes found. I procured beautiful specimens of 

 it at Nantucket, where it was growing in the turf with 

 other grasses, on a sandy soil near the shore. Its pan- 

 icle is erect, closely contracted in fruit; spikelets coni- 

 cal, ovate ; stems erect, more or less hairy, with the 

 hairs pointing downwards, from twelve to eighteen 

 inches high ; joints four or five, slightly hairy ; leaves 

 flat, striated, hairy on both sides, rough at the edges 

 and points ; summit of the large glume midway between 

 its base and the apex of the third floret, by which it is 

 always distinguished from Willard's bromus. Flowers 

 in June. Birds are fond of the seeds, which are large, 

 and ripen early. Of no value for cultivation. 



The Wild Chess {Bromus kalmii) is another species, 

 found often in dry, open woodlands. It has a small, 

 simple panicle, with the spikelets drooping on hairy 

 peduncles, seven to twelve flowered, and silky; awn 

 only one-third the length of the lance-shaped flower; 

 stem slender, eighteen inches to three feet high ; leaves 

 and sheaths hairy. Flowers in June and July. Of no 

 value for cultivation. 



Frixged Brome Grass {Bromus. ciliatus) is often 

 found in woods and on rocky hills and river banks. It 

 has a compound panicle, very loose, nodding ; spikelets 



