117 



The only indigenous species of Brome Grass, with which this species 

 is likely to be confounded by an ordinary observer, is Bromus sterilis, 

 the next described, and that only where dwarf specimens of the former, 

 and exaggerated ones of the latter, growing in similar localities, are 

 concerned ; in such cases, the hairy character of the outer palea, and 

 the short awn of B. asper, form a strong contrast to the smooth flowers 

 and lengthened awn of the Barren Brome Grrass. 



Dr. Parnell remarks that "horses and cows eat it in common with 

 other grasses of the wood, but they give the preference to pasture grass, 

 except in oases of .necessity, when quantity is of greater consideration 

 than quality." When growing on the edges of woods bordering pasture 

 land, the early foliage, being succulent and sweet, is generally cropped 

 pretty closely in spring — but this is one of the least palatable of its kind. 



Bkomus sterilis. Barren Brome Grass. Plate -l^^X, 



Panicle drooping ; branches elongated, more or less divided or simple. 

 Spikelets linear-lanceolate, drooping. Flowers remote, sub-cylindrical, 

 much shorter than the straight awn. , Lower palea smooth, with seven 

 distinct equi-distant veins. Leaves pubescent. 



Bromus sterilis, Linnceus. E. B, 1030 ; ed. 2. 159. Generally 

 adopted. 



Common throughout the kingdom, and widely distributed over 

 Europe and Russian Asia, except in the colder regions of the extreme 

 north, and in mountainous districts. Its favourite habitats in this 

 country are dry and rather sheltered waste places, road-sides, and 

 hedge-banks ; and it rarely intrudes into the open meadows and 

 pastures, unless in very dry and barren, gravelly, or sandy soil, of 

 which its presence in any quantity may, indeed, generally be considered 

 indicative, while the specific name sterilis seems to have originated 

 from the same circumstance. Although the root is only annual, the 

 stems being procumbent at the lower part, and rooting where the lower 

 joints rest against the ground, this grass may be said to have a creep- 

 ing habit. At the flowering season the stems attain the height of from 

 one to two feet, or, in woods, and shady and rather moist situations, 

 sometimes more; they are roughish and striated. The leaves are 

 broad and flat, usually of a dark green colour, and more or less rough 

 and pubescent. Panicle distantly branched, drooping and spreading; 

 with long, slender, rough, and mostly simple branches. Spikelets long, 

 lanceolate, or linear-lanceolate ; including the awns frequently more 

 than two inches in length; about eight-flowered. Glumes very un- 

 equal, the upper one three-veined. Outer palea seven-veined, not 

 hairy ; the veins equi-distant. Awn more than twice the length of 

 the palea. Inner palea about one-third shorter than the outer; its 

 two green marginal veins ciliated. 



Annual. Flowers in June and July. 



An elegant grass, seldom eaten by cattle, but valuable in nature as a. 

 colonizer. 



