124 



which Dr. Withering, and other botanists of the last century, applied 

 the specific name of polymorphus, in allusion to the diversity of cha- 

 racter presented by it in different localities. Indeed, whether the 

 whole genus, or sub-genus, Serrafalcus may not be similarly implicated 

 is, perhaps, an equivocal point ; it affords admirable opportunities for 

 the extension of a local flora. 



Beomus arvensis. Taper Field Brome Grass. Plate CVII. 



Panicle loosely spreading, drooping in fruit ; the longer lower 

 peduncles compound. Spikelets linear-lanceolate, acute, compressed. 

 Flowers imbricated in fruit, elliptical, smooth. Paleae shorter than the 

 awn, with two very prominent veins on each side near the margin. 

 Leaves hairy. 



Bromus arvensis, Linrueus. E. B. 1984 ; ed. 2. 156. Parnell. 

 Hooker and Amott. Serrafalchus arvensis, Bahington. 



Very locally distributed, and scarcely to be considered as a British 

 grass. It was first noticed by Sherard, who gathered it near South- 

 ampton ; other habitats recorded are the coast of Durham, near 

 Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, and Box Hill, Surrey. Dr. ParneU 

 mentions it as being common in France, Germany, and Italy, growing 

 plentifully in corn-fields and by road-sides. The smooth stems vary 

 from a foot and a half to three feet in height. Leaves rather narrow, 

 roughish, especially on the margins, hairy. Inflorescence spreading, 

 drooping when in fruit ; the longer peduncles in luxuriant specimens 

 often much branched : the branches and rachis rough. Spikelets 

 linear-lanceolate, six- or seven-flowered, roughish to the touch, but not 

 hairy, frequently tinged reddish-brown. The prominence of the lateral 

 veins of the palese is a marked feature, and so is the comparative length 

 of the anthers, which are four times as long as broad, in distinguishing 

 between this and B commutatus. 



Annual. Flowers in July and August. 



There are many points of resemblance between this grass and the 

 foregoing knot of species so called. Mr. Bentham evidently regards 

 the whole series as nearly related, including them all under the present 

 name. 



ft Outer palea nine-veined. 



Bromus patulus. Spreading Brome Grass. 



Panicle spreading loosely, drooping in fruit ; the lower longer 

 peduncles compound. Spikelets elongated, linear-lanceolate, acute, 

 compressed. Flowers imbricated in fruit, not hairy. Palese shorter 

 than the nearly straight awn, with three prominent veins on each side. 



Bromus patulus, Koch. Parnell, plate 127. Hooker and Arnott. A 

 form of B. arvensis, Bentham. Serrafalcus patulus, Barlatore. 

 Bdbington. 



