162 



The general aspect of this grass is at first sight not very unlike that 

 of Hordewm maritimwm, but the generic characters will readily distin- 

 guish them, especially the association of the spikelets of the latter, 

 which are never more than single-flowered, in clusters of three, while 

 in Triticum the spikelets are solitary and several-flowered. 



The Crested Wheat Grass is strictly indigenous to the north-eastern 

 portion of our continent, and according to Gmelin is conmion through- 

 out Siberia. 



Tkiticum junceum. Eushey Sea Wheat Grass. Plate CXXX. 



Spike interrupted. Spikelets distant, rather spreading, four- to six- 

 flowered. Glumes obtuse, many-ribbed. Outer palea obtuse, smooth, 

 five-veined. Eachis smooth, brittle when in fruit. Leaves involute, 

 pungent, downy above. Eoot creeping. 



Triticum junceum, Linrweus. E. B. 814 ; ed. 2. 177. Generally 

 adopted. 



Very common, growing among the loose sand on our sea-shores, 

 which its creeping roots and stolones assist in fixing. Flowering stems 

 a foot and a half to three feet high. Whole plant glaucous, and usually 

 smooth, except on the inrolled upper faces of the leaves, which is more 

 or less downy, especially on those of the stem. The leaves are of a 

 rigid texture, and from their involute character, so acute as to be 

 almost spine-like at the apex. Spike very long, and, owing to the dis- 

 tance of the spikelets from each other, interrupted. Eachis smooth, often 

 almost polished, becoming brittle or disarticulating at the joints as the 

 fruit ripens. Spikelets oval-oblong, generally about five-flowered. 

 Glumes obtuse, but often apiculate from the extension of the middle 

 vein beyond the apex ; the veins so elevated as to assume the appear- 

 ance of ribs. Outer palea obtuse, smooth, five-veined, the middle 

 vein frequently extending into a mucro, as in the case of the glumes, 

 but never forming a positive awn. 



Perennial. Flowers in July and August. 



This is a very variable species, being apparently much influenced by 

 difference of locality and other circumstances. The varieties, so called, 

 are undeserving of notice, as not any of them are permanent, and this is 

 the case with Triticum laxum, Fries, of Mr. Babington's Manual. It 

 is even doubtful whether the plant before us is itself a species distinct 

 from the following T. repens, Mr. Bentham regards them as belonging 

 to the same type, and taking into consideration the glaucous maritime 

 variety of the latter, T. littorale, Host, the transition between the two 

 extreme forms of both is all but imperceptible ; the differential characters, 

 are founded upon features too unimportant and inconstant to be placed 

 in competition with the striking uniformity of habit and general struc- 

 ture appertaining to the entire series. 



