164 



them drank liberally is recommended by Boerhaave in obstructions of 

 the viscera, particularly in cases of schirrous liver and jaundice." 

 Dogs and cats eat the leaves both of this and the following species to 

 excite vomiting, whence they are both of them known in many parts of 

 the country by the common name of Dog-grass ; the effect produced, 

 however, seems to be rather mechanical than medicinal. 



Triticvmi repens is widely distributed over Europe and Northern 

 Asia ; in the former, especially, extending throughout the continent 

 from Lapland to the shores of the Mediterranean, on the opposite side 

 of the basin of which it grows in the north of Africa. The maritime 

 variety referred to above, under T. junceum, is chiefly distinguished 

 from the common form by its glaucous hue and more or less awned 

 flowers. 



Triticum OANiNtTM. Bearded Wheat Grass. Dog-wheat. Plate 

 CXXXII. 



Spike elongated, more or less compact. Spikelets imbricated, erect, 

 three- to five-flowered. Glumes acuminate, usually three-ribbed, with 

 a short terminal, rough awn. Outer palea acuminate, five-veined, 

 terminating in a long, slender, rough awn, longer than itself. Kachis 

 rough at the angles. Leaves plane, rough on both sides. Root 

 fibrous, clustered. 



Triticum caninum, Hudson. E. B. 1372 ; ed. 2. 179. Most EngHsh 

 botanists. Agropyrum caninum, Beauvois. Lindley. 



Frequent in woods and on hedge-banks, but far less common than 

 Triticum repens. The stems grow more or less tufted, not at com- 

 paratively long distances like those of the latter, varying in height, 

 according to circumstances, from two to three or four feet. Leaves 

 glossy, dark green, acute, roughish on both surfaces. Ligule short, 

 obtuse. Spike long and slender, often compact and somewhat sub- 

 cylindrical. Spikelets usually four- or five-flowered, occasionally only 

 two-flowered. Glumes distinctly three-ribbed, with a terminal awn 

 variable in its proportional length. Outer palea, acuminate, five-veined, 

 more or less hairy, terminating in a slender rough awn, generally much 

 longer than itself. 



Perennial. Flowers in July. 



The geographical distribution of this grass accords with that of 

 T. repens, but it is less predominating in its habit. It yields, in 

 favourable localities, a tolerable crop of early herbage, which is ap- 

 parently relished by cattle in general ; hence it is recommended by 

 some agricultural writers for sowing on soils of inferior quality instead 

 of Kay-grass, Lolium perenne, but its value for such purpose does not 

 appear to be established by the result of experiment. A grass, growing 

 naturally in sheltered situations, moist woods and thickets, is iU adapted 

 for culture in meadow and pasture land. 



