167 



years, nor can the differences above detailed be considered in any other 

 light than as results of diversified natural habitat. The varieties of the 

 so-called B. pmnatum described by some authors are certainly not 

 permanent. •' 



Genus 44. LOLIUM. Darnel Grass. 



Gen. Char. Inflorescence interruptedly spicate. Spikelets solitary, 

 three- or more-flowered, arranged edgewise alternately on opposite 

 sides of the rachis, quite sessile. Glumes solitary, or if two the 

 one next the channeled face of the rachis small, or rudimentary. 



A small genus distributed over the more temperate regions of the 

 northern hemisphere. Some of the species are valuable as pasture 

 grasses, but one, LoUum temulentum, presents a marked exception to 

 the generally wholesome qualities of this valuable tribe of plants. 



The name is of very doubtful origin, but was applied by the Komans 

 to the species above mentioned ; the injurious properties of which seem 

 to have been known to the inhabitants of Europe and Asia from time 

 immemorial. 



LotruM PERENNB. Perennial Darnel. Eay Grass. Plate CXXXV. 



Spikelets six- to twelve-flowered, much longer than the solitary 

 external glume. Lower palea usually awnless. Eoot producing leafy 

 barren shoots. 



Lolium perenne, Linnmis. E. B. 315; ed. 2. 184. Generally 

 adopted. 



One of the most common and abundant of British grasses, growing 

 almost everywhere, and without limitation to soil, throughout the king- 

 dom, not only in meadows and pastures, but on waste places and road- 

 sides, varying much in size and general appearance according to 

 circumstances. As a meadow-grass, the flowering-stems, more or less 

 decumbent at the base, attain the height of one or two feet ; but in hard 

 ground, especially where liable to frequent treading, reach only a few 

 inches. Leaves dark-green, rather broad, those of the stem approach- 

 ing to lanceolate, flat, rough on the upper face, smooth below. Spike 

 usually flattened, but occasionally almost cylindrical ; differing in the 

 breadth and divarication of the spikelets, sometimes branched, six 

 inches to a foot in length. Spikelets sessile, in starved specimens three- 

 or four-flowered ; in luxuriant ones, ten- or twelve- to sixteen- or even 

 twenty-flowered. Glume oblong-lanceolate, rigid, awnless, strongly 

 five-ribbed, smooth, shorter than the spikelets ; where the latter are 



