GRASSES 



GRASSES 



375 



Europe, but recently introduced into this country 

 and proving a valuable forage grass in the North- 

 west, from Kansas to North Dakota and "Washing- 

 ton. Called also smooth, Hungarian, Austrian and 

 awnless brome grass. 



secalinus, Linn. Chess. Cheat. (Pig. 558.) An 

 annual, one to three feet high, with open panicle, 

 smooth sheaths and short-awned spikelets. A corn- 



Fig. 558. Chess or cheat (Sromus aecalinua). 

 Common in wheat fields. It was once sup- 

 posed that wheat turned to chess. 



mon weed introduced from Europe but cultivated 

 for forage in Oregon and Washington. A closely 

 allied species {B. racemosus commutatus) is common 

 and can be distinguished by the pubescent sheaths 

 and the less rigid and turgid lemma, especially in 

 fruiting spikelets. The idea that chess may turn 

 into wheat is now one of the curiosities of agricul- 

 tural tradition. 



unioloides, H. B. K. Rescue-grass. (Fig. 559.) A 

 tall annual (one to three feet) with an open panicle 

 of broad, much-flattened, nearly or quite awnless 



spikelets. Native of South America. Cultivated in 

 the southern states for winter forage. Also called 

 arctic-grass, Schrader's brome-grass, Australian 

 brome and Australian oats. 



27. Lolium (the old Latin name). A genus of 

 six species of grasses in northern Europe and Asia. 

 Spikelets several-flowered, solitary and sessile on 

 alternate sides of the rachis, placed with the edges 

 against the axis, forming a two-rowed spike. 



multiflorum. Lam. (L. Italicum, A. Br.). Italian 

 Rye-grass. (Fig. 560.) A short-lived perennial or 

 scarcely more than a biennial. Spikelets with awns 

 about as long as the lemma. On the Paciiic coast 

 sometimes called Australian rye-grass. 



perenne, Linn. Perennial Rye-grass. (Pig. 561.) 

 Similar to the preceding, but somewhat more per- 

 sistent and with awnless spikelets. Long cultivated 

 in England, where it is highly esteemed as a forage 

 grass. 



28. Secale (Latin name for rye). A genus of 

 grasses containing two species, one of which is 

 widely cultivated. Native in the 

 Old World. Spikelets two-flow- 

 ered, solitary and sessile, alter- 

 nate on opposite sides of a con- 

 tinuous rachis, forming a dense 

 terminal spike. Glumes narrow 

 and pointed ; lemmas keeled, 

 five-nerved, long-awned from 

 the apex. 



cereale,Limi. Rye. (Fig. 562.) 

 A well-known cereal in common 

 cultivation in all cool climates. 

 [See Rye.] 



29. Triticum (Latin name 

 for wheat). A genus of ten or 

 twelve species of the Mediter- 

 ranean region. Spikelets two- 

 to five-flowered, solitary and 

 sessile, alternate on opposite 

 sides of the rachis, forming a 

 dense terminal spike. Glumes 

 ovate, three to many-nerved. 

 Annuals. 



satiimm, Lam. (T. vulgare, 

 Vill.). Wheat. (Fig. 563.) 

 A common grain, long cul- 

 tivated and existing in well- 

 marked races and numerous 

 varieties. The spikelets may 

 be awned (bearded) or awnless 

 (smooth). [See Wheat.] 



30. Agropyron (Greek, 

 wheat-grass). A genus of about 

 thirty-five species of perennial 

 grasses, distributed in all tem- 

 perate climates. Spikelets 

 three- to several-flowered, soli- 

 tary and sessile at each joint 

 of the axis, forming a terminal 

 spike. Glumes narrow and 

 pointed. Differs from Triticum 

 in the shape of the glumes and 

 in having the lemma deciduous ^s. 560. itaUan lye- 

 with the grain to which it ad- ^wUifio^J^ 



Fig. 559. 



Rescue-grass 



iJBromus unioloides). 



