60 
GRAMINEAE (GRASS FAMILY) 
empty glume at the baseslightly shorter than the spikelet, a character 
which distinguishes it from its annual relative the Poison Darnel, 
which has the subtending empty glume longer than the spikelet. 
Means of control 
Sow clean seed. Prevent the production of seed by early cutting. 
Though perennial, it is rather short-lived, and if not allowed to seed, 
may soon be crowded out of the ground by other and more profit- 
able grasses. 
Fic. 30.— Darnel (Lolium 
temulentum). 
Xi. 
DARNEL 
Lélium temuléntum, L. 
Other English names: Poison Darnel, 
Bearded Darnel, White Darnel, Ivray, 
Poison Rye-grass, Annual Ray-grass. 
Introduced. Annual. Propagates by 
seeds. 
Time of bloom: Late June to July. 
Seed-time: July to August. 
Range: Locally in most of the United 
States as far south as Georgia; abun- 
dant on the Pacific Coast; occasional 
in Canada from New Brunswick to 
Manitoba; very troublesome in Red 
River Valley. 
Habitat: Grain fields and waste places. 
Darnel is now said to be poisonous 
only when diseased, its toxic properties 
being due to a fungus which has recently 
been discovered in the tissues under the 
seed coats. It is reputed to be most 
dangerous in wet seasons or when grown 
on wet soil. When ground with wheat, 
.bread made from the flour is likely to 
cause “eruptions, trembling, and con- 
fusion of sight in man and _ flesh-eat- 
ing animals”; and if the seeds are 
malted with barley, the ale or beer 
“causes intoxication very suddenly ”’ ; 
but the plant is said not to be harmful in 
any way to grazing animals, and makes 
