THE NATURAL HISTORY OF BRITISH GRASSES. 51 
produces, the readiness with which this can be collected, 
and the facility with which it vegetates under circumstances 
of different management. 
LL. temulentwn—darnel—is an agrarian weed, now of 
comparative rarity, and fortunately so, if the following 
character of it be true: Sinclair says, “it has from the 
earliest ages borne the name of drunken darnel, and there 
can be no doubt of its deleterious qualities, whether in meat 
or drink.” Parnell gives a modified opinion hereupon: he 
remarks, “the seeds, it is said, when eaten, produce vomit- 
ing, purging, violent colic, and death.” Linneus’ opinion 
was, that the seeds, when mixed with bread, produced but 
little effect unless when eaten hot; but if malted with 
barley, the ale soon occasions intoxication. Sir J. E. Smith, 
in his English Flora, says, “the seeds are of very evil 
report, for causing intoxication in men, beasts, and birds, 
and bringing on fatal convulsions.” Haller mentions them 
as “ communicating these properties to beer.”’ Vol.i. p.175. 
Hooker and all botanists follow in the same strain, but 
merely quoting from each other, as none of them seem to 
have any personal knowledge of its qualities. Of late years 
it has been confined in its range, and so limited in quantity, 
that we have never been enabled to procure sufficient to 
follow out an investigation into this interesting matter; at 
present, however, we confess to the belief that its injurious 
qualities have been much overrated, if indeed the tales 
about it are not altogether fabulous. 
Foreign seeds, flax more especially, are almost sure to 
yield a little of the plant on sowing. 
tt Flowers paniculate, flowers more or less lax. 
Poa—panicle lax ; locuste of from five to ten florets ; 
glume of unequal valves, the inner glwmel notched at 
the extremity ; part of the genus sometimes referred 
to Glyceria. 
1. Poa annua—locuste of about five florets, not webbed. 
—A. 
E 
