64 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF BRITISH GRASSES. 
indicated. The last, however, is exceedingly coarse, and 
would thus only be adapted for the grazing of such cattle as 
may occasionally be enabled to rough it. 
Bromus — panicle lax; glumes more or less tumid; 
outer glumel with a long awn from near its middle, 
inner one ciliated, edged with fine hairs. 
Of this genus there are several species which are of little 
moment to the farmer; and indeed those in which he is in- 
terested are, for the most part, rather enemies than friends. 
Of these the following may serve as a synopsis :— 
a. Annual. 
1. Bromus mollis — soft brome, “lop” of the farmer— 
locuste ovate, of from six to ten florets, upright, on 
short pedicles; flowers and whole plant hairy. 
2. B. mollis, var. racemosus—smooth brome—the same 
as the preceding, only that the flowers are smooth 
and glistening. 
3. B. mollis, var. commutatus—field brome—locuste of 
from ten to twelve smooth florets, more or less 
drooping, upon long and slender pedicles. 
4. B. secalinus — locuste of from eight to ten florets, 
which are usually smooth, but in the sub-variety 
velutinus are hairy; much drooping in seed, when 
the florets are more distinct and separated than in 
the other forms. 
b. Perennial. 
5. B. erectus—locuste upright, on short pedicles ; florets 
lanceolate, smooth ; anthers bright orange. 
The two first of these may practically be taken together, 
as the racemosus can only be considered as a smooth form 
of mollis, and by which the latter is but sparingly accom- 
panied, being produced from the same sample of seed. It 
is known by the farmer under the name of “lop,” and is a 
detestable weed, especially in seeds, where it sometimes 
