GRASS FAMILY. 



389 



the terminal spikelet) only one and that on the outer side : — otherwise 

 much resembling Triticum. 



1. L. PEREx'xE, L. Spikelets compressed, linear-lanceolate, longer than 

 the glumes, about 7-flowered, — the florets mostly awnless. 

 Perennial Lolium. Eay-grass, or Rye-grass. Darnel. 

 Fr. Ivraie vivace. Germ. Ausdauernder Lolch. Span. Joyo. 



7?oc); perennial, creeping. C«7m 1 -2 feet high, smooth, ieai-es 4-8 or 10 inches long, 

 lance-linear, shining green, smooth, somewhat scabrous near the end ; sheaths striate, 

 glabrous ; ligule truncate. SpU:e about 6 inches long, — the rachis flexuose, channelled or 

 concave opposite the spikelets. Spikdets 12-18 or 20, a little distant, alternately on op- 

 posite sides of, and with their edges to, the rachis. Glumes one to each spikelet (except 

 the terminal one), lance-linear, acute, nerved, resembling a short rigid leaf. Lower palea 

 rather obtuse, obscurely 5-nerved ; upper palea a httle longer, ciliate-serrulate on the two 

 prominent keels. 



Meadow banlcs and grass lots : introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



Obs. This grass — which seems to be much esteemed in Europe — has 

 been partially introduced into this country, and has become naturalized 

 in many places, — though I believe it has been but little cultivated, by 

 our farmers. It affords a valuable pasture where the soil is rich, — in 

 such situations producing radical leaves in great luxuriance ; and makes 

 a handsome sward for yards and lawms. 



There is another species in Europe, (L. temulentum, L., supposed to 

 be the " infelix Lolium," of Tirgil — the Darnel," of the English), — of 

 which the seeds are said to be somewhat poisonous. If so, it is the only 

 instance known, in all the Gramiuese, in which the sound seeds are of 

 that character. 



The Italian Ray Grass has been extensively distributed through the 

 agency of the Patent Office, and is probably a variety of the above or 

 some other species ; great superiority is claimed for it in Europe, but 

 not enough is known of it, in our climate, to decide whether it is equal 

 to the grasses already in cultivation. 



19. TRIT'ICUM, L. Wheat. 



[Latin, tritus, a rubbing or grinding ; the grain being so treated.] 



Spikelets 3 - several-flowered, compressed, with the fiat side against the 

 rachis. Glumes nearly equal and opposite. Lower palea-^Yerj like the 

 glumes, convex, awned or merely mucronate ; the upper one flat, bristly- 

 ciliate on the 2 keels, free or adherent to the groove of the grain. 

 Stamens 3. Annuals perennials, the former furnishing bread-corn. 



* Annual : spike 4-sided : glumes ventricose, obtuse. (True Wheat.) 

 1. T. vulga're, Vill. Spike imbricated, with a tough rachis ; spikelets 

 4 - 5-flowered, rather crowded, broad-ovate, obtuse ; glumes ventricose, 

 mucronate, compressed at apex ; lower palea awned, mucronate, or awn- 

 less ; grain free. 



Common Triticum. Wheat. Winter Wheat. Spring Wheat. 

 Fr. Le Froment. Ble. Germ. Gemeiner Waizen. Span. Trigo. 



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