LoLiUM, Linn. 
Spikelets usually more or less compressed, 2-ranked, alternate, sessile in the 
hollows of the rhachis of a simple spike ; rhachilla glabrous, disarticulating above 
the glumes and between the valves. Florets 3 to 11, or sometimes more, perfect 
or the uppermost reduced. 
Glumes of terminal spikelets equal and similar, lower suppressed in the lateral 
spikelets, upper linear to oblong obtuse to acute, flat or slightly rounded, coriaceous 
prominently 7 to 9-nerved. Valves oblong, rounded on the back, subobtuse, 
minutely 2-toothed (or acute in profile), more or less chartaceous except at the 
short hyaline tips, glabrous, 5-nerved, muticous or avvned ; awn a straight bristle 
from close to the tip. Pales equalling the valves or nearly so, 2-keeled, keels more 
or less crested. Stamens 3. Lodicules 2, lanceolate with a lateral tooth. Ovary 
glabrous, truncate ; styles distinct, very short ; stigmas laterally exserted, plumose. 
Grain elliptic-oblong to linear-oblong, tightly enclosed by the valve and pale, 
adhering to both ; embryo short ; hilum linear almost as long as the grain. 
Annual or Perennial — Blades linear, flat ; ligules hyaline ; spikes terminal ; 
spikelets more or less erect, 2-ranked, with the (upper) glume opposite the hollow 
of the rhachis. 
Species 6-8 in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa; else- 
where introduced. 
PLATE 463. 
Lolium temulentum, Linn. (Fl. C'ap., Vol. VIL, p. 738). 
Nat. Order Graminea\ 
Annual.— Culms fascicled or solitary, erect, rather stout, straight, 1 to Ij 
foot long, glabrous, rough, at least in the upper part, 2 to 4-noded, uppermost 
internode usually long exserted. 
Leaves glabrous ; sheaths rather tight, strongly striate ; ligules very short, 
truncate ; blades linear, acute, | to 1 foot by 2 to 3 lines, flat, rough all o; er or 
only on tiie upper side and along the margins. Spikes erect, \ to i foot long, of 
rather numerous (10 to 20) spikelets ; axis rather stout, slightly rough or smooth 
on the back. 
Spikelets about the length of the internodes, or the Joicer shorter and more 
distant, the upper more ap})roximate, laterally compressed, 5 to 9 lines long, 5 to 
'J-fiowered Florets turgid. 
Glumes, 'ipper oblong, equalling f)r somewhat exceeding the uppermost floret, 
subobtuse to acute, very rigid, flat, glabrous, smooth, 7 to 9-nerved. Valves 
elliptic-oblong, obtuse or subobtuse, muticous or usually awned, 3 to 3^ lines long, 
rounded on the back, herbaceous-chartaceous, smooth, 5-nerved, tips rather broad, 
iiyaline, obscurely 2-toothed; awn subterminal, straight, rather stout at the base, 
scaberulous, up to 8 lines long. Pales broad, keels green, stout. Anthers ovor 1 
line long. Grain elliptic-oblong, semiterete, grooved in front, slightly shorter than 
the pale. 
HSibit&t : Natal. Budianan 50. 
An imported noxious weed, connnonly known as " Darnel." The fodder is 
useless, and the seeds are undoubtedly poisonous to cattle, and also to human 
beings ; the}' are said to be more poisonous in wet than in dry seasons. 
Fig 1, Glume; 2, valve ; 3, pale; 4, pistil, stamens, and lodicules. All enlarged. 
