GBAMINA. 
179 
often scabrous on the angles. Spikelets more or less diverging from 
the rachis, 3- to 7-flowered, generally equalling 2 or even 3 intemodes, 
ultimately elliptical or elliptical-wedgeshaped, much compressed. 
Glumes usually at least three-fourths the length of the spikelets, and 
always more than half their length, commonly acute or awned, rarely 
obtuse. Lower pales acute or awned, or rarely obtuse with a very 
short apiculus. Axis of spikelets scabrous, with slender intemodes. 
Yar. a, genuinum, Duval-Jouve. 
Glumes lanceolate-acute. Pales mucronate. 
Var. 0, harhatum, Duval-Jouve. 
Glumes tapering, subulate or awned. Pales a\Yned. 
Var. 7, ohtusum. 
Glumes obtuse, obliquely-truncate. Pales obtuse, with a minute 
apiculus. 
In cultivated ground and waste places, by road-sides, and on the 
sea-shore, occasionally in woods. Common and universally dis- 
tributed. 
England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer. 
Very variable. Stems 1 to 4 feet high. Leaves 2 inches to 1 foot 
long by ^ to I inch broad, sometimes rather firm when growing in dry- 
soils, with slender slightly elevated ribs, which are not cartilagi- 
nous, and each of which is furnished with a row of minute points. 
Spike 2 to 8 inches long, not more than one-fourth the length of its 
stem, and often much shorter in proportion. Spikelets | to f inch 
long, usually so crowded that they diverge considerably from the 
rachis, but in luxuriant specimens a few spikelets are commonly 
separated from the others towards the base of the spike. Florets f 
to i inch long exclusive of the awn, which is very variable in length. 
The awned variety is the only form of T. eu-repens which can be 
mistaken for T. caninum, but it may be distinguished from the latter 
by its creeping and stoloniferous rootstock. The stems also are firmer. 
The leaves are thicker and tapering for a less portion of their length 
and of a duller green. The spike is more compact. The spikelets 
are ultimately much more compressed and broader in proportion to 
their length. The glumes are more parallel-sided. The pales are 
less distinctly nerved towards the apex, and the awns are stouter and 
generally shorter than in T. caninum. 
Common Couch- Grass. 
