in the Brontes and their Brown Rust . 253 
B. secalinus . On the fourth day no differences were ob- 
servable beyond the shorter spear and the characters of 
the paleae. 
In a week the spear was less than a centimetre high, the 
membranous sheath being smooth and brown-pink. Slightly 
forced in the intermediate pit, the spears were not above 
ground on the fifth day. Three-leafed seedlings are more 
robust and taller than those of B. arvensis , the third leaf 
being 12-15 cm. long by 2-5-3 mm - wide, with 3-4 pale lines 
each side the midrib. The first leaf — about 6 cm. by 2-3 mm. 
— is soon reflexed, as is also the case in B. arvensis. Beyond 
the broader leaves and more robust habit — very noticeable in 
pots of several — however, it was not easy to distinguish them. 
The four-day seedlings of B. secalinus bring out well 
the character of plumpness of the ‘ seed 5 as compared with 
B. racemosus. The spear is also stout and pink-sheathed, 
not green as in that form. The awn is also shorter and 
the nervature of the inner palea less evident : this palea 
is ciliate, the outer one slightly hairy. B. secalinus , L., is 
a native of Europe, the Mediterranean, and N. Asia. It is 
regarded by Bentham as a tall cornfield variety of B. arvensis , 
but we must remember that he gives a very wide definition 
to the latter 1 . It has spread widely to the United States, 
Canada, and elsewhere. 
B. velutinus seems indistinguishable from B. secalinus in size, 
shape, and colour. It is a trifle more hairy, however, though 
that is only seen on close examination. In the mass the 
colour and weight are similar. B. velutinus is very like 
B. secalinus in four-day seedlings. The seed is fat, a trifle 
hairy and ciliate, and the short plumule slightly pink above. 
B. velutinus was indistinguishable from B. secalinus by any 
positive characters. The awn of the ‘ seed ’ appeared a trifle 
longer, and the length of the third leaves somewhat shorter, 
but in all essential respects they appear to be the same 
species. 
B. velutinus , Schrad., is given as a synonym of B. secalinus 
1 See Ascherson, 1 . c., p. 602. 
