632 
CXIII. GRAMINE2E 
*1. Lolium temulentum, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 364. Annual ; 
stems erect, 6-24 in. Leaves 4-10 in., base stem-clasping. Spike 
6-12 in. Spikelets in., sometimes more, 3-8-flowered. 
Empty glume as long as or longer than the spikelet, oblong- 
lanceolate, many-nerved. Flowering glumes ovate-oblong, con- 
cave, obtuse, usually awned near the top ; awn straight, about as 
long as the glume. 
N. India, in fields, ascending to 6000 ft. — N. Asia, Europe, including 
Britain (Darnel). 
The grains are poisonous. 
2. Lolium perenne, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 365. Perennial ; 
stems 1-2 ft., erect or decumbent near the base, leafy only on the 
lower part. Leaves 4-8 in., very narrow. Spike 4-10 in. Spike- 
lets in., smooth, shining, 3-11 -flowered. Empty glume 
oblong-lanceolate, shorter than the spikelet. Flowering glume 
oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, rarely shortly awned. 
Simla, introduced. — N. Asia, Europe, including Britain (Rye Grass). 
The cultivated form known as Italian Rye Grass has much longer spikelets. 
52. AGfROPYRON. From the Greek agros, a field, and pyros, 
wheat. — All temperate regions. 
Annual or perennial ; stems tufted, leafy, erect or ascending. 
Xeaves fiat or the margins inrolled, more or less hairy. Ligule 
membranous, short. Spikelets green, flattened, ^-1 in., 3- to many- 
flowered (uppermost flower usually male or rudimentary), singly 
sessile in notch-like grooves alternate in the rhaehis of a simple 
spike ; spikelets placed broadside to the rhaehis, not edgewise. 
Rhachilla not prolonged. Glumes stiff. Empty glumes 2, opposite, 
unequal, shorter than the lowest flowering glume. Flowering 
glumes oblong-lanceolate, concave, gradually narrowed upwards 
into a rough, slender awn ; nerves 5, indistinct at the base, meeting 
near the tip. Stamens 3. Ovary hairy at the top ; styles 2, 
terminal, distant, feathery nearly to the base. Grain narrowly 
oblong, flattened, grooved, tip hairy, free or adherent to the pale. 
Empty glumes 3-6merved. Spikelets spreading. Awn 
usually 1-lf in., recurved 1. A. longearistatum. 
Empty glumes 5-7-ribbed. Spikelets appressed. Awn 
less than 1 in., straight . . . . . . 2. A. semiccstatum. 
1. Agropyron longearistatum, Boiss. ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 368. 
Stems 1-3 ft. Leaves 6-12 in., up to | in. broad. Spike 4-6 in., 
nodding. Spikelets in., spreading. Empty glumes narrowly 
lanceolate, finely pointed, 3-5-nerved, much shorter than or nearly 
as long as the flowering glume. Flowering glume spreading ; awn 
1-1^ in., rarely less, recurved. (Fig. 198.) 
Simla, Mahasu.— W. Himalaya, 5000-12,000 ft. — W. Asia, N. Africa. 
