P L A T E LX X X IV .
BROMUS STERILIS . ^ « -*-
Drooping Broom.
Spe c . C h a e . Panicle pendent; footstalks longer than the spiket; spicuhe generally
solitary.
T h is common, conspicuous, and not inelegant Bromus, frequents hedges and rude uncultivated places;
its spikets are generally tinted with red, and towards maturity acquire a black purple hue: sheathing
woolly and soft when young; leaves hairy; arista about twice the length of the floret valve.
Mankind have not yet discovered any use to which they may apply the Bromus sterilis, even m a
remote degree, nor is it probable that their inventive feculties will ever convert it to any immediate
benefit; wild and uncultivated stations are its delight; it does not intrude on the vegetation of the
pasture, nor force itself an unwelcome guest on the labours of the farmer. The appellation o f
‘ sterilis' was probably given to this grass, not by reason of the plants being considered as unprolific,
but from its inhabiting chiefly sterile and infertile places; an epithet by no means peculiarly indicative
©f this species, but applicable to several others of the genus.
A , the Calyx.
B, the yalves of the Corolla,