fymu/evifTt
H H H H H
P L A T E CI.
LOLIUM TEMULENTUM. {s^c. piam.
Awned Rye-grass.*
Spec. Char. Calyx longer than the spiket; florets with aristae; straw rough.
Lolium temulentum must be considered as a local plant, plentiful where any is found, but otherwise
whole counties may be searched in vain for a single specimen; it is chiefly found in corn fields.'
It sometimes attains the height of four feet ; the fence is strongly scored, and longer than the spiket;
straw with minute prickles pointing downwards; arista twice or thrice tlie length of the valve; florets
five to eight, the terminating ones are commonly abortive, and not above three or four are matured;
leaves shining on the outside, and beset with very small points directed upwards;, the lower spiket,.
in strong plants, has commonly a small inner valve; when matured, the seed attains a large size, and
the spikets are thereby much swoln and expanded.—------To inattention and carelessness only can the
continued propagation of the Lolium temulentum be attributed, as a plant so large and distinguished
might with ease be eradicated from the corn; the effect of the seed in bread, we are told, occasions to
the eater violent vomitings, and sometimes consequent death, and when malted with barley it produces
intoxication to delirium: Leers tells us it is noxious to all animals.f This species, and its congener
Arvense, are not uncommon in Pembrokeshire, and it is usual for the. farmers to lease it from their
com by the hand, and bum it; but the defect of constant attention to this salutary mode o f destruction
has contributed to the continuation of this deleterious plant: some few of the Welsh farmers carefully
weed their com, and sow English wheat, and in those cases we never find the L. temulentum; but
where the native grown com has been resown, this Rye-grass generally makes its appearance, and
hence the soil is said | naturally to produce it.’--------- Perhaps there is no existing instance wherein
we might accuse infinite wisdom o f superfluity, or lavish expenditure of matter; some formations
may be deemed so, but ignorance and conceit only can foster the idea: this thrifty unwasting hand of
nature is observable throughout the genius Lolium, in furnishing only pne calyx leaf, whereas all the
race of Gramina (excepting Festuca uniglumis) are found with two; but by the curious construction
of the spike stalk, an inner valve is rendered unnecessary, as the concave space of that part receives
the spiket, and defends from external injury the infant florets.
A, the Calyx of the lower Floret, shewing the inner valve; this is not an invariable distinction,
but a sport of nature, and makes this genus approach to that o f Triticum.
B, the Calyx'.'
C, the Floret Valves.
D, a swoln and matured Spiket.
* The French writers call this plant Ivraie, probably from the inebriating qualities that it possesses (ivre), and thus by
an easy and natural corruption has been acquired our appellation Ray, or Rye.
+ * Gramen inter omnia, unicum noxium. Semen temulentos vertiginososque reddit homines; magis adhuc in pane
calido, potissimum in potu cerevisia. Etiam equis, canibus, suibus, aliisque animalibus noxium, saepe letale.’ Flo.Herbor.