TRITICUM CANINUM. {Hudson's Flora Ang.
E lymus ca n in u s, Sp. Plant.
Long-awned Quitch.
Spec. Chae. Aristae longer than the floret valves; root fibrous.
An observer not sufficiently attentive would conclude the awued variety o f the T . repen. to be the
tmeT. caninum, but they are perfecfly distinct; theT. caninutn is a much less common, and a
sylvan plant, the aristae are sometimes above twice the length o f the floret, and the inner valve
peeping a little beyond the enter and awned one: in T. caninutn both surfaces o f the leavei are rough
tn the repens the outer one is smoothish; the root o f the caninutn is fibmus, o f the T. repens creeping
and stolomferousj T. caninum seems to be aplant thathas not been JenetaUy undenttood; it having
been arranged with Elymus by some, and considered only as a variety by others, but its chamcters a^
constant and decstve-------The appellation of Caninutn, or Dog's-grass, to this Quitch, is far frent
conveying the pertinent distinction which many o f the terms o f Linnteus so happily express, as from
such an eptthet one mtght be led to believe that this plant was in peculiar request by that animal ■
when the stomach o f the dog is oppressed with acid or bile, he resorts promiscuously to any rough-
leaved grass, nor does a particular selection seem necessaty, the aim perhaps required being only to
stimulate orshghtly uritate the coats o f the stomach, and the discharge that nature requires is consequenfly
effected-------Thts, and many other singular faculties which the btute creation are endowed
wtth to remedy occastonal necessities, or produce remote effects, are surely, in many instancy above
simple instinct, and only below reason!
A, the Calyx.
B, the Floret Valves.