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B R O M U S f t e r i l i s .
Barren Brome-grafs.
/ t f
T R 1 A N D R IA Digynia.
G en. C har, Cal. o f 2. valves. Spikelet oblong, 2-
ranked. Awn from below the top. Inner hujk
fringed.
Spe c . C har. Panicle drooping, moftlyfimple. Florets
lanceolate, ribbed, farrowed. Leaves downy.
Syn. Bromus fterilis. Linn. Sp. PI. 113. Sm. FI.
Brit. 134. Tr. of L . Soc. v. 4. 295. Hudf. 50.
With. 162. Hull. 25. Relh. 46. Sibth. 47.
Abbot. 23. Curt. Lond. fafc. 1. t. 9. Mart.
Rujl. t. 125.
Feftuca avenacea fterilis elatior, feu Bromos Diof-
coridis. Rail Syn. 4x2.
O n E o f th e m o ft fr eq u en t g ra fie s in w a d e g ro u n d , a b o u t
h e d g e s , and e v e n in c u lt iv a te d fie ld s , flow e r in g in J u n e and
J u ly . T h e e le g a n t ly p en d en t p a n ic le ren ders i t c o n fp ic u o u s ;
b u t th is o rn am en ta l q u a lity w ill fc a r c e ly com p en fa te fo r its
in u t i l i t y to th e a g r icu ltu r ift , w h ic h b y c om m o n c o n fen t has
p ro cu r e d i t th e n am e o f fterilis. I n fa£t its le a v e s , th o u g h
e a ta b le fo r c a t t le , are to o few and Ih o r t-liv ed to ren d e r i t o f
a n y u fe , an d th e h a r fh ftem s and p a n ic le w ill fc a r c e ly b e
to u ch e d w h ile o th e r fo o d is w i th in re a ch .
T h e ro o t is an n u a l and fm a ll . S tem 2 fe e t h ig h , e r e& ,
jo in t e d , le a fy . L e a v e s fp r e a d in g , fla t , flio r t ilh , c lo th ed w ith
fo f t d ow n . S t ip u la to rn . P a n ic le la r g e , flen d e r , fp re ad in g ,
r o u g h , its b ra n ch e s v e r y fe ld om fu b d iv id ed . S p ik e le ts p en d u lo
u s , la n c e o la te , c om p re fied , b row n ifh g r e e n , o f 6 o r 8 la n c
e o la te , k e e led , ro u g h , lo n g -b e a rd e d flo re ts , e a ch m a rk ed w ith
7 o r 9 r ib s . S tam in a 3 , b y w h ic h i t is d ift in g u ilh e d w ith
c e r ta in ty from JB. diandrus, t. 10 06 . In b o th th e fe fp ec ies
th e fty le s g ro w la te r a lly o u t o f th e g e rm e n , a p e cu lia r ity po in ted
p u t b y M r . C u r t is ,