B R O M U S d ia n d r u s .
U/iright annual Brome-grajs.
TRIANDRIA Digynia.
G f,n. C h ar. Cal. o f i valves. Spikelet oblong, a-
ranked. Avon from below the top. Inner bujk
fringed.
S pec. C har. Panicle upright, fpreading, fcarcely
fubdivided. Florets lanceolate, ribbed, furrowed,
with only two ftamina.
Syn . Bromus diandrus. Curt. Lortd. fafc. 6. t. 5.
Sm. FI. Brit. 135. Tr. of L . Soc. v. 4. 296.
B. madritenfis. Linn. Sp. P i. 114. With. 161.
B. muralis. Hudf. 50. Sibth. 48.
Feftuca avenacea flerilis, paniculis confertis eredti-
oribus, ariftis brevioribus. Rail Syn. ed. 2. 261.
O u r fpecimens of this Bromus were gathered at St. Vincent’s
rocks, Briftol, by the Rev. Mr. Hemfted. It grows
moftly on fandy barren ground, walls, and wafte places, but
not commonly. Mr. Curtis, who is entitled to great praife
for firft obferving the flowers to be diandrous, round it at
Batterfea. The late worthy Dr. Withering made the fame
remark in Portugal, and we are thus enabled clearly to di-
ltinguifli the prefent fpecies from the common B. JierUis.
Indeed it differs from that alfo in being lower, lefs downy,
with an ereft more compact panicle, which, though fomewhat
fpreading, is never lax or pendulous. The hue of its fpikelets
is alfo more frequently purplifli. The nerves of the glumes
are in general lefs prominent, and the two principal ones moft
confpicuous on each fide ftand in this fpecies peculiarly elofe
together.— The root is fmall and annual; the flowers are per-
fefied in June. Dr. Withering was perfuaded that this grafs,
fown in the autumn, might afford a good crop of early fodder
in the fpring, and be worth the hufbandman’s attention.