2820
BROMUS maximus.
Great Brome-grass.
T R IA N D R IA Digynia.
Gen. Char. Panicle lax. Calyx of 2 valves, many-
flowered. Corolla of 2 lanceolate valves ; external
one awned below the bifid extremity.
Spec. Char. Panicle erect, lax, at length nodding.
Spikelets lanceolate, downy ; their stalks lengthened
after flowering. Awns 2 or 3 times as long
as the glumes. Leaves downy on both sides.
Syn. Bromus maximus. Desf. FI. Atl. 95. t. 26.
Reich. FI. Excurs. 277. Icon. cent. xi. f . 1585.
Bert. Fl. Ital. v. 1. 678. Kunth, Agrost. 419.
mJ
L HIS very beautiful grass was first noticed in the island
of Jersey by Joseph Woods, Esq., but he was unable, from
accidental causes, to determine its characters. It has been
confounded with J3. diandrus, of Curtis, but upon examination
will be found to be abundantly different from that
species. It appears to be far from rare in the southern
parts of Europe.
Root consisting of strong, branched, flexuose fibres, which
are usually somewhat downy. Stems in tufts, erect, from
6 inches to 2 feet high, striated, their upper parts downy.
Leaves hairy upon both sides, arising from very long striated
and hairy sheaths. Panicle simple, secund, erect when
in flower, afterwards slightly nodding. The rachis and
peduncles, which are much lengthened after the flowering,
downy. Spikelets, together with the awns, extremely long.
Calyx-glumes long and attenuated, so as almost to appear
awned. External glume of the corolla long, deeply divided
at the point and produced into an awn which is two, three
or even four times as long as the glume, scabrous, channeled