The broader nerved paleæ of _B. mollis_ and shorter, fatter caryopsis, as well as the longer awn distinguish it from _B. secalinus_ and _B. arvensis_. In the other Bromes the palea is more inrolled and the “seed” more slender as a rule. The rachilla is usually bent above into a slight kink. The Bromes are an extremely difficult group. The awn is inserted between the two teeth of the palea or just below. The palea smooth or ciliate on the nerves or roughly hairy. The fruit is flattened in the antero-posterior plane, and usually shines through the closely investing palea. A rachilla is visible. In _Brachypodium_ the caryopsis is less flattened, and the apex tapers into the awn without teeth. In _Lolium_ and _Agropyrum_ the caryopsis is still more wheat-like and grooved. [Illustration: Fig. 73. _Bromus arvensis_, var. _mollis_. _a_, “seed,” nat. size; _b_ and _c_, the same, × 3. _d_, caryopsis, × about 3. The awn originates between two teeth of the strongly ribbed palea. Coracle-shaped type. Nobbe.] [Illustration: Fig. 74. _Bromus arvensis_, var. _secalinus_. _a_, spikelet, _b_ and _c_, “seed,” nat. size; _d_ and _e_, the same, × 6. Nobbe. Cf. Fig. 73.] All our Bromes are weeds, but some of them are important adulterants, requiring careful examination. _B. inermis_ is cultivated, and is a valuable grass. Awn short or wanting. Paleæ strongly 5-7 ribbed, inner with a marked central rib, closely adhering to caryopsis. _B. Schraderi_ is also said to be valuable. †† Caryopsis not thin and flattened, corn-like, 3·5-5 mm. Palea smooth, inflated, boat-like. _Lolium temulentum._ A weed of cultivation, said to be poisonous to cattle, a possible explanation of which may be found in a fungus recently discovered as a very constant inhabitant of the tissues under the seed coats. _Lolium temulentum_, L. (Fig. 48). Palea ovate, 6-7·5 × 2·5 mm., papyraceous, inflated, smooth, the tip dry and emarginate with a slender sub-terminal awn its own length or longer. It tends to adhere to the fruit. Fruit 3·5-5 mm. × 2·5 × 1·5, somewhat depressed. Rachilla large, cylindrical and smooth. _L. perenne_ has no awn, or the merest trace of one. “Seed” 10-12 mm. long. Boat-shaped. Palea yellow, three-nerved, margins papery. Rachilla flat, see p. 143. ** Awn terminal, and with no evident teeth at its base. ≡ Palea not much inrolled, ovate-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, and therefore boat-or barge-shaped. Δ _Very hairy._ _Brachypodium sylvaticum_, Beauv. (Fig. 72). Palea ribbed and hirsute much like that of _Bromus asper_, but straw-coloured, shorter (10-12 mm.), linear-lanceolate, more boat-shaped, and tapering without teeth into the longer (10-13 mm.) hairy awn. Caryopsis 7-8 mm., less flattened than in _Bromus_, with a shallow groove. Rachilla smooth.