Lolium temulentum n 1: weedy annual grass often occurs in grainfields and other cultivated land; seeds sometimes considered poisonous [syn: darnel, tare, bearded darnel, cheat, Lolium temulentum}]

Tare \Tare\, n. [Cf. Prov. E. tare brisk, eager, OE. tarefitch the wild vetch.] 1. A weed that grows among wheat and other grain; -- alleged by modern naturalists to be the Lolium temulentum, or darnel. Didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares? --Matt. xiii. 27. The ``darnel'' is said to be the tares of Scripture, and is the only deleterious species belonging to the whole order. --Baird. 2. (Bot.) A name of several climbing or diffuse leguminous herbs of the genus Vicia; especially, the V. sativa, sometimes grown for fodder.

Bunch grass, grazing. Far West. Eriocoma, Festuca, Stips, etc. Chess, or Cheat, a weed. Bromus secalinus, etc. Couch grass. Same as Quick grass (below). Crab grass, (a) Hay, in South. A weed, in North. Panicum sanguinale. (b) Pasture and hay. South. Eleusine Indica. Darnel (a) Bearded, a noxious weed. Lolium temulentum. (b) Common. Same as Rye grass (below). Drop seed, fair for forage and hay. Muhlenbergia, several species. English grass. Same as Redtop (below). Fowl meadow grass. (a) Pasture and hay. Poa serotina. (b) Hay, on moist land. Gryceria nervata. Gama grass, cut fodder. South. Tripsacum dactyloides.

Darnel \Dar"nel\, n. [OE. darnel, dernel, of uncertain origin; cf. dial. F. darnelle, Sw. d[*a]r-repe; perh. named from a supposed intoxicating quality of the plant, and akin to Sw. d[*a]ra to infatuate, OD. door foolish, G. thor fool, and Ee. dizzy.] (Bot.) Any grass of the genus Lolium, esp. the Lolium temulentum (bearded darnel), the grains of which have been reputed poisonous. Other species, as Lolium perenne (rye grass or ray grass), and its variety L. Italicum (Italian rye grass), are highly esteemed for pasture and for making hay. Note: Under darnel our early herbalists comprehended all kinds of cornfield weeds. --Dr. Prior.

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