L- 
WOOTON AND STANDLEY—FLORA OF NEW MEXICO, 61 
20. CENCHRUS L. Sanp Bur. 
Annuals or perennials with spreading or erect culms and few or many more or less 
crowded “burs” in terminal spikes; spikelets 1-flowered, hermaphrodite, 1 to 4 
together with an ovoid or globular involucre of rigid, more or less connate bristles 
forming spiny burs or false capsules, these sessile or nearly so in simple terminal spikes 
or racemes, falling with the spikelets; glumes awnless; grain free within the slightly 
hardened lemma and palea. 
1. Cenchrus carolinianus Walt. Fl. Carol. 79. 1788. 
Type Loca.ity: Carolina. 
RanGE: Maine and Minnesota to Florida and New Mexico, and southward. 
New Mexico: Waste and cultivated ground at lower elevations throughout the 
State; common. In sandy soil, in the Lower and Upper Sonoran zones. 
Sand burs are the most pernicious weeds of the State. They are often abundant 
in cultivated ground, where, unless steps are taken to exterminate them, they spread 
rapidly. In alfalfa fields they often become so numerous as to render the hay value- 
less. The spines of the burs are extremely sharp and will pierce the uppers of shoes. 
After they have entered one’s flesh they usually break off when an attempt is made 
to extract them. 
91. PHALARIS L. CANARY GRASS. 
Annuals or perennials with flat leaves and densely flowered spikelike or capitate 
inflorescence; spikelets 1-flowered, strongly flattened laterally; rachilla jointed above 
the glumes; glumes awnless, equal, boat-shaped, usually winged on the keel; lemmas 
hard and shining in fruit, closely investing the grain and palea. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
Glumes not winged; inflorescence a narrow panicle........ seeeee 1. P. arundinacea, 
Glumes winged; inflorescence spikelike............2+--++e+e+-0-5 2. P. caroliniana. 
1. Phalaris arundinacea L. Sp. Pl. 55. 1753. REED CANARY GRASS. 
Type Locaity: “ Habitat in Europae subhumidis ad ripas lacuum.”’ 
Rance: British America to Nevada, New Mexico, and New Jersey; also in Europe 
and Asia. 
New Mexico: Chama (Standley 6806). Wet ground, in the Transition Zone. 
2. Phalaris caroliniana Walt. Fl. Carol. 74. 1788. SOUTHERN. CANARY GRASS. 
Tyre LocaLity: South Carolina. 
Rance: California and South Carolina to New Mexico and Florida. 
New Mexico: Burro Mountains; Agricultural College. Moist ground. 
22. SAVASTANA Schrank. 
Fragrant perennials with flat leaves and usually rather small pyramidal terminal 
panicles; spikelets 3-flowered, the terminal floret hermaphrodite, the others staminate; 
rachilla jointed above the glumes; glumes nearly equal, about the length of the 
spikelet, acute, smooth; lemmas about equaling the glumes, awnless or short-awned; 
stamens in the male florets 3, in the hermaphrodite floret 2; styles distinct, rather long; 
grain free. 
1. Savastana odorata (L.) Scribn. Mem. Torrey Club 5:34. 1894. VANILLA GRASS. 
Holcus odoratus L. Sp. Pl. 1048. 1753. 
Hierochloe borealis Roem. & Schult. Syst. Veg. 2: 513. 1817. 
Tyre Locauity: ‘“ Habitat in Europae frigidioris pascuis humentibus.”’ 
Rance: British America to New Mexico, Wisconsin, and New Jersey. 
