GENUS 25. 



GRASS FAMILY. 



169 



2. Homalocenchrus oryzoides (L.) Poll. Rice 

 Cut-grass. Fig. 401. 



Phalaris oryzoides L. Sp. PL 55. 1753- 



Homalocenchrus orysoides Poll. Hist. PI. Palat. I : 52. 1776. 



Leersia orysoides Sw. Prodr. 21. 1788. 



Culms glabrous, decumbent, i-4 long, much 

 branched, rather stout, smooth. Sheaths shorter than 

 the internodes, very rough ; ligule very short ; blades 

 3'-io' long, 2"~5" wide, acute, narrowed toward the 

 base, scabrous; terminal panicle s'-^' long, finally long- 

 exserted, its branches lax, naked at the base, at first 

 erect, later more or less widely spreading; lateral 

 panicles generally included; spikelets 2."-2.\" long, about 

 I" wide, elliptic; scales pubescent, the outer one hispid 

 on the keel and on the margins; inner scale much nar- 

 rower, hispid on the keel; stamens 3-; anthers yellow. 



In swamps and along streams, often forming dense 

 tangled masses, Newfoundland to Oregon, south to Florida 

 and Texas. Also in the temperate parts of Europe and 

 Asia. False grass. Rice's-cousin. Aug.-Sept. 



3. Homalocenchrus lenticularis (Michx.) Scribn. 

 Catch-fly Grass. Fig. 402. 



Leersia lenticularis Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. i : 39. 1803. 

 H. lenticularis Scribn. Mem. Torr. Club, 5: 33. 1894. 



Culms glabrous, erect, 2^-4 tall, usually simple, smooth. 

 Sheaths shorter than the internodes, scabrous ; ligule very 

 short; blades 4'-i2' long, 4"-io" wide, acute, more or less 

 narrowed at the base, scabrous ; panicle 4$'-Q' long, finally 

 exserted, its branches lax, naked below, at first erect, later 

 spreading; spikelets much imbricated, 2 r '-2\" long, i"-ij" 

 wide, broadly oval ; scales smooth or sparingly hispid- 

 scabrous, the outer one strongly 3-nerved, hispid on the 

 keel and margins, the inner much narrower, strongly 

 i-nerved, hispid on the keel; stamens 2. 



Wet grounds. Virginia to Minnesota, south to Florida and 

 Texas. July-Sept. 



26. PHALARIS L. Sp. PI. 54. 1753. 



Annual or perennial grasses with flat leaf-blades, the inflorescence spike-like, capitate or 

 a narrow panicle. Spikelets crowded, i-flowered. Scales 5, the first and second about equal 

 in length, strongly compressed laterally, usually wing-keeled ; third and fourth scales much 

 smaller or reduced to mere rudiments ; fifth scale subtending a palet similar to itself and a 

 perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain oblong, free, smooth, 

 enclosed in the scales. [Greek, alluding to the shining grain.] 



About 10 species, mostly natives of southern Europe. Besides the following, 3 others occur in 

 the United States. Type species : Phalaris antndinacea L. 



Outer scales not winged; inflorescence a narrow panicle. i. P. arundinacea. 



Outer scales broadly winged ; inflorescence a spike or spike-like panicle. 



Spikelets narrow ; third and fourth scales much reduced, rigid, subulate, hairy. 



2. P. caroliniana. 



Spikelets broad ; third and fourth scales thin-membranous, broadly lanceolate, glabrous or 

 sparingly hairy. 3. P. canariensis. 



