10 



usually articulated above the empty glumes, so that 

 these remain after the tail of the fruiting glume.' In 

 spikelets with two or more flowers these are separated 

 by a manifest internode of the rachilla, and in such 

 cases the rachilla is usually articulated below each 

 lowering glume. 



Tribk VII. — rhalari(k(e. 



Spikelets more or less laterally compressed, one- or rarely three- 

 tlowered; glumes five, the first two empty aud below the articu- 

 lation of the rachilla, the third and fourth above the arti< illation, 

 usually empty, very unlike the outer ones, rarely subtending 

 stamiuate fiowers, sometimes reduced to mere bristles, the fifth 

 glume with a one-nerved or nerveless ])alea and a hermaphrodite 

 flower. 



A small tribe, comprising six genera with about sixty 

 species of comparatively little importance. Several of 

 the species, sweet vernal grass and vanilla grass, are 

 remarkable for possessing a peculiar fragrance due to 

 their containing coumarin. Canary-grass is one of the 

 best known members of this tril)e. 



Phalaris Linn.* Savastana Schrank.* 



Anthoxauthum Linn.* ( Hierochloe Gmelin). 



Tribe VIII. — Agrostldew. 



Spikelets all hermaphrodite, one-tlowered with three glumes, 

 the first two empty (very rarely wanting), usually as long as or 

 exceeding the third or floral glume; rachilla sometimes pro- 

 longed behind the palea into a naked or plumose bristle. Palea 

 two-nerved (one-nerved in Ciuna), nerveless, or (in some Jgrostis 

 species) wanting. 



^ Alopecurus, Cinna, Spartina. and llnlcns :imong our grasses, 

 have the rachilla articulated below the first pair of glumes, and 

 the spikelets fall off entire. 



