GRAMINE^. 239 



shore, where it sends out its thick hard roots forming a mat of 

 roots to resist the action of the waves, and the motion of the dry 

 sands, and becomes a very important article. 



It is widely diffused over the world. In the Hebrides it is 

 formed into " mats for pack-saddles, bags, hats," &c. Lind. It 

 is from this grass that paper has been extensively manufactured at 

 Dorchester, and no little credit is due the enterprising manufac- 

 turer. It is only wonderful that this grass, on account of its well 

 known strong fibres, had not been long before so employed. 



In England it is called mat-grass, and the Greek word for sand 

 gives it the generic name. 



Andropogon. L. 3. 2. Forked Grass. 



From the Greek for man and beard, from the fancied resem- 

 blance of the hairs on the flowers to the beard. London. 



A. furcatum. Muhl. Forked Spike. Forked Beard-Grass. 

 Grows in cespitose clusters, with the roots densely interwoven, 

 4-6 feet high, in sandy soil, along hedges, and in alluvial 

 meadows. 



The other species, Jl. macrourum, Mx., nutans, L., Beard- 

 Grass, purpurascens, Muhl., Virginicum, L., attract little atten- 

 tion ; little used as food for cattle. At the South, they are 

 numerous and abundant, and give to the fields the dry appearance, 

 so difierent from the green carpet of the North. 



Aristida. L. 3. 2. 



The 3 species of this genus, dichotoma, Mx., gracilis, Ell., 

 purpurascens, Poir., have little interest. 



Stipa. L. 3. 2. Feather Grass. 



Named from the Greek for silky or feathery. The 2 species, 

 avenacea, L., Canadensis, Lmk., are not abundant. 



Trichochloa. DC. 3. 2. 

 From the Greek for hair and grass, Hair Grass. 



T. capillaris. DC. A beautiful grass, taken from Stipa, 

 with flowers in a large panicle ; sandy woods ; Deerfield ; .Tune. 



