2o8o A TEXTBOOK OF THEORETICAL BOTANY 



II. Pholarideae. Annual or perennial herbs with narrow leaf blades. 

 Spikelets (Fig. 2016) all alike, hermaphrodite, mostly strongly 

 compressed laterally; arranged in open or contracted spike-like 

 panicles. They are three-flowered, with the lower two flowers 

 male or barren and the terminal flower hermaphrodite. Glumes 



Fig. 2016. — Phcilaris. A, Spikelet. B, Flower. Sti[-a. C, Flower. D, Spikelet. 

 Showing the twist of the hygroscopic awn. 



persistent, equal, and as long as the spikelet, or the lower 



or sometimes both shorter than the spikelets. Outer paleae 



of the two lower flowers longer than those of the third, but 



sometimes shorter or reduced to small scales; awned or awnless, 



but terminal paleae always awnless. Lodicules two or absent. 



Stamens two to six. 



The tribe includes six genera, of which Anthoxanthutn and Phalan's, 



both occurring in Britain, are the more important. They form fodder 



grasses of temperate regions or of mountain grassland in the tropics. Species 



of Phalaris are particularly valuable as fodder, while P. canariensis (Canary 



Grass) is cultivated for its seed which is used to feed cage birds. Anthoxan- 



thum odoratiim is the Sweet Vernal Grass of Britain. It contains large 



quantities of coumarin to which the smell of new-mown hay is mainly due. 



12. Oryzeae. Annual or perennial herbs with narrow or broad leaf 

 blades. Spikelets (Fig. 2017) all alike and hermaphrodite, or 

 dissimilar and unisexual; one- or rarely three-flowered. Glumes 

 very minute, confluent into an annular rim or suppressed. Outer 

 paleae of sterile flowers mostly shorter than those of the fertile 

 florets or often suppressed. Fertile paleae membranous or 

 coriaceous; one- to three-nerved awnless or with a straight awn 



