GRASS FAMILY. 131 
3. Phalaris Canariénsis I. Canary- 
grass. (Fig. 292.) 
Phalaris Canariensis I,. Sp. Pl. 54. 1753- 
More or less roughened, culms 1°-3° tall, 
erect, simple or branched, glabrous. Sheaths 
shorter than the internodes; ligule about 1/’ 
long, rounded; leaves 2’-12’ long, 2/’-6’” wide, 
strongly scabrous; spikes %4’-114’ long, ovoid or 
oblong; spikelets 3/’-4’’ long; outer scales gla- 
brous or sparingly pubescent ; third and fourth 
scales about half the length of the fifth, broadly 
lanceolate, thin-membranous, sparingly hairy; 
fifth scale about two-thirds as long as the spike- 
let, acute, pubescent with appressed silky hairs. 
In waste places, Nova Scotia to Ontario, Vir- 
ginia and Nebraska. Naturalized from Europe. 
Outer scales usually nearly white with green veins. 
The grain is the common food of canary birds. 
July—-Aug. WY 
19. ANTHOXANTHUM IL. Sp. Pl. 28. — 1753. 
Fragrant annual or perennial grasses, with flat leaves and spike-like panicles. Spike- 
lets 1-flowered, narrow, somewhat compressed. Scales 5; the two outer acute or produced 
into a short awn, the first shorter than the second; third and fourth scales much shorter, 
2-lobed, awned on the back; the fifth scale shorter than the others, obtuse. Stamens 2. 
Styles distinct. Stigmas elongated, plumose. Grain free, enclosed in the scales. [Greek, 
referring to the yellow hue of the spikelets in some species. ] 
A genus of 4 or 5 species, natives of Europe. 
1. Anthoxanthum odoratum [,. 
Sweet Vernal-grass. (Fig. 293. ) 
Anthoxanthum odoratum I, Sp. Pl. 28. 1753. 
Culms 1°-2° tall, erect, simple or branched, 
smooth and glabrous, Sheaths shorter than the 
internodes ; ligule 1/’-2’’ long, acute, membra- 
nous ; leaves %4/-6/ long, 1’/-3/’ wide, glabrous 
or nearly so; spike-like panicles 1/-214/ long, 
branches short, erect or ascending; spikelets 4’’ 
long, crowded; outer scales acute, glabrous or 
pubescent, the first 1-nerved, half as long as the 
second which is 3-nerved ; the third and fourth 
very hairy, the former with an awn nearly twice 
its length inserted about the middle, the fourth 
scale bearing near the base an awn more than 
twice its length ; fifth scale about two-thirds as 
long as the fourth, obtuse or rounded at the apex, 
and bearing a fertile flower. 
In fields and meadows throughout nearly the 
whole of North America. Very fragrant in drying. 
Naturalized from Europe. June-July. 
20. SAVASTANA Schrank, Baier. Fl. 1: 100. 1789. 
[HIEROCHLOE J. G. Gmel. Fl. Sib. 1: ror. 1747.] 
Aromatic perennial grasses, with flat leaves and contracted or open panicles. Spikelets 
3-flowered, the terminal flower perfect, the others staminate. Scales 5; the first and second 
nearly equal, acute, glabrous; the third and fourth somewhat shorter, obtuse, entire, emar- 
ginate, 2-toothed or 2-lobed, with or without an awn, enclosing a palet and stamens; fifth 
scale often produced into a short awn, enclosing a palet and perfect flower. Stamens in 
the staminate flowers 3, in the perfect 2. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, 
enclosed in the scales. [Name unexplained. ] 
About 8 species, natives of temperate and cold regions. 
