GRASS FAMILY. 147 
27. HELEOCHLOA Host, Gram. 1: 23. pl. 29, 30. 1801. 
[Crypsis Lam. Tabl. Encycl. 1: 166. 1791. Not Ait. 1789.] 
Perennial tufted grasses with flat leaves and spicate or paniculate inflorescence. Spike- 
lets 1-flowered. Scales 3; the 2 outer empty, somewhat unequal, membranous, acute, cili- 
ate-keeled; the third scale similar, a little longer; palet shorter, hyaline, 2-nerved. Stamens 
3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain oblong, free, loosely enclosed in the scale. 
[Greek, signifying meadow-grass. ] 
About 8 species, chiefly natives of the Mediterranean region, one or two also widely distri- 
buted through middle Europe and Asia. 
1. Heleochloa schoenoides (I,.) Host. Rush Cat’s-tail Grass. (Fig. 333.) 
Phleum schoenotdes I,. Sp. Pl. 60. 1753. 
Crypsis schoenotdes Yam. Tabl. Encyl. 1: 166. /. 42. 
1791. 
Heleochloa schoenoides Host, Gram. 1: 23. pl. 30. 1801. 
Glabrous, culms 4’-19/ tall, erect or sometimes de- 
cumbent at the base, branched, smooth. Sheaths 
about half the length of the internodes, the upper 
loose, the one immediately below the spike in- 
flated and usually partially enclosing it; ligule a 
ring of short hairs; leaves 1/3’ long, 1/’-2’’ wide, 
flat, acuminate, smooth beneath, scabrous above; 
spikelets 14%’’ long, the empty scales acute, com- 
pressed, ciliate-keeled, 1-nerved, the lower shorter 
than the upper; third scale equalling or longer 
than the second, acute, compressed, ciliate-keeled, 
otherwise glabrous, I-nerved; palet shorter, obtuse. 
In waste places, southern New York to Delaware. 
Naturalized from Europe. July—Aug. 
28. PHLEUM IWS (Syo, IA Gey, elise 
Annual or perennial grasses with flat leaves and spicate inflorescence. Spikelets 
I-flowered. Scales 3; the 2 outer empty, membranous, compressed, keeled, the apex 
obliquely truncate, the midnerve produced into an awn; the third scale much shorter, 
broader, hyaline, truncate, denticulate at the summit; palet narrow, hyaline. Stamens 3. 
Styles distinct, somewhat elongated. Stigmas plumose. Grain ovoid, free, enclosed in the 
scale and palet. [Name Greek, taken from Pliny; originally applied to some very different 
plant. ] 
About Io species, inhabiting the temperate zones of both hemispheres. The followi ing only 
are natives of North America. The English name Ca/’s-/ail Grass is applied to all the species. 
Spikes usually elongated, cylindric; awns less than one-half the length of pe outer scales; upper 
sheath not inflated. ies pratense. 
Spikes not elongated, ovoid to oblong and cylindric; awns about one-half ae length of the outer 
scales; upper sheath inflated. 2. P. alpinum. 
1. Phleum praténse L. ‘Timothy. MHerd’s 
Grass. (Fig. 334.) 
Phleum pratense J, Sp. Pl. 59. 1753. 
Glabrous and smooth or very nearly so throughout, 
culms 1°~4° tall, erect, simple. Sheaths usually ex- 
ceeding the internodes, sometimes shorter, the upper 
one long and not inflated, or very slightly so; ligule 
1//-2’’ long, rounded; leaves 3/—9’ long, 2’/-3/’ wide, 
smooth or scabrous; spike usually elongated, cylindric, 
1%4’-7’in length, 214’’-4’’ in diameter; outer scales of 
the spikelet, exclusive of the awn, 1%/’ long, ciliate 
on the keel, the awn less than half their length. 
In fields and meadows nearly throughout North Amer- 
ica. Alsoin Kurope and Asia. Widely cultivated for hay. 
The scales are sometimes modified into small leaves. 
July-Aug. 
