338 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Fig. 137a. Rice-cut-grass (Leersia lenticu- 

 laris). The sharp edges of the leaf of this grass 

 often cut the flesh of animals. 



Fig. 137b. Porcupine grass (Spartina cynosur- 

 aides). The sharp edges of this leaf cut like a knife, 

 often wounding animals. 



A large order of about 3500 species, many of which are very important 

 to man. Among them are the wheat, oats, rye, corn, wild rice, sorghum, and 

 sugar cane, the two latter being the sources of some of the sugar of com- 

 merce. Many grasses, also, are important forage plants, among which may 

 be named blue grass, timothy, bromc grass, and red top. Some grasses are 

 used in nicdicine. 



The Bamboo, native of the tropics, is valuable, being used not only for 

 building purposes, but also in the manufacture of household furniture and in 

 other ways. 



Very few of the grasses have deleterious properties. A few, such as 

 sleepy grass and millet, the latter of which is injurious to horses, are known 

 to be poisonous. Some grasses, because of their stiff awns, penetrate the skin 

 and even perforate the intestines, inflicting dangerous wounds. Needle grass 

 and squirrel tail grass, or wild barley, arc known to inflict injuries I)y lodging 

 between the teeth, thus causing pus infection. 



