GRAMINEyE 



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with a nearly straight stem and narrow leaves. 

 The flowers are placed on a long obtuse spike, 

 and have 3 stamens and 1 style. 



Quaking Grass — Brian media 



(Plate CXVIII) 



This is a less succulent grass than the two 

 preceding species, and is found less abundantly 

 in dry meadows. It is about eighteen inches 

 high, and has a very slender straight stem and 

 short pointed leaves. The flowers are gathered 

 several together in small pendent green and purple 

 oval spikelets, which sway in the wind. When 

 gathered they do not usually drop, like other 

 grasses, but may be dried and preserved for a 

 long time. 



Dog's-tail Grass — Cynosurus cristatus 



(Plate CXIX) 



This is another common species which prefers 

 dry fields to damp meadows. It has a straight 



slender stalk about two feet high, with smooth 

 linear leaves, and terminates above in a rather 

 long ear or spike, composed of numerous spikelets 

 of two different kinds ; glumes furnished with 

 pistils and stamens, and barren glumes destitute 

 of either, resembling small crests, from which the 

 plant derives its Latin name. 



Cock's-foot Grass — Dactylis ghmerata 

 (Plate CXX) 



This grass is common in woods and pastures, 

 and sometimes grows to a height of upwards of 

 two feet. It is rough to the touch, and the leaves 

 are long and smooth. The numerous flowers are 

 gathered into large compact clusters, each hanging 

 on one side of their stalk, and forming an inter- 

 rupted spike. 



Among the various plants of economic importance 

 at home and abroad which belong to the Grasses, 

 we may mention wheat, barley, oats, rye, maize 

 or Indian corn, rice, sugar-cane, etc. 



The "beard" of wheat and barley is composed 



