280 



Clje J[[ora of ffliMjire, 



COMPRISING THE 



llofeenug |liiuts nnb lerits iitbigeuotis to i\t Countg. 



Br Thomas Bruges Flower, M.R.C.S., F.L.S., &c., &c. 



No. XVI. 



ORDER. GRAMINEJE. (JUSS.) 



Phalaris, (Linn ) Reed-grass. 



Linn. CI. iii., Ord. i. 



The name of this genus is derived from the Greek word plialos, 

 white or splendid ; from its white shining seed. Supposed to be the 

 jpJialaris of Dioscorides. 



1. P. arunditidcea, ^Linn.) Reed Canary-grass. Eiigl. Bot. t. 

 402. Parn. Gr. t. 9/ Digraphis Trin. 



Locality. Banks of the Avon^ canal, water-meadows and wet 

 ditches. P. Fl. June, Jidy. Area, \, 2, 3, 4, 5. Generally 

 distributed throughout the Districts. The flowering stem, erect, 

 smooth, and comparatively slender, vary in height from 2 to 5 

 feet ; terminating in a beautiful, variously -branched panicle, 5 to 8 

 inches long, the spikelets of which are clustered at the extremities 

 of the branchlets, and lean in one direction. Leaves half an inch 

 or more in breadth. Flowers varying in hue in different situations, 

 from almost white to pale green in the shade, and under exposure to 

 the sun to rich shades of purple and yellow, with large red anthers. 

 The variegated grass so frequent in gardens, and known by the 

 names. Ribbon Grass, Painted Lady Grass, and Lady's-traces, is a 

 variety of this, occasionally, but very seldom, met with in the wild 

 state. 



[P. Canariensis, (Linn.) Canary-grass, Engl. Bot. t. 1310, Parn. 

 Gr. t. 9, is occasionally met with in cultivated and waste ground, 



^ Dr. Parnell's Grasses of Britain, and Andersson's PI. Scand.,fasc. ii. con- 

 tain a valuable account of this Order, and should be consulted by the student. 

 T.B.F. 



