Chapter IV.— GRASSES. 



The vast majority of grasses are herbs — that is, they do 

 not possess woody stems and the whole plant or the parts 

 above the ground die after once flowering. Bamboos, ^ 

 although grasses, have woody stems. As a rule, grasses 

 have hollow stems closed and enlarged at the joints. They 

 never have flowers with showy petals and sepals as there is 

 no need for floral display when the pollen is scattered by 

 the wind and not by insects. The stamens and pistils are 

 borne in the axils of small, scaly bracts called glumes, which 

 are arranged to form spikelets. The fruit is a grain. 



VETIVER. 



(Andropogon zizanioides.) 



Vetiver (E.) ; amora (Cebu, Bohol), anias, anias de moras, ilib (Pam- 

 panga) ; anis de moro (Abra) ; gueron or guiron (Iloilo) ; 

 mora (Vis.) (Albay, Antique, Cebu, Iloilo, Occidental Negros) ; 

 moras (Camarines) ; moro (Sorsogon) ; mura (F.) ; rimodas, tres 

 moras (Capiz). Also known as A. squarrosus and A. muricatus. 



Two varieties of this well-known tropical grass occur in 

 the Philippines. One of these has fragrant roots (var. 

 genuina) while the other (var. nigritanus) has not. 

 Although intermediate forms exist, the var. genuina may be 

 recognized by its terminal, dark-purple panicles and distinct 

 awns on the spikelets. The var. 7iigritanus has terminal 

 greenish or purple panicles, usually the latter, and the 

 spikelets either unawned or armed with short awns. 



Farmers sometimes plant the grass on the banks of rivers 

 to prevent washing away of the soil. The plant grows to 

 be from 1 to 2 m. high and continues its growth from root- 

 stocks for a number of years. Arising from the roots are 



' On account of the great economic importance of the bamboos to the 

 Philippines and because they are different in structure from the 

 ordinary grasses, it is thought advisable to devote a separate chapter 

 to them. 



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