332 



Bulletin No. 205 



[March, 



16. TORRESIA Ruiz and Pav. 



The grasses belonging to this genus are perennials Avith long, creep- 

 ing rootstocks and fragrant leaves. The spikclets are three-flowered, 

 the terminal floret perfect, the lower ones staminate, the three falling 

 together. The leaves are flat, the lower ones very long and narrow, 

 the upper ones very short. The ligules are thin and membranous, 3 to 

 4 mm. long. The inflorescence is an open panicle and the spikclets are 

 brown and shining. Only one species of the genus is found in Illinois. 



114 



ini. 



Figs. 112-117.— 112, T. odorata, panicle; n;>, T. odurata, spikelet; 114, 

 P. canariensis, inflorescence; 115, F. canaricii^i.s, ypikelot ; 116, P. arundinucca, 

 spikelet; 117, P. arundinacea, inflorescence 



Torresia odorata (L.) HItchc. 

 Holy Grass. Vanilla Grass (Figs. 112 and 113) 



Hierochloa lorcalis, Vasey '61, 671; Patterson '76, 52; Flagg '78, 284; Brcn- 

 del '87, 88; Higley and Eaddiu '91, 141; Hiiett '97, 129. Hierochloe odorata, 

 Gates '12, 355. Savastana odorata, Britton '07, 93. 



Culms erect, smooth, 2 to 3 feet tall ; sheaths smooth ; blades smooth, 

 2 to 6 mm. wide, those at the basg 4 to 8 inches long, those on the culm 

 1 to 2 inches long; spikclets 4 to 6 mm. long, shining brown, when 

 fresh usually with a purplish tinge. 



This grass is called Holy grass in Europe, Avhere it is strewn before 

 churches on saints' days. In this country the long leaves have been 

 used by the Indians in weaving baskets, mats, etc., tho the grass which 

 is now most used by them for this purpose is AntJioxaiitJium odoratum, 

 or SAveet vernal grass, Avhich retains its fragrance much better. No Illi- 

 nois specimens of this grass have been seen by the Avriter. 



ILLINOIS specimens: Without locality, northern Illinois, Brendel. took co. 

 Without locality, Shipman, May, 187G; Beverly Hills, A. Chase 2074; Dunning, 

 Gates, May, 1906; Dunning, u'mbach, May, 1901; Chicago, Moffatt, May, 1895; 



