THE GRAMINE^ OF NORTH AMERICA. 661 



The lists of grasses to be found in Asia, Africa, and South 

 America are too imperfectly known to be mentioned here. 



For Europe we are more fortunate in having the excellent 

 Consj^edus of C. F. Nyman, published in 1883. According to 

 Nyman, the number of genera of grasses in Europe is 47 ; the num- 

 ber of species, 570. 



In 1877 was published Bentham's Flora Australiensis. In this 

 work the author records the number of genera of grasses, native 

 and exotic, as 41; the species as 338. 



In these enumerations it must be remembered that the Eu- 

 ropean report is the more recent, that the grasses of Europe have 

 been the more thoroughly studied, and that Nyman makes more 

 species than would Mr. Bentham in the same territory. No doubt 

 by this time a considerable number of species have been added to 

 that given by Bentham in his Australian Flora. 



Most likely the various persons who have from time to time 

 described the grasses found on this continent have made many 

 more species, and some more genera, than Mr. Bentham would 

 have done, and we are using his list as our standard in comi^aring 

 the grasses of these countries. Even with these explanations, the 

 reader must understand that the figures here given are somewhat 

 misleading and in favor of North America. 



Below I include the species introduced and established, as well 

 as those which are endemic. 



Among the genera of grasses in the world there are at least 

 twenty-four which contains each thirty or more species. 



